Путешествие в Страну Оз
17. The Royal Chariot Arrives
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Thenshegaveastartofterror,forbeneaththetreescamestalkingtwogreatbeasts,eitheronebigenoughtocrushthelittleDaughteroftheRainbowwithoneblowofhispaws,ortoeatherupwithonesnapofhisenormousjaws.Onewasatawnylion,astallasahorse,nearly;theotherastripedtigeralmostthesamesize.
Pollywastoofrightenedtoscreamortostir;shestoodstillwithawildlybeatingheartuntilDorothyrushedpastherandwithagladcrythrewherarmsaroundthehugelion’sneck,huggingandkissingthebeastwithevidentjoy.
"Oh,I’mSOgladtoseeyouagain!"criedthelittleKansasgirl."AndtheHungryTiger,too!Howfineyou’rebothlooking.Areyouwellandhappy?"
"Wecertainlyare,Dorothy,"answeredtheLion,inadeepvoicethatsoundedpleasantandkind;"andwearegreatlypleasedthatyouhavecometoOzma’sparty.It’sgoingtobeagrandaffair,Ipromiseyou."
"Therewillbelotsoffatbabiesatthecelebration,Ihear,"remarkedtheHungryTiger,yawningsothathismouthopeneddreadfullywideandshowedallhisbig,sharpteeth;"butofcourseIcan’teatanyof’em."
"IsyourConsciencestillingoodorder?"askedDorothy,anxiously.
"Yes;itrulesmelikeatyrant,"answeredtheTiger,sorrowfully."IcanimaginenothingmoreunpleasantthantoownaConscience,"andhewinkedslylyathisfriendtheLion.
"You’refoolingme!"saidDorothy,withalaugh."Idon’tb’lieveyou’deatababyifyoulostyourConscience.Comehere,Polly,"shecalled,"andbeintroducedtomyfriends."
Pollyadvancedrathershyly