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16. Purple, Green and Gold
"Why,myname’sBill,byrights,"answeredthehen,whowasnowpercheduponthebackofachair;"althoughDorothyhasputscollopsonitandmadeitBillina.Butthenamedoesn’tmatter.I’vesavedyoufromtheNomeKing,andyouareaslavenolonger."
"ThenIthankyouforthegraciousfavor,"saidtheQueen,withagracefulcourtesy."But,mychildren--tellme,Ibegofyou--wherearemychildren?"andsheclaspedherhandsinanxiousentreaty.
"Don’tworry,"advisedBillina,peckingatatinybugthatwascrawlingoverthechairback."Justatpresenttheyareoutofmischiefandperfectlysafe,fortheycan’tevenwiggle."
"Whatmeanyou,Okindlystranger?"askedtheQueen,strivingtorepressheranxiety.
"They’reenchanted,"saidBillina,"justasyouhavebeen--all,thatis,exceptthelittlefellowDorothypickedout.Andthechancesarethattheyhavebeengoodboysandgirlsforsometime,becausetheycouldn’thelpit."
"Oh,mypoordarlings!"criedtheQueen,withasobofanguish.
"Notatall,"returnedthehen."Don’tlettheirconditionmakeyouunhappy,ma’am,becauseI’llsoonhavethemcrowding’roundtobotherandworryyouasnaturallyasever.Comewithme,ifyouplease,andI’llshowyouhowprettytheylook."
Sheflewdownfromherperchandwalkedintothenextroom,theQueenfollowing.Asshepassedalowtableasmallgreengrasshoppercaughthereye,andinstantlyBillinapounceduponitandsnappeditupinhersharpbill.Forgrasshoppersareafavoritefoodwithhens,andtheyusuallymustbecaughtquickly,beforetheycanhopaway.
