Волшебник страны Оз

           "AndIthoughtOzwasaterribleBeast,"saidtheTinWoodman. 

           "AndIthoughtOzwasaBallofFire,"exclaimedtheLion. 

           "No,youareallwrong,"saidthelittlemanmeekly."Ihavebeenmakingbelieve." 

           "Makingbelieve!"criedDorothy."AreyounotaGreatWizard?" 

           "Hush,mydear,"hesaid."Don’tspeaksoloud,oryouwillbeoverheard—andIshouldberuined.I’msupposedtobeaGreatWizard." 

           "Andaren’tyou?"sheasked. 

           "Notabitofit,mydear;I’mjustacommonman." 

           "You’remorethanthat,"saidtheScarecrow,inagrievedtone;"you’reahumbug." 

           "Exactlyso!"declaredthelittleman,rubbinghishandstogetherasifitpleasedhim."Iamahumbug." 

           "Butthisisterrible,"saidtheTinWoodman."HowshallIevergetmyheart?" 

           "OrImycourage?"askedtheLion. 

           "OrImybrains?"wailedtheScarecrow,wipingthetearsfromhiseyeswithhiscoatsleeve. 

           "Mydearfriends,"saidOz,"Iprayyounottospeakoftheselittlethings.Thinkofme,andtheterribletroubleI’minatbeingfoundout." 

           "Doesn’tanyoneelseknowyou’reahumbug?"askedDorothy.