Волшебник страны Оз
The Guardian of the Gate
TheLionwouldhavepreferredabedofdriedleavesintheforest,anddidnotlikebeingshutupinaroom; buthehadtoomuchsensetoletthisworryhim,sohespranguponthebedandrolledhimselfuplikeacatandpurredhimselfasleepinaminute.
Thenextmorning,afterbreakfast,thegreenmaidencametofetchDorothy,andshedressedherinoneoftheprettiestgowns,madeofgreenbrocadedsatin. DorothyputonagreensilkapronandtiedagreenribbonaroundToto’sneck,andtheystartedfortheThroneRoomoftheGreatOz.
Firsttheycametoagreathallinwhichweremanyladiesandgentlemenofthecourt,alldressedinrichcostumes. Thesepeoplehadnothingtodobuttalktoeachother,buttheyalwayscametowaitoutsidetheThroneRoomeverymorning,althoughtheywereneverpermittedtoseeOz. AsDorothyenteredtheylookedathercuriously,andoneofthemwhispered:
"AreyoureallygoingtolookuponthefaceofOztheTerrible?"
"Ofcourse,"answeredthegirl,"ifhewillseeme."
"Oh,hewillseeyou,"saidthesoldierwhohadtakenhermessagetotheWizard,"althoughhedoesnotliketohavepeopleasktoseehim. Indeed,atfirsthewasangryandsaidIshouldsendyoubackwhereyoucamefrom. Thenheaskedmewhatyoulookedlike,andwhenImentionedyoursilvershoeshewasverymuchinterested. AtlastItoldhimaboutthemarkuponyourforehead,andhedecidedhewouldadmityoutohispresence."
Justthenabellrang,andthegreengirlsaidtoDorothy, "Thatisthesignal.YoumustgointotheThroneRoomalone."
