Путешествие в Страну Оз
23. The Grand Banquet
HerewerealsoseatedtheofficersoftheroyalpalaceandofOzma’sarmy.
Thesplendidcostumesofthoseatthethreetablesmadeagorgeousandglitteringdisplaythatnoonepresentwaseverlikelytoforget;perhapstherehasneverbeeninanypartoftheworldatanytimeanotherassemblageofsuchwonderfulpeopleasthatwhichgatheredthiseveningtohonorthebirthdayoftheRulerofOz.
Whenallmembersofethecompanywereintheirplacesanorchestraoffivehundredpieces,inabalconyoverlookingthebanquetroom,begantoplaysweetanddelightfulmusic.Thenadoordrapedwithroyalgreenopened,andincamethefairandgirlishPrincessOzma,whonowgreetedherguestsinpersonforthefirsttime.
AsshestoodbyherthroneattheheadofthebanquettableeveryeyewasturnedeagerlyuponthelovelyPrincess,whowasasdignifiedasshewasbewitching,andwhosmileduponallheroldandnewfriendsinawaythattouchedtheirheartsandbroughtanansweringsmiletoeveryface.
Eachguesthadbeenservedwithacrystalgobletfilledwithlacasa,whichisasortofnectarfamousinOzandnicertodrinkthansoda-waterorlemonade.Santanowmadeaprettyspeechinverse,congratulatingOzmaonhavingabirthday,andaskingeveryonepresenttodrinktothehealthandhappinessoftheirdearlybelovedhostess.Thiswasdonewithgreatenthusiasmbythosewhoweremadesotheycoulddrinkatall,andthosewhocouldnotdrinkpolitelytouchedtherimsoftheirgobletstotheirlips.AllseatedthemselvesatthetablesandtheservantsofthePrincessbeganservingthefeast.
