Смарагдове місто країни Оз
12. How they Matched the Fuddles
"Itseemstomelikeafoolbusiness,thismatchingfolkstogether,"sheremarked;"butaswehaven’tanythingtodotilldinner’sready,wemayaswellgetridofsomeofthisrubbish.Here,Henry,getbusyandlookforLarry’sbaldhead.I’vegothispinkvest,allright."
Theyworkedwitheagerinterest,andBillinaprovedagreathelptothem.TheYellowHenhadsharpeyesandcouldputherheadclosetothevariouspiecesthatlayscatteredaround.ShewouldexaminetheLordHighChigglewitzandseewhichpieceofhimwasnextneeded,andthenhuntarounduntilshefoundit.SobeforeanhourhadpassedoldLarrywasstandingcompletebeforethem.
"Icongratulateyou,myfriends,"hesaid,speakinginacheerfulvoice."Youarecertainlythecleverestpeoplewhoevervisitedus.Iwasnevermatchedtogethersoquicklyinmylife.I’mconsideredagreatpuzzle,usually."
"Well,"saidDorothy,"thereusedtobeapicturepuzzlecrazeinKansas,andsoI’vehadsome’speriencematchingpuzzles.Butthepictureswereflat,whileyouareround,andthatmakesyouhardertofigureout."
"Thankyou,mydear,"repliedoldLarry,greatlypleased."Ifeelhighlycomplimented.WereInotareallygoodpuzzle,therewouldbenoobjectinmyscatteringmyself."
"Whydoyoudoit?"askedAuntEm,severely."Whydon’tyoubehaveyourself,andstayputtogether?"
TheLordHighChigglewitzseemedannoyedbythisspeech;buthereplied,politely:
"Madam,youhaveperhapsnoticedthateverypersonhassomepeculiarity.Mineistoscattermyself.
