Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз

           "

           "Nevermind,"answeredthePrince,hastily,"shewillbeallrightforafewdayslonger,anditisbestformetoruleuntilIcandisposeofyoustrangers,whohavecometoourlanduninvitedandmustbeattendedtoatonce."

           "Whatareyougoingtodowithus?"askedZeb.

           "ThatisamatterIhavenotquitedecidedupon,"wasthereply."IthinkIshallkeepthisWizarduntilanewSorcererisreadytopick,forheseemsquiteskillfulandmaybeofusetous.Buttherestofyoumustbedestroyedinsomeway,andyoucannotbeplanted,becauseIdonotwishhorsesandcatsandmeatpeoplegrowingalloverourcountry."

           "Youneedn’tworry,"saidDorothy."Wewouldn’tgrowunderground,I’msure."

           "Butwhydestroymyfriends?"askedthelittleWizard."Whynotletthemlive?"

           "Theydonotbelonghere,"returnedthePrince."Theyhavenorighttobeinsidetheearthatall."

           "Wedidn’tasktocomedownhere;wefell,"saidDorothy.

           "Thatisnoexcuse,"declaredthePrince,coldly.

           Thechildrenlookedateachotherinperplexity,andtheWizardsighed.Eurekarubbedherpawonherfaceandsaidinhersoft,purringvoice:

           "Hewon’tneedtodestroyME,forifIdon’tgetsomethingtoeatprettysoonIshallstarvetodeath,andsosavehimthetrouble."

           "Ifheplantedyou,hemightgrowsomecat-tails,"suggestedtheWizard.

           "Oh,Eureka!perhapswecanfindyousomemilk-weedstoeat,"saidtheboy.

           "Phoo!"snarledthekitten;"Iwouldn’ttouchthenastythings!"

           "Youdon’tneedmilk,Eureka,"remarkedDorothy;"youarebigenoughnowtoeatanykindoffood."

           "IfIcangetit,"addedEureka