[英文]绿野仙踪(英文版)-第2章

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into　the　room　again；　afterward　closing　the　trap　door　so　that　no
more　accidents　could　happen。
　　　　Hour　after　hour　passed　away；　and　slowly　Dorothy　got　over　her
fright；　but　she　felt　quite　lonely；　and　the　wind　shrieked　so　loudly
all　about　her　that　she　nearly　became　deaf。　　At　first　she　had
wondered　if　she　would　be　dashed　to　pieces　when　the　house　fell　again；
but　as　the　hours　passed　and　nothing　terrible　happened；　she　stopped
worrying　and　resolved　to　wait　calmly　and　see　what　the　future　would　bring。
At　last　she　crawled　over　the　swaying　floor　to　her　bed；　and　lay　down　upon　it；
and　Toto　followed　and　lay　down　beside　her。
　　　　In　spite　of　the　swaying　of　the　house　and　the　wailing　of　the
wind；　Dorothy　soon　closed　her　eyes　and　fell　fast　asleep。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　2。　　The　Council　with　the　Munchkins

　　　　She　was　awakened　by　a　shock；　so　sudden　and　severe　that　if
Dorothy　had　not　been　lying　on　the　soft　bed　she　might　have　been　hurt。
As　it　was；　the　jar　made　her　catch　her　breath　and　wonder　what　had　happened；
and　Toto　put　his　cold　little　nose　into　her　face　and　whined　dismally。
Dorothy　sat　up　and　noticed　that　the　house　was　not　moving；　nor　was　it　dark；
for　the　bright　sunshine　came　in　at　the　window；　flooding　the　little　room。
She　sprang　from　her　bed　and　with　Toto　at　her　heels　ran　and　opened　the　door。
　　　　The　little　girl　gave　a　cry　of　amazement　and　looked　about　her；
her　eyes　growing　bigger　and　bigger　at　the　wonderful　sights　she　saw。
　　　　The　cyclone　had　set　the　house　down　very　gentlyfor　a
cyclonein　the　midst　of　a　country　of　marvelous　beauty。　　There
were　lovely　patches　of　greensward　all　about；　with　stately　trees
bearing　rich　and　luscious　fruits。　　Banks　of　gorgeous　flowers　were
on　every　hand；　and　birds　with　rare　and　brilliant　plumage　sang　and
fluttered　in　the　trees　and　bushes。　　A　little　way　off　was　a　small
brook；　rushing　and　sparkling　along　between　green　banks；　and
murmuring　in　a　voice　very　grateful　to　a　little　girl　who　had　lived
so　long　on　the　dry；　gray　prairies。
　　　　While　she　stood　looking　eagerly　at　the　strange　and　beautiful
sights；　she　noticed　coming　toward　her　a　group　of　the　queerest
people　she　had　ever　seen。　　They　were　not　as　big　as　the　grown
folk　she　had　always　been　used　to；　but　neither　were　they　very　small。
In　fact；　they　seemed　about　as　tall　as　Dorothy；　who　was　a　well…grown
child　for　her　age；　although　they　were；　so　far　as　looks　go；　many
years　older。
　　　　Three　were　men　and　one　a　woman；　and　all　were　oddly　dressed。
They　wore　round　hats　that　rose　to　a　small　point　a　foot　above　their
heads；　with　little　bells　around　the　brims　that　tinkled　sweetly　as
they　moved。　　The　hats　of　the　men　were　blue；　the　little　woman's　hat
was　white；　and　she　wore　a　white　gown　that　hung　in　pleats　from　her
shoulders。　　Over　it　were　sprinkled　little　stars　that　glistened　in
the　sun　like　diamonds。　　The　men　were　dressed　in　blue；　of　the　same
shade　as　their　hats；　and　wore　well…polished　boots　with　a　deep　roll
of　blue　at　the　tops。　　The　men；　Dorothy　thought；　were　about　as　old
as　Uncle　Henry；　for　two　of　them　had　beards。　　But　the　little　woman
was　doubtless　much　older。　　Her　face　was　covered　with　wrinkles；　her
hair　was　nearly　white；　and　she　walked　rather　stiffly。
　　　　When　these　people　drew　near　the　house　where　Dorothy　was
standing　in　the　doorway；　they　paused　and　whispered　among　themselves；
as　if　afraid　to　come　farther。　　But　the　little　old　woman　walked　up
to　Dorothy；　made　a　low　bow　and　said；　in　a　sweet　voice：
　　　　〃You　are　welcome；　most　noble　Sorceress；　to　the　land　of　the　Munchkins。
We　are　so　grateful　to　you　for　having　killed　the　Wicked　Witch　of　the　East；
and　for　setting　our　people　free　from　bondage。〃
　　　　Dorothy　listened　to　this　speech　with　wonder。　　What　could　the
little　woman　possibly　mean　by　calling　her　a　sorceress；　and　saying
she　had　killed　the　Wicked　Witch　of　the　East？　　Dorothy　was　an　innocent；
harmless　little　girl；　who　had　been　carried　by　a　cyclone　many　miles　from　home；
and　she　had　never　killed　anything　in　all　her　life。
　　　　But　the　little　woman　evidently　expected　her　to　answer；　so　Dorothy　said；
with　hesitation；　〃You　are　very　kind；　but　there　must　be　some　mistake。
I　have　not　killed　anything。〃
　　　　〃Your　house　did；　anyway；〃　replied　the　little　old　woman；　with　a
laugh；　〃and　that　is　the　same　thing。　　See！〃　she　continued；　pointing
to　the　corner　of　the　house。　　〃There　are　her　two　feet；　still　sticking
out　from　under　a　block　of　wood。〃
　　　　Dorothy　looked；　and　gave　a　little　cry　of　fright。　　There；　indeed；
just　under　the　corner　of　the　great　beam　the　house　rested　on；　two　feet
were　sticking　out；　shod　in　silver　shoes　with　pointed　toes。
　　　　〃Oh；　dear！　　Oh；　dear！〃　cried　Dorothy；　clasping　her　hands　together
in　dismay。　　〃The　house　must　have　fallen　on　her。　　Whatever　shall　we　do？〃
　　　　〃There　is　nothing　to　be　done；〃　said　the　little　woman　calmly。
　　　　〃But　who　was　she？〃　asked　Dorothy。
　　　　〃She　was　the　Wicked　Witch　of　the　East；　as　I　said；〃　answered
the　little　woman。　　〃She　has　held　all　the　Munchkins　in　bondage　for
many　years；　making　them　slave　for　her　night　and　day。　　Now　they　are
all　set　free；　and　are　grateful　to　you　for　the　favor。〃
　　　　〃Who　are　the　Munchkins？〃　inquired　Dorothy。
　　　　〃They　are　the　people　who　live　in　this　land　of　the　East
　where　the　Wicked　Witch　ruled。〃
　　　　〃Are　you　a　Munchkin？〃　asked　Dorothy。
　　　　〃No；　but　I　am　their　friend；　although　I　live　in　the　land　of　the
North。　　When　they　saw　the　Witch　of　the　East　was　dead　the　Munchkins
sent　a　swift　messenger　to　me；　and　I　came　at　once。　　I　am　the　Witch
of　the　North。〃
　　　　〃Oh；　gracious！〃　cried　Dorothy。　　〃Are　you　a　real　witch？〃
　　　　〃Yes；　indeed；〃　answered　the　little　woman。　　〃But　I　am　a　good　witch；
and　the　people　love　me。　　I　am　not　as　powerful　as　the　Wicked　Witch　was
who　ruled　here；　or　I　should　have　set　the　people　free　myself。〃
　　　　〃But　I　thought　all　witches　were　wicked；〃　said　the　girl；　who
was　half　frightened　at　facing　a　real　witch。　　〃Oh；　no；　that　is　a
great　mistake。　　There　were　only　four　witches　in　all　the　Land　of
Oz；　and　two　of　them；　those　who　live　in　the　North　and　the　South；
are　good　witches。　　I　know　this　is　true；　for　I　am　one　of　them
myself；　and　cannot　be　mistaken。　　Those　who　dwelt　in　the　East　and
the　West　were；　indeed；　wicked　witches；　but　now　that　you　have
killed　one　of　them；　there　is　but　one　Wicked　Witch　in　all　the　Land
of　Ozthe　one　who　lives　in　the　West。〃
　　　　〃But；〃　said　Dorothy；　after　a　moment's　thought；　〃Aunt　Em　has
told　me　that　the　witches　were　all　deadyears　and　years　ago。〃
　　　　〃Who　is　Aunt　Em？〃　inquired　the　little　old　woman。
　　　　〃She　is　my　aunt　who　lives　in　Kansas；　where　I　came　from。〃
　　　　The　Witch　of　the　North　seemed　to　think　for　a　time；　with　her
head　bowed　and　her　eyes　upon　the　ground。　　Then　she　looked　up　and
said；　〃I　do　not　know　where　Kansas　is；　for　I　have　never　heard　that
country　mentioned　before。　　But　tell　me；　is　it　a　civilized　country？〃
　　　　〃Oh；　yes；〃　replied　Dorothy。
　　　　〃Then　that　accounts　for　it。　　In　the　civilized　countries　I
believe　there　are　no　witches　left；　nor　wizards；　nor　sorceresses；
nor　magicians。　　But；　you　see；　the　Land　of　Oz　has　never　been
civilized；　for　we　are　cut　off　from　all　the　rest　of　the　world。
Therefore　we　still　have　witches　and　wizards　amongst　us。〃
　　　　〃Who　are　the　wizards？〃　asked　Dorothy。
　　　　〃Oz　himself　is　the　Great　Wizard；〃　answered　the　Witch；　sinking
her　voice　to　a　whisper。　　〃He　is　more　powerful　than　all　the　rest　of
us　together。　　He　lives　in　the　City　of　Emeralds。〃
　　　　Dorothy　was　going　to　ask　another　question；　but　just　then　the
Munchkins；　who　had　been　standing　silently　by；　gave　a　loud　shout　and
pointed　to　the　corner　of　the　house　where　the　Wicked　Witch　had　been　lying。
　　　　〃What　is　it？〃　asked　the　little　old　woman；　and　looked；　and
began　to　laugh。　　The　feet　of　the　dead　Witch　had　disappeared
entirely；　and　nothing　was　left　but　the　silver　shoes。
　　　　〃She　was　so　old；〃　explained　the　Witch　of　the　North；　〃that　she
dried　up　quickly　in　the　sun。　　That　is　the　end　of　her。　　But　the
silver　shoes　are　yours；　and　you　shall　have　them　to　wear。〃
She　reached　down　and　picked　up　the　shoes；　and　after　shaking
the　dust　out　of　them　handed　them　to　Dorothy。
　　　　〃The　Witch　of　the　East　was　proud　of　those　silver　shoes；〃　said
one　of　the　Munchkins；　〃and　there　is　some　charm　connected　with　them；
but　what　it　is　we　never　knew。〃
　　　　Dorothy　carried　the