Озма из страны Оз
12. The Eleven Guesses
Thefurniturewasmadeofrareoldwoodsrichlycarvedandcoveredwithdelicatesatins,andtheentirepalacewaslightedbyamysteriousrosyglowthatseemedtocomefromnoparticularplacebutfloodedeachapartmentwithitssoftandpleasingradiance.
Ozmapassedfromoneroomtoanother,greatlydelightedbyallshesaw.Thelovelypalacehadnootheroccupant,fortheNomeKinghadleftherattheentrance,whichclosedbehindher,andinallthemagnificentroomsthereappearedtobenootherperson.
Uponthemantels,andonmanyshelvesandbracketsandtables,wereclusteredornamentsofeverydescription,seeminglymadeoutofallsortsofmetals,glass,china,stonesandmarbles.Therewerevases,andfiguresofmenandanimals,andgravenplattersandbowls,andmosaicsofpreciousgems,andmanyotherthings.Pictures,too,wereonthewalls,andtheundergroundpalacewasquiteamuseumofrareandcuriousandcostlyobjects.
AfterherfirsthastyexaminationoftheroomsOzmabegantowonderwhichofallthenumerousornamentstheycontainedwerethetransformationsoftheroyalfamilyofEv.Therewasnothingtoguideher,foreverythingseemedwithoutasparkoflife.Soshemustguessblindly;andforthefirsttimethegirlcametorealizehowdangerouswashertask,andhowlikelyshewastoloseherownfreedominstrivingtofreeothersfromthebondageoftheNomeKing.Nowonderthecunningmonarchlaughedgoodnaturedlywithhisvisitors,whenheknewhoweasilytheymightbeentrapped.
ButOzma,havingundertakentheventure,wouldnotabandonit.
