Путешествие в Страну Оз

           "Oh,Billina!"criedDorothy,inagladvoice,andtheyellowhenflewtoherarms,tobehuggedandpettedbyturns.

           Theotherswerecuriouslycrowdingaroundthegroup,andthegirlsaidtothem:

           "It’sTik-tokandBillina;andoh!I’msogladtoseethemagain."

           "Wel-cometoOz,"saidthecoppermaninamonotonousvoice.

           Dorothysatrightdownintheroad,theyellowheninherarms,andbegantostrokeBillina’sback.Saidthehen:

           "Dorothy,dear,I’vegotsomewonderfulnewstotellyou."

           "Tellitquick,Billina!"saidthegirl.

           JustthenToto,whohadbeengrowlingtohimselfinacrossway,gaveasharpbarkandflewattheyellowhen,whoruffledherfeathersandletoutsuchanangryscreechthatDorothywasstartled.

           "Stop,Toto!Stopthatthisminute!"shecommanded."Can’tyouseethatBillinaismyfriend?"InspiteofthiswarninghadshenotgrabbedTotoquicklybytheneckthelittledogwouldhavedonetheyellowhenamischief,andevennowhestruggledmadlytoescapeDorothy’sgrasp.Sheslappedhisearsonceortwiceandtoldhimtobehave,andtheyellowhenflewtoTik-tok’sshoulderagain,whereshewassafe.

           "Whatabrute!"croakedBillina,glaringdownatthelittledog.

           "Totoisn’tabrute,"repliedDorothy,"butathomeUncleHenryhastowhiphimsometimesforchasingthechickens.Nowlookhere,Toto,"sheadded,holdingupherfingerandspeakingsternlytohim,"you’vegottounderstandthatBillinaisoneofmydearestfriends,andmusn’tbehurt—noworever."

           Totowaggedhistailasifheunderstood.

           "Themiserablethingcan’ttalk,"saidBillina,withasneer.