English
“Theseareyourrooms,”saidDorothy,openingadoor.
AuntEmdrewbackatthesightofthesplendidfurnitureanddraperies.
“Ain’tthereanyplacetowipemyfeet?”sheasked.
“Youwillsoonchangeyourslippersfornewshoes,”repliedDorothy.“Don’tbeafraid,AuntEm.Hereiswhereyouaretolive,sowalkrightinandmakeyourselfathome.”
AuntEmadvancedhesitatingly.
“ItbeatstheTopekaHotel!”shecriedadmiringly.“Butthisplaceistoograndforus,child.Can’twehavesomebackroomintheattic,that’smoreinourclass?”
“No,”saidDorothy.“You’vegottolivehere,‘causeOzmasaysso.
Andalltheroomsinthispalacearejustasfineasthese,andsomearebetter.Itwon’tdoanygoodtofuss,AuntEm.
You’vegottobeswellandhigh-tonedintheLandofOz,whetheryouwanttoornot;soyoumayaswellmakeupyourmindtoit.”
“It’shardluck,”repliedheraunt,lookingaroundwithanawedexpression;“butfolkscangetusedtoanything,iftheytry.Eh,Henry?”
“Why,astothat,”saidUncleHenry,slowly,“Ib’lieveintakin’what’spervidedus,an’askin’noquestions.
I’vetraveledsome,Em,inmytime,andyouhain’t;an’thatmakesadifferenceatweenus.”
ThenDorothyshowedthemthroughtherooms.
Thefirstwasahandsomesitting-room,withwindowsopeningupontherosegardens.
ThencameseparatebedroomsforAuntEmandUncleHenry,withafinebathroombetweenthem.
AuntEmhadaprettydressingroom,besides,andDorothyopenedtheclosetsandshowedseveralexquisitecostumesthathadbeenprovidedforherauntbytheroyaldressmakers,whohadworkedallnighttogetthemready.
EverythingthatAuntEmcouldpossiblyneedwasinthedrawersandclosets,andherdressing-tablewascoveredwithengravedgoldtoiletarticles.
UncleHenryhadninesuitsofclothes,cutinthepopularMunchkinfashion,withknee-breeches,silkstockings,andlowshoeswithjeweledbuckles.
Thehatstomatchthesecostumeshadpointedtopsandwidebrimswithsmallgoldbellsaroundtheedges.
Hisshirtswereoffinelinenwithfrilledbosoms,andhisvestswererichlyembroideredwithcoloredsilks.
UncleHenrydecidedthathewouldfirsttakeabathandthendresshimselfinabluesatinsuitthathadcaughthisfancy.
Heacceptedhisgoodfortunewithcalmcomposureandrefusedtohaveaservanttoassisthim.
ButAuntEmwas“allofaflutter,”asshesaid,andittookDorothyandJelliaJamb,thehousekeeper,andtwomaidsalongtimetodressheranddoupherhairandgether“riggedlikeapopinjay,”asshequaintlyexpressedit.
Shewantedtostopandadmireeverythingthatcaughthereye,andshesighedcontinuallyanddeclaredthatsuchfinerywastoogoodforanoldcountrywoman,andthatsheneverthoughtshewouldhaveto“putonairs”athertimeoflife.
Finallyshewasdressed,andwhenshewentintothesitting-roomtherewasUncleHenryinhisbluesatin,walkinggravelyupanddowntheroom.
Hehadtrimmedhisbeardandmustacheandlookedverydignifiedandrespectable.
“Tellme,Dorothy,”hesaid;“doallthemenhereweardudslikethese?”
“Yes,”shereplied;“all‘cepttheScarecrowandtheShaggyMan—andofcoursetheTinWoodmanandTiktok,whoaremadeofmetal.
You’llfindallthemenatOzma’scourtdressedjustasyouare—onlyperhapsalittlefiner.”
“Henry,youlooklikeaplay-actor,”announcedAuntEm,lookingatherhusbandcritically.
“An’you,Em,lookmorehighfalutin’thanapeacock,”hereplied.
“Iguessyou’reright,”shesaidregretfully;“butwe’rehelplessvictimsofhigh-tonedroyalty.”
Dorothywasmuchamused.
“Comewithme,”shesaid,“andI’llshowyou‘roundthepalace.”
Shetookthemthroughthebeautifulroomsandintroducedthemtoallthepeopletheychancedtomeet.Alsosheshowedthemherownprettyrooms,whichwerenotfarfromtheirown.
“Soit’salltrue,”saidAuntEm,wide-eyedwithamazement,“andwhatDorothytoldusofthisfairycountrywasplainfactsinsteadofdreams!
Butwhereareallthestrangecreaturesyouusedtoknowhere?”
“Yes,where’stheScarecrow?”inquiredUncleHenry.
“Why,he’sjustnowawayonavisittotheTinWoodman,whoisEmp’roroftheWinkieCountry,”answeredthelittlegirl.“You’llseehimwhenhecomesback,andyou’resuretolikehim.”
“Andwhere’stheWonderfulWizard?”askedAuntEm.
“You’llseehimatOzma’sluncheon,forheliveshereinthispalace,”wasthereply.
“AndJackPumpkinhead?”
“Oh,helivesalittlewayoutoftown,inhisownpumpkinfield.
We’llgotheresometimeandseehim,andwe’llcallonProfessorWogglebug,too.
TheShaggyManwillbeattheluncheon,Iguess,andTiktok.
AndnowI’lltakeyououttoseeBillina,whohasahouseofherown.”
Sotheywentintothebackyard,andafterwalkingalongwindingpathssomedistancethroughthebeautifulgardenstheycametoanattractivelittlehousewheretheYellowHensatonthefrontporchsunningherself.
“Goodmorning,mydearMistress,”calledBillina,flutteringdowntomeetthem.“Iwasexpectingyoutocall,forIheardyouhadcomebackandbroughtyouruncleandauntwithyou.”
“We’rehereforgoodandall,thistime,Billina,”criedDorothy,joyfully.“UncleHenryandAuntEmbelongtoOznowasmuchasIdo!”
“Thentheyareveryluckypeople,”declaredBillina;“fortherecouldn’tbeanicerplacetolive.
Butcome,mydear;ImustshowyouallmyDorothys.
Ninearelivingandhavegrownuptobeveryrespectablehens;butonetookcoldatOzma’sbirthdaypartyanddiedofthepip,andtheothertwoturnedouttobehorridroosters,soIhadtochangetheirnamesfromDorothytoDaniel.
Theyallhadtheletter‘D’engravedupontheirgoldlockets,youremember,withyourpictureinside,and‘D’standsforDanielaswellasforDorothy.”
“DidyoucallboththeroostersDaniel?”askedUncleHenry.
“Yes,indeed.I’venineDorothysandtwoDaniels;andthenineDorothyshaveeighty-sixsonsanddaughtersandoverthreehundredgrandchildren,”saidBillina,proudly.
“Whatnamesdoyougive‘emall,dear?”inquiredthelittlegirl.
“Oh,theyareallDorothysandDaniels,somebeingJuniorsandsomeDouble-Juniors.
DorothyandDanielaretwogoodnames,andIseenoobjectinhuntingforothers,”declaredtheYellowHen.
“Butjustthink,Dorothy,whatabigchickenfamilywe’vegrowntobe,andournumbersincreasenearlyeveryday!
Ozmadoesn’tknowwhattodowithalltheeggswelay,andwearenevereatenorharmedinanyway,aschickensareinyourcountry.
Theygiveuseverythingtomakeuscontentedandhappy,andI,mydear,amtheacknowledgedQueenandGovernorofeverychickeninOz,becauseI’mtheeldestandstartedthewholecolony.”
“Yououghttobeveryproud,ma’am,”saidUncleHenry,whowasastonishedtohearahentalksosensibly.
“Oh,Iam,”shereplied.“I’vetheloveliestpearlnecklaceyoueversaw.
ComeinthehouseandI’llshowittoyou.
AndI’veninelegbraceletsandadiamondpinforeachwing.
ButIonlywearthemonstateoccasions.”
TheyfollowedtheYellowHenintothehouse,whichAuntEmdeclaredwasneatasapin.
Theycouldnotsitdown,becauseallBillina’schairswereroosting-polesmadeofsilver;sotheyhadtostandwhilethehenfussilyshowedthemhertreasures.
ThentheyhadtogointothebackroomsoccupiedbyBillina’snineDorothysandtwoDaniels,whowereallplumpyellowchickensandgreetedthevisitorsverypolitely.
ItwaseasytoseethattheywerewellbredandthatBillinahadlookedaftertheireducation.
Intheyardswereallthechildrenandgrandchildrenoftheseeleveneldersandtheywereofallsizes,fromwell-grownhenstotinychickensjustoutoftheshell.
Aboutfiftyfluffyyellowyoungsterswereatschool,beingtaughtgoodmannersandgoodgrammarbyayounghenwhoworespectacles.
TheysanginchorusapatrioticsongoftheLandofOz,inhonoroftheirvisitors,andAuntEmwasmuchimpressedbythesetalkingchickens.
Dorothywantedtostayandplaywiththeyoungchickensforawhile,butUncleHenryandAuntEmhadnotseenthepalacegroundsandgardensyetandwereeagertogetbetteracquaintedwiththemarvelousanddelightfullandinwhichtheyweretolive.
“I’llstayhere,andyoucangoforawalk,”saidDorothy.
“You’llbeperfec’lysafeanywhere,andmaydowhateveryouwantto.
Whenyougettired,gobacktothepalaceandfindyourrooms,andI’llcometoyoubeforeluncheonisready.”
SoUncleHenryandAuntEmstartedoutalonetoexplorethegrounds,andDorothyknewthattheycouldn’tgetlost,becauseallthepalacegroundswereenclosedbyahighwallofgreenmarblesetwithemeralds.
Itwasararetreattothesesimplefolk,whohadlivedinthecountryalltheirlivesandknownlittleenjoymentofanysort,towearbeautifulclothesandliveinapalaceandbetreatedwithrespectandconsiderationbyallaroundthem.
Theywereveryhappyindeedastheystrolleduptheshadywalksandlookeduponthegorgeousflowersandshrubs,feelingthattheirnewhomewasmorebeautifulthananytonguecoulddescribe.
Suddenly,astheyturnedacornerandwalkedthroughagapinahighhedge,theycamefacetofacewithanenormousLion,whichcroucheduponthegreenlawnandseemedsurprisedbytheirappearance.
Theystoppedshort,UncleHenrytremblingwithhorrorandAuntEmtooterrifiedtoscream.Nextmomentthepoorwomanclaspedherhusbandaroundtheneckandcried:
“Saveme,Henry,saveme!”
“Can’tevensavemyself,Em,”hereturned,inahuskyvoice,“fortheanimilelooksasifitcouldeatbothofusan’lickitschopsformore!IfIonlyhadagun—”
“Haven’tyou,Henry?Haven’tyou?”sheaskedanxiously.
“Narygun,Em.Solet’sdieasbravean’gracefulaswecan.Iknewourluckcouldn’tlast!”
“Iwon’tdie.Iwon’tbeeatenbyalion!”
wailedAuntEm,glaringuponthehugebeast.
Thenathoughtstruckher,andshewhispered,“Henry,I’veheardassavagebeastsescanbeconqueredbythehumaneye.
I’lleyethatlionouto’countenancean’saveourlives.”
“Tryit,Em,”hereturned,alsoinawhisper.“LookathimasyoudoatmewhenI’mlatetodinner.”
AuntEmturnedupontheLionadeterminedcountenanceandawilddilatedeye.
Sheglaredattheimmensebeaststeadily,andtheLion,whohadbeenquietlyblinkingatthem,begantoappearuneasyanddisturbed.
“Isanythingthematter,ma’am?”heasked,inamildvoice.
AtthisspeechfromtheterriblebeastAuntEmandUncleHenrybothwerestartled,andthenUncleHenryrememberedthatthismustbetheLiontheyhadseeninOzma’sThroneRoom.
“Holdon,Em!”heexclaimed.“Quittheeagleeyeconquestan’takecourage.IguessthisisthesameCowardlyLionDorothyhastoldusabout.”
“Oh,isit?”shecried,muchrelieved.
“Whenhespoke,Igottheidea;andwhenhelookedso‘shamedlike,Iwassureofit,”UncleHenrycontinued.
AuntEmregardedtheanimalwithnewinterest.
“AreyoutheCowardlyLion?”sheinquired.“AreyouDorothy’sfriend?”
“Yes’m,”answeredtheLion,meekly.“DorothyandIareoldchumsandareveryfondofeachother.I’mtheKingofBeasts,youknow,andtheHungryTigerandIservePrincessOzmaasherbodyguards.”
“Tobesure,”saidAuntEm,nodding.“ButtheKingofBeastsshouldn’tbecowardly.”
“I’veheardthatsaidbefore,”remarkedtheLion,yawningtillheshowedtwogreatrowsofsharpwhiteteeth;“butthatdoesnotkeepmefrombeingfrightenedwheneverIgointobattle.”
“Whatdoyoudo,run?”askedUncleHenry.
“No;thatwouldbefoolish,fortheenemywouldrunafterme,”declaredtheLion.“SoItremblewithfearandpitchinashardasIcan;andsofarIhavealwayswonmyfight.”
“Ah,Ibegintounderstand,”saidUncleHenry.
“WereyouscaredwhenIlookedatyoujustnow?”inquiredAuntEm.
“Terriblyscared,madam,”answeredtheLion,“foratfirstIthoughtyouweregoingtohaveafit.
ThenInoticedyouweretryingtoovercomemebythepowerofyoureye,andyourglancewassofierceandpenetratingthatIshookwithfear.”
Thisgreatlypleasedthelady,andshesaidquitecheerfully:
“Well,Iwon’thurtyou,sodon’tbescaredanymore.Ijustwantedtoseewhatthehumaneyewasgoodfor.”
“Thehumaneyeisafearfulweapon,”remarkedtheLion,scratchinghisnosesoftlywithhispawtohideasmile.
“HadInotknownyouwereDorothy’sfriendsImighthavetornyoubothintoshredsinordertoescapeyourterriblegaze.”
AuntEmshudderedathearingthis,andUncleHenrysaidhastily:
“I’mgladyouknewus.Goodmorning,Mr.Lion;we’llhopetoseeyouagain—byandby—sometimeinthefuture.”
“Goodmorning,”repliedtheLion,squattingdownuponthelawnagain.“Youarelikelytoseeagooddealofme,ifyouliveintheLandofOz.”
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