第 32 节
作者:冥王      更新:2021-02-24 22:16      字数:9058
  said Dorothy。 〃Betsy and I are already eager to welcome
  Trot。 It will keep us busy for a year; at least; showing
  her all the wonderful things in Oz。〃
  Glinda smiled。
  〃I have lived here many years;〃 said she; 〃and I have
  not seen all the wonders of Oz yet。〃
  Meantime the travelers were drawing near to the palace;
  and when they first caught sight of its towers Trot
  realized that it was far more grand and imposing than was
  the King's castle in Jinxland。 The nearer they came; the
  more beautiful the palace appeared; and when finally the
  Scarecrow led them up the great marble steps; even
  Button…Bright was filled with awe。
  〃I don't see any soldiers to guard the place;〃 said the
  little girl。
  〃There is no need to guard Glinda's palace;〃 replied
  the Scarecrow。 〃We have no wicked people in Oz; that we
  know of; and even if there were any; Glinda's magic would
  be powerful enough to protect her。〃
  Button…Bright was now standing on the top steps of the
  entrance; and he suddenly exclaimed:
  〃Why; there's the Sawhorse and the Red Wagon! Hip;
  hooray!〃 and next moment he was rushing down to throw his
  arms around the neck of the wooden horse; which good…
  naturedly permitted this familiarity when it recognized
  in the boy an old friend。
  Button…Bright's shout had been heard inside the palace;
  so now Dorothy and Betsy came running out to embrace
  their beloved friend; the Scarecrow; and to welcome Trot
  and Cap'n Bill to the Land of Oz。
  〃We've been watching you for a long time; in Ozma's
  Magic Picture;〃 said Dorothy; 〃and Ozma has sent us to
  invite you to her own palace in the Em'rald City。 I don't
  know if you realize how lucky you are to get that
  invitation; but you'll understand it better after you've
  seen the royal palace and the Em'rald City。〃
  Glinda now appeared in person to lead all the party
  into her Azure Reception Room。 Trot was a little afraid
  of the stately Sorceress; but gained courage by holding
  fast to the hands of Betsy and Dorothy。 Cap'n Bill had no
  one to help him feel at ease; so the old sailor sat
  stiffly on the edge of his chair and said:
  〃Yes; ma'am;〃 or 〃No; ma'am;〃 when he was spoken to;
  and was greatly embarrassed by so much splendor。
  The Scarecrow had lived so much in palaces that he felt
  quite at home; and he chatted to Glinda and the Oz girls
  in a merry; light…hearted way。 He told all about his
  adventures in Jinxland; and at the Great Waterfall; and
  on the journey hither  most of which his hearers knew
  already  and then he asked Dorothy and Betsy what had
  happened in the Emerald City since he had left there。
  They all passed the evening and the night at Glinda's
  palace; and the Sorceress was so gracious to Cap'n Bill
  that the old man by degrees regained his self…possession
  and began to enjoy himself。 Trot had already come to the
  conclusion that in Dorothy and Betsy she had found two
  delightful comrades; and Button…Bright was just as much
  at home here as he had been in the fields of Jinxland or
  when he was buried in the popcorn snow of the Land of Mo。
  The next morning they arose bright and early and after
  breakfast bade good…bye to the kind Sorceress; whom Trot
  and Cap'n Bill thanked earnestly for sending the
  Scarecrow to Jinxland to rescue them。 Then they all
  climbed into the Red Wagon。
  There was room for all on the broad seats; and when all
  had taken their places  Dorothy; Trot and Betsy on the
  rear seat and Cap'n Bill; Button…Bright and the Scarecrow
  in front  they called 〃Gid…dap!〃 to the Sawhorse and
  the wooden steed moved briskly away; pulling the Red
  Wagon with ease。
  It was now that the strangers began to perceive the
  real beauties of the Land of Oz; for they were passing
  through a more thickly settled part of the country and
  the population grew more dense as they drew nearer to the
  Emerald City。 Everyone they met had a cheery word or a
  smile for the Scarecrow; Dorothy and Betsy Bobbin; and
  some of them remembered Button…Bright and welcomed him
  back to their country。
  It was a happy party; indeed; that journeyed in the Red
  Wagon to the Emerald City; and Trot already began to hope
  that Ozma would permit her and Cap'n Bill to live always
  in the Land of Oz。
  When they reached the great city they were more amazed
  than ever; both by the concourse of people in their
  quaint and picturesque costumes; and by the splendor of
  the city itself。 But the magnificence of the Royal Palace
  quite took their breath away; until Ozma received them in
  her own pretty apartment and by her charming manners and
  assuring smiles made them feel they were no longer
  strangers。
  Trot was given a lovely little room next to that of
  Dorothy; while Cap'n Bill had the cosiest sort of a room
  next to Trot's and overlooking the gardens。 And that
  evening Ozma gave a grand banquet and reception in honor
  of the new arrivals。 While Trot had read of many of the
  people she then met; Cap'n Bill was less familiar with
  them and many of the unusual characters introduced to him
  that evening caused the old sailor to open his eyes wide
  in astonishment。
  He had thought the live Scarecrow about as curious as
  anyone could be; but now he met the Tin Woodman; who was
  all made of tin; even to his heart; and carried a
  gleaming axe over his shoulder wherever he went。 Then
  there was Jack Pumpkinhead; whose head was a real pumpkin
  with the face carved upon it; and Professor Wogglebug;
  who had the shape of an enormous bug but was dressed in
  neat fitting garments。 The Professor was an interesting
  talker and had very polite manners; but his face was so
  comical that it made Cap'n Bill smile to look at it。 A
  great friend of Dorothy and Ozma seemed to be a machine
  man called Tik…Tok; who ran down several times during the
  evening and had to be wound up again by someone before he
  could move or speak。
  At the reception appeared the Shaggy Man and his
  brother; both very popular in Oz; as well as Dorothy's
  Uncle Henry and Aunt Em; two happy old people who lived
  in a pretty cottage near the palace。
  But what perhaps seemed most surprising to both Trot
  and Cap'n Bill was the number of peculiar animals
  admitted into Ozma's parlors; where they not only
  conducted themselves quite properly but were able to talk
  as well as anyone。
  There was the Cowardly Lion; an immense beast with a
  beautiful mane; and the Hungry Tiger; who smiled
  continually; and Eureka the Pink Kitten; who lay curled
  upon a cushion and had rather supercilious manners; and
  the wooden Sawhorse; and nine tiny piglets that belonged
  to the Wizard; and a mule named Hank; who belonged to
  Betsy Bobbin。 A fuzzy little terrier dog; named Toto; lay
  at Dorothy's feet but seldom took part in the
  conversation; although he listened to every word that was
  said。 But the most wonderful of all to Trot was a square
  beast with a winning smile; that squatted in a corner of
  the room and wagged his square head at everyone in quite
  a jolly way。 Betsy told Trot that this unique beast was
  called the Woozy; and there was no other like him in all
  the world。
  Cap'n Bill and Trot had both looked around expectantly
  for the Wizard of Oz; but the evening was far advanced
  before the famous little man entered the room。 But he
  went up to the strangers at once and said:
  〃I know you; but you don't know me; so let's get
  acquainted。〃
  And they did get acquainted; in a very short time; and
  before the evening was over Trot felt that she knew every
  person and animal present at the reception; and that they
  were all her good friends。
  Suddenly they looked around for Button…Bright; but he
  was nowhere to be found。
  〃Dear me!〃 cried Trot。 〃He's lost again。〃
  〃Never mind; my dear;〃 said Ozma; with her charming
  smile; 〃no one can go far astray in the Land of Oz; and
  if Button…Bright isn't lost occasionally; he isn't
  happy。〃
  End