Изумрудный город страны Оз

           Thenhelookedatthethreethroughhismonocleandsaid:

           "Thesecompanions,Princess,cannotenterBunnyburywithyou."

           "Whynot?"askedDorothy.

           "Inthefirstplacetheywouldfrightenourpeople,whodislikedogsaboveallthingsonearth;and,secondly,theletteroftheRoyalOzmadoesnotmentionthem."

           "Butthey’remyfriends,"persistedDorothy,"andgowhereverIgo."

           "Notthistime,"saidtherabbit,decidedly."You,yourself,Princess,areawelcomevisitor,sinceyoucomesohighlyrecommended;butunlessyouconsenttoleavethedogandtheheninthisroomIcannotpermityoutoenterthetown."

           "Nevermindus,Dorothy,"saidBillina."Goinsideandseewhattheplaceislike.Youcantellusaboutitafterward,andTotoandIwillrestcomfortablyhereuntilyoureturn."

           Thisseemedthebestthingtodo,forDorothywascurioustoseehowtherabbitpeoplelivedandshewasawareofthefactthatherfriendsmightfrightenthetimidlittlecreatures.ShehadnotforgottenhowTotoandBillinahadmisbehavedinBunbury,andperhapstherabbitwaswisetoinsistontheirstayingoutsidethetown.

           "Verywell,"shesaid,"I’llgoinalone.Is’poseyou’retheKingofthistown,aren’tyou?"

           "No,"answeredtherabbit,"I’mmerelytheKeeperoftheWicket,andapersonoflittleimportance,althoughItrytodomyduty.Imustnowinformyou,Princess,thatbeforeyouenterourtownyoumustconsenttoreduce."

           "Reducewhat?"askedDorothy.

           "Yoursize.Youmustbecomethesizeoftherabbits,althoughyoumayretainyourownform."

           "Wouldn’tmyclothesbetoobigforme?"sheinquired.