fb.ozmaofoz-第9章

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　　Now　I　must　explain　to　you　that　the　Princess　Langwidere　had　thirty　heads…as　many　as　there　are　days　in　the　month。But　of　course　she　could　only　wear　one　of　them　at　a　time；　because　she　had　but　one　neck。　These　heads　were　kept　in　what　she　called　her　〃cabinet；〃　which　was　a　beautiful　dressing…room　that　lay　just　between　Langwidere's　sleeping…chamber　and　the　mirrored　sitting…room。Each　head　was　in　a　separate　cupboard　lined　with　velvet。The　cupboards　ran　all　around　the　sides　of　the　dressing…room；　and　had　elaborately　carved　doors　with　gold　numbers　on　the　outside　and　jeweled…framed　mirrors　on　the　inside　of　them。
　　When　the　Princess　got　out　of　her　crystal　bed　in　the　morning　she　went　to　her　cabinet；　opened　one　of　the　velvet…lined　cupboards；　and　took　the　head　it　contained　from　its　golden　shelf。Then；　by　the　aid　of　the　mirror　inside　the　open　door；　she　put　on　the　head…as　neat　and　straight　as　could　be…and　afterward　called　her　maids　to　robe　her　for　the　day。　She　always　wore　a　simple　white　costume；　that　suited　all　the　heads。　For；　being　able　to　change　her　face　whenever　she　liked；　the　Princess　had　no　interest　in　wearing　a　variety　of　gowns；　as　have　other　ladies　who　are　pelled　to　wear　the　same　face　constantly。
　　Of　course　the　thirty　heads　were　in　great　variety；　no　two　formed　alike　but　all　being　of　exceeding　loveliness。There　were　heads　with　golden　hair；　brown　hair；　rich　auburn　hair　and　black　hair；　but　none　with　gray　hair。The　heads　had　eyes　of　blue；　of　gray；　of　hazel；　of　brown　and　of　black；　but　there　were　no　red　eyes　among　them；　and　all　were　bright　and　handsome。The　noses　were　Grecian；　Roman；　retrousse　and　Oriental；　representing　all　types　of　beauty；　and　the　mouths　were　of　assorted　sizes　and　shapes；　displaying　pearly　teeth　when　the　heads　smiled。As　for　dimples；　they　appeared　in　cheeks　and　chins；　wherever　they　might　be　most　charming；　and　one　or　two　heads　had　freckles　upon　the　faces　to　contrast　the　better　with　the　brilliancy　of　their　plexions。
　　One　key　unlocked　all　the　velvet　cupboards　containing　these　treasures…a　curious　key　carved　from　a　single　blood…red　ruby…and　this　was　fastened　to　a　strong　but　slender　chain　which　the　Princess　wore　around　her　left　wrist。
　　When　Nanda　had　supported　Langwidere　to　a　position　in　front　of　cupboard　No。　17；　the　Princess　unlocked　the　door　with　her　ruby　key　and　after　handing　head　No。　9；　which　she　had　been　wearing；　to　the　maid；　she　took　No。　17　from　its　shelf　and　fitted　it　to　her　neck。It　had　black　hair　and　dark　eyes　and　a　lovely　pearl…and…white　plexion；　and　when　Langwidere　wore　it　she　knew　she　was　remarkably　beautiful　in　appearance。
　　There　was　only　one　trouble　with　No。　17；　the　temper　that　went　with　it　（and　which　was　hidden　somewhere　under　the　glossy　black　hair）　was　fiery；　harsh　and　haughty　in　the　extreme；　and　it　often　led　the　Princess　to　do　unpleasant　things　which　she　regretted　when　she　came　to　wear　her　other　heads。
　　But　she　did　not　remember　this　today；　and　went　to　meet　her　guests　in　the　drawing…room　with　a　feeling　of　certainty　that　she　would　surprise　them　with　her　beauty。
　　However；　she　was　greatly　disappointed　to　find　that　her　visitors　were　merely　a　small　girl　in　a　gingham　dress；　a　copper　man　that　would　only　go　when　wound　up；　and　a　yellow　hen　that　was　sitting　contentedly　in　Langwidere's　best　work…basket；　where　there　was　a　china　egg　used　for　darning　stockings。（It　may　surprise　you　to　learn　that　a　princess　ever　does　such　a　mon　thing　as　darn　stockings。But；　if　you　will　stop　to　think；　you　will　realize　that　a　princess　is　sure　to　wear　holes　in　her　stockings；　the　same　as　other　people；　only　it　isn't　considered　quite　polite　to　mention　the　matter。）
　　〃Oh！〃　said　Langwidere；　slightly　lifting　the　nose　of　No。　17。〃I　thought　some　one　of　importance　had　called。〃
　　〃Then　you　were　right；〃　declared　Dorothy。〃I'm　a　good　deal　of　'portance　myself；　and　when　Billina　lays　an　egg　she　has　the　proudest　cackle　you　ever　heard。As　for　Tiktok；　he's　the〃
　　〃Stop…Stop！〃　manded　the　Princess；　with　an　angry　flash　of　her　splendid　eyes。〃How　dare　you　annoy　me　with　your　senseless　chatter？〃
　　〃Why；　you　horrid　thing！〃　said　Dorothy；　who　was　not　accustomed　to　being　treated　so　rudely。
　　The　Princess　looked　at　her　more　closely。
　　〃Tell　me；〃　she　resumed；　〃are　you　of　royal　blood？〃
　　〃Better　than　that；　ma'am；〃　said　Dorothy。〃I　came　from　Kansas。〃
　　〃Huh！〃　cried　the　Princess；　scornfully。〃You　are　a　foolish　child；　and　I　cannot　allow　you　to　annoy　me。Run　away；　you　little　goose；　and　bother　some　one　else。〃
　　Dorothy　was　so　indignant　that　for　a　moment　she　could　find　no　words　to　reply。But　she　rose　from　her　chair；　and　was　about　to　leave　the　room　when　the　Princess；　who　had　been　scanning　the　girl's　face；　stopped　her　by　saying；　more　gently：
　　〃e　nearer　to　me。〃
　　Dorothy　obeyed；　without　a　thought　of　fear；　and　stood　before　the　Princess　while　Langwidere　examined　her　face　with　careful　attention。
　　〃You　are　rather　attractive；〃　said　the　lady；　presently。〃Not　at　all　beautiful；　you　understand；　but　you　have　a　certain　style　of　prettiness　that　is　different　from　that　of　any　of　my　thirty　heads。So　I　believe　I'll　take　your　head　and　give　you　No。　26　for　it。〃
　　〃Well；　I　b'lieve　you　won't！〃　exclaimed　Dorothy。
　　〃It　will　do　you　no　good　to　refuse；〃　continued　the　Princess；　〃for　I　need　your　head　for　my　collection；　and　in　the　Land　of　Ev　my　will　is　law。I　never　have　cared　much　for　No。　26；　and　you　will　find　that　it　is　very　little　worn。Besides；　it　will　do　you　just　as　well　as　the　one　you're　wearing；　for　all　practical　purposes。〃
　　〃I　don't　know　anything　about　your　No。　26；　and　I　don't　want　to；〃　said　Dorothy；　firmly。〃I'm　not　used　to　taking　cast…off　things；　so　I'll　just　keep　my　own　head。〃
　　〃You　refuse？〃　cried　the　Princess；　with　a　frown。
　　〃Of　course　I　do；〃　was　the　reply。
　　〃Then；〃　said　Langwidere；　〃I　shall　lock　you　up　in　a　tower　until　you　decide　to　obey　me。Nanda；〃　turning　to　her　maid；　〃call　my　army。〃
　　Nanda　rang　a　silver　bell；　and　at　once　a　big　fat　colonel　in　a　bright　red　uniform　entered　the　room；　followed　by　ten　lean　soldiers；　who　all　looked　sad　and　discouraged　and　saluted　the　princess　in　a　very　melancholy　fashion。
　　〃Carry　that　girl　to　the　North　Tower　and　lock　her　up！〃　cried　the　Princess；　pointing　to　Dorothy。
　　〃To　hear　is　to　obey；〃　answered　the　big　red　colonel；　and　caught　the　child　by　her　arm。But　at　that　moment　Tiktok　raised　his　dinner…pail　and　pounded　it　so　forcibly　against　the　colonel's　head　that　the　big　officer　sat　down　upon　the　floor　with　a　sudden　bump；　looking　both　dazed　and　very　much　astonished。
　　〃Help！〃　he　shouted；　and　the　ten　lean　soldiers　sprang　to　assist　their　leader。
　　There　was　great　excitement　for　the　next　few　moments；　and　Tiktok　had　knocked　down　seven　of　the　army；　who　were　sprawling　in　every　direction　upon　the　carpet；　when　suddenly　the　machine　paused；　with　the　dinner…pail　raised　for　another　blow；　and　remained　perfectly　motionless。
　　〃My　ac…tion　has　run　down；〃　he　called　to　Dorothy。〃Wind　me　up；　quick。〃
　　She　tried　to　obey；　but　the　big　colonel　had　by　this　time　managed　to　get　upon　his　feet　again；　so　he　grabbed　fast　hold　of　the　girl　and　she　was　helpless　to　escape。
　　〃This　is　too　bad；〃　said　the　machine。〃I　ought　to　have　run　six　hours　lon…ger；　at　least；　but　I　sup…pose　my　long　walk　and　my　fight　with　the　Wheel…ers　made　me　run　down　fast…er　than　us…u…al。〃
　　〃Well；　it　can't　be　helped；〃　said　Dorothy；　with　a　sigh。
　　〃Will　you　exchange　heads　with　me？〃　demanded　the　Princess。
　　〃No；　indeed！〃　cried　Dorothy。
　　〃Then　lock　her　up；〃　said　Langwidere　to　her　soldiers；　and　they　led　Dorothy　to　a　high　tower　at　the　north　of　the　palace　and　locked　her　securely　within。
　　The　soldiers　afterward　tried　to　lift　Tiktok；　but　they　found　the　machine　so　solid　and　heavy　that　they　could　not　stir　it。So　they　left　him　standing　in　the　center　of　the　drawing…room。
　　〃People　will　think　I　have　a　new　statue；〃　said　Langwidere；　〃so　it　won't　matter　in　the　least；　and　Nanda　can　keep　him　well　polished。〃
　　〃What　shall　we　do　with　the　hen？〃　asked　the　colonel；　who　had　just　discovered　Billina　in　the　work…basket。
　　〃Put　her　in　the　chicken…house；〃　answered　the　Princess。〃Someday　I'll　have　her　fried　for　breakfast。〃
　　〃She　looks　rather　tough；　Your　Highness；〃　said　Nanda；　doubtfully。
　　〃That　is　a　base　slander！〃　cried　Billina；　struggling　frantically　in　the　colone