按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
said Ojo。
〃It truly is；〃 asserted the Magician。 〃In my
time I've performed some magical feats that were
worthy of the skill of Glinda the Good。 For
instance； there's the Powder of Life； and my
Liquid of Petrifaction； which is contained in that
bottle on the shelf yonder…over the window。〃
〃What does the Liquid of Petrifaction do？〃
inquired the boy。
〃Turns everything it touches to solid marble。
It's an invention of my own； and I find it very
useful。 Once two of those dreadful Kalidahs；
with bodies like bears and heads like tigers；
came here from the forest to attack us； but I
sprinkled some of that Liquid on them and
instantly they turned to marble。 I now use them
as ornamental statuary in my garden。 This table
looks to you like wood； and once it really was
wood； but I sprinkled a few drops of the Liquid
of Petrifaction on it and now it is marble。 It
will never break nor wear out。
〃Fine！〃 said Unc Nunkie； wagging his head
and stroking his long gray beard。
〃Dear me； what a chatterbox you're getting
to be； Unc；〃 remarked the Magician； who was
pleased with the compliment。 But just then
there came a scratching at the back door and a
shrill voice cried：
〃Let me in！ Hurry up； can't you？ Let me in！〃
Margolotte got up and went to the door。
〃Ask like a good cat； then；〃 she said。
〃Meeee…ow…w…w！ There； does that suit your
royal highness？〃 asked the voice； in scornful
accents。
〃Yes； that's proper cat talk；〃 declared the
woman； and opened the door。 At once a cat entered；
came to the center of the room and stopped short
at the sight of strangers。 Ojo and Unc Nunkie both
stared at it with wide open eyes； for surely no
such curious creature had ever existed before
even in the Land of Oz。
Chapter Four
The Glass Cat
The cat was made of glass； so clear and
transparent that you could see through it as
easily as through a window。 In the top of its
head； however； Was a mass of delicate pink balls
which looked like jewels； and it had a heart made
of a blood…red ruby。 The eyes were two large
emeralds； but aside from these colors all the rest
of the animal was clear glass； and it had a spun…
glass tail that was really beautiful。
〃Well； Doc Pipt； do you mean to introduce us； or
not？〃 demanded the cat； in a tone of annoyance。
〃Seems to me you are forgetting your manners。〃
〃Excuse me；〃 returned the Magician。 〃This
is Unc Nunkie； the descendant of the former
kings of the Munchkins； before this country be
came a part of the Land of Oz。〃
〃He needs a haircut；〃 observed the cat；
washing its face。
〃True；〃 replied Unc； with a low chuckle of
amusement。
〃But he has lived alone in the heart of the
forest for many years；〃 the Magician explained；
〃and； although that is a barbarous country；
there are no barbers there。〃
〃Who is the dwarf？〃 asked the cat。
〃That is not a dwarf； but a boy；〃 answered
the Magician。 〃You have never seen a boy before。
He is now small because he is young。 With more
years he will grow big and become as tall as Unc
Nunkie。〃
〃Oh。 Is that magic？〃 the glass animal inquired。
〃Yes； but it is Nature's magic； which is more
wonderful than any art known to man。 For
instance； my magic made you； and made you
live； and it was a poor job because you are
useless and a bother to me； but I can't make you
grow。 You will always be the same sizeand
the same saucy； inconsiderate Glass Cat； with
pink brains and a hard ruby heart。〃
〃No one can regret more than I the fact that you
made me；〃 asserted the cat； crouching upon the
floor and slowly swaying its spun…glass tail from
side to side。 〃Your world is a very uninteresting
place。 I've wandered through your gardens and in
the forest until I'm tired of it all； and when I
come into the house the conversation of your fat
wife and of yourself bores me dreadfully。〃
〃That is because I gave you different brains
from those we ourselves possessand much too
good for a cat；〃 returned Dr。 Pipt。
〃Can't you take 'em out； then； and replace
em with pebbles； so that I won't feel above my
station in life？〃 asked the cat； pleadingly。
〃Perhaps so。 I'll try it； after I've brought the
Patchwork Girl to life；〃 he said。
The cat walked up to the bench on which
the Patchwork Girl reclined and looked at her
attentively。
〃Are you going to make that dreadful thing
live？〃 she asked。
The Magician nodded。
〃It is intended to be my wife's servant maid；〃
he said。 〃When she is alive she will do all our
work and mind the house。 But you are not to
order her around； Bungle； as you do us。 You
must treat the Patchwork Girl respectfully。〃
〃I won't。 I couldn't respect such a bundle
of scraps under any circumstances。〃
〃If you don't； there will be more scraps than
you will like；〃 cried Margolotte； angrily。
〃Why didn't you make her pretty to look at？〃
asked the cat。 〃You made me prettyvery pretty；
indeedand I love to watch my pink brains roll
around when they're working； and to see my
precious red heart beat。〃 She went to a long
mirror； as she said this； and stood before it；
looking at herself with an air of much pride。
〃But that poor patched thing will hate herself；
when she's once alive；〃 continued the cat。 〃If
I were you I'd use her for a mop； and make
another servant that is prettier。〃
〃You have a perverted taste；〃 snapped
Margolotte； much annoyed at this frank criticism。
〃I think the Patchwork Girl is beautiful；
considering what she's made of。 Even the rainbow
hasn't as many colors； and you must admit that the
rainbow is a pretty thing。〃
The Glass Cat yawned and stretched herself
upon the floor。
〃Have your own way；〃 she said。 〃I'm sorry
for the Patchwork Girl； that's all。〃
Ojo and Unc Nunkie slept that night in the
Magician's house； and the boy was glad to stay
because he was anxious to see the Patchwork
Girl brought to life。 The Glass Cat was also a
wonderful creature to little Ojo； who had never
seen or known anything of magic before； although
he had lived in the Fairyland of Oz ever since he
was born。 Back there in the woods nothing unusual
ever happened。 Unc N