the scarecrow of oz-第18节
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smoothed her hair and tried to comfort her。
〃Don't cry；〃 she said。 〃I've unlocked the door； so you
can go away any time you want to。〃
〃It isn't that；〃 sobbed the Princess。 〃I am unhappy
because they will not let me love Pon； the gardener's
boy！〃
〃Well； never mind； Pon isn't any great shakes； anyhow；
seems to me；〃 said Trot soothingly。 〃There are lots of
other people you can love。〃
Gloria rolled over on the couch and looked at the
little girl reproachfully。
〃Pon has won my heart； and I can't help loving him；〃
she explained。 Then with sudden indignation she added：
〃But I'll never love Googly…Goo never； as long as I
live！〃
〃I should say not！〃 replied Trot。 〃Pon may not be much
good； but old Googly is very； very bad。 Hunt around； and
I'm sure you'll find someone worth your love。 You're very
pretty； you know； and almost anyone ought to love you。〃
〃You don't understand； my dear；〃 said Gloria； as she
wiped the tears from her eyes with a dainty lace
handkerchief bordered with pearls。 〃When you are older
you will realize that a young lady cannot decide whom she
will love； or choose the most worthy。 Her heart alone
decides for her； and whomsoever her heart selects； she
must love； whether he amounts to much or not。〃
Trot was a little puzzled by this speech； which seemed
to her unreasonable； but she made no reply and presently
Gloria's grief softened and she began to question the
little girl about herself and her adventures。 Trot told
her how they had happened to come to Jinxland； and all
about Cap'n Bill and the Ork and Pessim and the Bumpy
Man。
While they were thus conversing together； getting more
and more friendly as they became better acquainted； in
the Council Chamber the King and Googly…Goo were talking
with the Wicked Witch。
This evil creature was old and ugly。 She had lost one
eye and wore a black patch over it； so the people of
Jinxland had named her 〃Blinkie。〃 Of course witches are
forbidden to exist in the Land of Oz； but Jinxland was so
far removed from the center of Ozma's dominions； and so
absolutely cut off from it by the steep mountains and the
bottomless gulf； that the laws of Oz were not obeyed very
well in that country。 So there were several witches in
Jinxland who were the terror of the people； but King
Krewl favored them and permitted them to exercise their
evil sorcery。
Blinkie was the leader of all the other witches and
therefore the most hated and feared。 The King used her
witchcraft at times to assist him in carrying out his
cruelties and revenge； but he was always obliged to pay
Blinkie large sums of money or heaps of precious jewels
before she would undertake an enchantment。 This made him
hate the old woman almost as much as his subjects did；
but to…day Lord Googly…Goo had agreed to pay the witch's
price； so the King greeted her with gracious favor。
〃Can you destroy the love of Princess Gloria for the
gardener's boy？〃 inquired his Majesty。
The Wicked Witch thought about it before she replied：
〃That's a hard question to answer。 I can do lots of
clever magic； but love is a stubborn thing to conquer。
When you think you've killed it； it's liable to bob up
again as strong as ever。 I believe love and cats have
nine lives。 In other words； killing love is a hard job；
even for a skillful witch； but I believe I can do
something that will answer your purpose just as well。〃
〃What is that？〃 asked the King。
〃I can freeze the girl's heart。 I've got a special
incantation for that； and when Gloria's heart is
thoroughly frozen she can no longer love Pon。〃
〃Just the thing！〃 exclaimed Googly…Goo； and the King
was likewise much pleased。
They bargained a long time as to the price； but finally
the old courtier agreed to pay the Wicked Witch's
demands。 It was arranged that they should take Gloria to
Blinkie's house the next day； to have her heart frozen。
Then King Krewl mentioned to the old hag the strangers
who had that day arrived in Jinxland； and said to her：
〃I think the two children the boy and the girl
are unable to harm me； but I have a suspicion that the
wooden…legged man is a powerful wizard。〃
The witch's face wore a troubled look when she heard
this。
〃If you are right；〃 she said； 〃this wizard might spoil
my incantation and interfere with me in other ways。 So it
will be best for me to meet this stranger at once and
match my magic against his； to decide which is the
stronger。〃
〃All right；〃 said the King。 〃Come with me and I will
lead you to the man's room。〃
Googly…Goo did not accompany them； as he was obliged to
go home to get the money and jewels he had promised to
pay old Blinkie； so the other two climbed several flights
of stairs and went through many passages until they came
to the room occupied by Cap'n Bill。
The sailor…man； finding his bed soft and inviting； and
being tired with the adventures he had experienced； had
decided to take a nap。 When the Wicked Witch and the King
softly opened his door and entered； Cap'n Bill was
snoring with such vigor that he did not hear them at all。
Blinkie approached the bed and with her one eye
anxiously stared at the sleeping stranger。
〃Ah；〃 she said in a soft whisper； 〃I believe you are
right； King Krewl。 The man looks to me like a very
powerful wizard。 But by good luck I have caught him
asleep； so I shall transform him before he wakes up；
giving him such a form that he will be unable to oppose
me。〃
〃Careful！〃 cautioned the King； also speaking low。 〃If
he discovers what you are doing he may destroy you； and
that would annoy me because I need you to attend to
Gloria。〃
But the Wicked Witch realized as well as he did that
she must be careful。 She carried over her arm a black
bag； from which she now drew several packets carefully
wrapped in paper。 Three of these she selected； replacing
the others in the bag。 Two of the packets she mixed
together。 and then she cautiously opened the third。
〃Better stand back； your Majesty；〃 she advised； 〃for if
this powder falls on you you might be transformed
yourself。〃
The King hastily retreated to the end of the room。 As
Blinkie mixed the third powder with the others she waved
her hands over it； mumbled a few words； and then backed
away as quickly as she could。
Cap'n Bill was slumbering peacefully； all unconscious
of what was going on。 Puff！ A great cloud of smoke rolled
over the bed and completely hid him from view。 When the
smoke rolled away； both Blinkie and the King saw that the
body of the stranger had quite disappeared； while in his
place； crouching in the middle of the bed； was a little
gray grasshopper。
One curious thing about this grasshopper was that the
last joint of its left leg was made of wood。 Another
curious thing considering it was a grasshopper was
that it began talking； crying out in a tiny but sharp
voice：
〃Here you people！ What do you mean by treating me
so？ Put me back where I belong； at once； or you'll be
sorry！〃
The cruel King turned pale at hearing the grasshopper's
threats； but the Wicked Witch merely laughed in derision。
Then she raised her stick and aimed a vicious blow at the
grasshopper； but before the stick struck the bed the tiny
hopper made a marvelous jump marvelous； indeed； when
we consider that it had a wooden leg。 It rose in the air
and sailed across the room and passed right through the
open window； where it disappeared from their view。
〃Good！〃 shouted the King。 〃We are well rid of this
desperate wizard。〃 And then they both laughed heartily at
the success of the incantation； and went away to complete
their horrid plans。
After Trot had visited a time with Princess Gloria； the
little girl went to Button…Bright's room but did not find
him there。 Then she went to Cap'n Bill's room； but he was
not there because the witch and the King had been there
before her。 So she made her way downstairs and questioned
the servants。 They said they had seen the little boy go
out into the garden； some time ago； but the old man with
the wooden leg th
