第 25 节
作者:空白协议书      更新:2024-04-07 21:07      字数:9322
  in the Emerald City people are too happy and
  contented ever to do wrong; but perhaps you
  came from some faraway corner of our land; and
  having no love for Ozma carelessly broke one
  of her Laws。〃
  〃Yes;〃 said Ojo; 〃I've lived all my life in the
  heart of a lonely forest; where I saw no one but
  dear Unc Nunkie。〃
  〃I thought so;〃 said Tollydiggle。 〃But now
  we have talked enough; so let us play a game
  until bedtime。〃
  Chapter Sixteen
  Princess Dorothy
  Dorothy Gale was sitting in one of her rooms in
  the royal palace; while curled up at her feet was
  a little black dog with a shaggy coat and very
  bright eyes。 She wore a plain white frock; without
  any jewels or other ornaments except an emerald…
  green hair…ribbon; for Dorothy was a simple
  little girl and had not been in the least spoiled
  by the magnificence surrounding her。 Once the
  child had lived on the Kansas prairies; but she
  seemed marked for adventure for she had made
  seven trips to the Land of Oz before she came to
  live there for good。 Her very best friend was the
  beautiful Ozma of Oz; who loved Dorothy so well
  that she kept her in her own palace; so as to be
  near her。 The girl's Uncle Henry and Aunt Emthe
  only relatives she had in the worldhad also been
  brought here by Ozma and given a pleasant home。
  Dorothy knew almost everybody in Oz; and it was
  she who had discovered the Scarecrow; the Tin
  Woodman and the Cowardly Lion; as well as Tik…tok
  the Clockwork Man。 Her life was very pleasant now;
  and although she had been made a Princess of Oz by
  her friend Ozma she did not care much to be a
  Princess and remained as sweet as when she had
  been plain Dorothy Gale of Kansas。
  Dorothy was reading in a book this evening
  when Jellia Jamb; the favorite servant…maid of
  the palace; came to say that the Shaggy Man
  wanted to see her。
  〃All right;〃 said Dorothy; 〃tell him to come
  right up。〃
  〃But he has some queer creatures with himsome
  of the queerest I've ever laid eyes on;〃 reported
  Jellia。
  〃Never mind; let 'em all come up;〃 replied
  Dorothy。
  But when the door opened to admit not only the
  Shaggy Man; but Scraps; the Woozy and the Glass
  Cat; Dorothy jumped up and looked at her strange
  visitors in amazement。 The Patchwork Girl was the
  most curious of all and Dorothy was uncertain at
  first whether Scraps was really alive or only a
  dream or a nightmare。 Toto; her dog; slowly
  uncurled himself and going to the Patchwork Girl
  sniffed at her inquiringly; but soon he lay down
  again; as if to say he had no interest in such an
  irregular creation。
  〃You're a new one to me;〃 Dorothy said
  reflectively; addressing the Patchwork Girl。 〃I
  can't imagine where you've come from。〃
  〃Who; me?〃 asked Scraps; looking around the
  pretty room instead of at the girl。 〃Oh; I came
  from a bed…quilt; I guess。 That's what they say;
  anyhow。 Some call it a crazy…quilt and some a
  patchwork quilt。 But my name is Scrapsand now
  you know all about me。〃
  〃Not quite all;〃 returned Dorothy with a smile。
  〃I wish you'd tell me how you came to be alive。〃
  〃That's an easy job;〃 said Scraps; sitting upon
  a big upholstered chair and making the springs
  bounce her up and down。 〃Margolotte wanted a
  slave; so she made me out of an old bed…quilt she
  didn't use。 Cotton stuffing; suspender…button
  eyes; red velvet tongue; pearl beads for teeth。
  The Crooked Magician made a Powder of Life;
  sprinkled me with it andhere I am。 Perhaps
  you've noticed my different colors。 A very refined
  and educated gentleman named the Scarecrow; whom I
  met; told me I am the most beautiful creature in
  all Oz; and I believe it。〃
  〃Oh! Have you met our Scarecrow; then?〃 asked
  Dorothy; a little puzzled to understand the brief
  history related。
  〃Yes; isn't he jolly?〃
  〃The Scarecrow has many good qualities;〃 replied
  Dorothy。 〃But I'm sorry to hear all this 'bout the
  Crooked Magician。 Ozma'll be mad as hops when she
  hears he's been doing magic again。 She told him
  not to。〃
  〃He only practices magic for the benefit of his
  own family;〃 explained Bungle; who was keeping at
  a respectful distance from the little black dog。
  〃Dear me;〃 said Dorothy; 〃I hadn't noticed
  you before。 Are you glass; or what?〃
  〃I'm glass; and transparent; too; which is more
  than can be said of some folks;〃 answered the
  cat。 〃Also I have some lovely pink brains; you
  can see 'em work。〃
  〃Oh; is that so? Come over here and let me see。〃
  The Class Cat hesitated; eyeing the dog。
  〃Send that beast away and I will;〃 she said。
  〃Beast! Why; that's my dog Toto; an' he's the
  kindest dog in all the world。 Toto knows a good
  many things; too; 'most as much as I do; I
  guess。〃
  〃Why doesn't he say anything?〃  asked Bungle。
  〃He can't talk; not being a fairy dog;〃
  explained Dorothy。 〃He's just a common United
  States dog; but that's a good deal; and I
  understand him; and he understands me; just as
  well as if he could talk。〃
  Toto; at this; got up and rubbed his head
  softly against Dorothy's hand; which she held
  out to him; and he looked up into her face as if
  he had understood every word she had said。
  〃This cat; Toto;〃 she said to him; 〃is made
  of glass; so you mustn't bother it; or chase it;
  any more than you do my Pink Kitten。 It's
  prob'ly brittle and might break if it bumped
  against anything。〃
  〃Woof!〃 said Toto; and that meant he understood。
  The Glass Cat was so proud of her pink brains
  that she ventured to come close to Dorothy; in
  order that the girl might 〃see 'em work。〃 This was
  really interesting; but when Dorothy patted the
  cat she found the glass cold and hard and
  unresponsive; so she decided at once that Bungle
  would never do for a pet。
  〃What do you know about the Crooked Magician who
  lives on the mountain?〃 asked Dorothy。
  〃He made me;〃 replied the cat; 〃so I know all
  about him。 The Patchwork Girl is newthree or
  four days oldbut I've lived with Dr。 Pipt for
  years; and; though I don't much care for him; I
  will say that he has always refused to work magic
  for any of the people who come to his house。 He
  thinks there's no harm in doing magic things for
  his own family; and he made me out of glass
  because the meat cats drink too much milk。 He also
  made Scraps come to life so she could do the
  housework for his wife Margolotte。〃
  〃Then why did you both leave him?〃 asked
  Dorothy。
  〃I think you'd better let me explain that;〃
  interrupted the Shaggy Man; and then he told
  Dorothy all of Ojo's story and how Unc Nunkie and
  Margolotte had accidentally been turned to marble
  by the Liquid of Petrifaction。 Then he related how
  the boy had started out in search of the things
  needed to make the magic charm; which would
  restore the unfortunates to life; and how he had
  found the Woozy and taken him along because he
  could not pull the three hairs out of its tail。
  Dorothy listened to all this with much interest;
  and thought that so far Ojo had acted very well。
  But when the Shaggy Man told her of the Munchkin
  boy's arrest by the Soldier with the Green
  Whiskers; because he was accused of wilfully
  breaking a Law of Oz; the little girl was greatly
  shocked。
  〃What do you s'pose he's done?〃 she asked。
  〃I fear he has picked a six…leaved clover;〃
  answered the Shaggy Man; sadly。 〃I did not see him
  do it; and I warned him that to do so was against
  the Law; but perhaps that is what he did;
  nevertheless。〃
  〃I'm sorry 'bout that;〃 said Dorothy gravely;
  〃for now there will be no one to help his poor
  uncle and Margolotte 'cept this Patchwork Girl;
  the Woozy and the Glass Cat。〃
  〃Don't mention it;〃 said Scraps。 〃That's no
  affair of mine。 Margolotte and Unc Nunkie are
  perfect strangers to me; for the moment I came
  to life they came to marble。〃
  〃I see;〃 remarked Dorothy with a sigh of
  regret; 〃the woman forgot to give you a heart。〃
  〃I'm glad she did;〃 retorted the Patchwork Girl。
  〃A heart must be a great anno