Волшебник страны Оз
The Guardian of the Gate
"Herearestrangers,"saidtheGuardianoftheGatestohim,"andtheydemandtoseetheGreatOz."
"Stepinside,"answeredthesoldier,"andIwillcarryyourmessagetohim."
SotheypassedthroughthePalaceGatesandwereledintoabigroomwithagreencarpetandlovelygreenfurnituresetwithemeralds. Thesoldiermadethemallwipetheirfeetuponagreenmatbeforeenteringthisroom,andwhentheywereseatedhesaidpolitely:
"PleasemakeyourselvescomfortablewhileIgotothedooroftheThroneRoomandtellOzyouarehere."
Theyhadtowaitalongtimebeforethesoldierreturned. When,atlast,hecameback,Dorothyasked:
"HaveyouseenOz?"
"Oh,no,"returnedthesoldier;"Ihaveneverseenhim. ButIspoketohimashesatbehindhisscreenandgavehimyourmessage. Hesaidhewillgrantyouanaudience,ifyousodesire;buteachoneofyoumustenterhispresencealone,andhewilladmitbutoneeachday. Therefore,asyoumustremaininthePalaceforseveraldays,Iwillhaveyoushowntoroomswhereyoumayrestincomfortafteryourjourney."
"Thankyou,"repliedthegirl;"thatisverykindofOz."
Thesoldiernowblewuponagreenwhistle,andatonceayounggirl,dressedinaprettygreensilkgown,enteredtheroom. Shehadlovelygreenhairandgreeneyes,andshebowedlowbeforeDorothyasshesaid, "FollowmeandIwillshowyouyourroom."
