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21cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciThe Project Gutenberg Etext of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
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241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice's Adventures in Wonderland
251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci[Also known as "Alice in Wonderland"]
271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciby Lewis Carroll
291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciMay, 1997  [Etext #928]
311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci[Date last updated: April 15, 2005]
321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciThe Project Gutenberg Etext of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
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2611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci</pre>
2621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
2631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<hr>
2641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h1 align="Center">ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND</h1>
2651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
2661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">Lewis Carroll</h3>
2671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
2681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p align="Center"><i>THE MILLENNIUM FULCRUM EDITION 3.0</i></p>
2691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
2701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<hr>
2711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">CHAPTER I</h3>
2721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
2731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">Down the Rabbit-Hole</h3>
2741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
2751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister
2761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cion the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had
2771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipeeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no
2781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipictures or conversations in it, 'and what is the use of a book,'
2791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithought Alice 'without pictures or conversation?'</p>
2801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
2811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>So she was considering in her own mind (as well as she could,
2821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifor the hot day made her feel very sleepy and stupid), whether
2831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble
2841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciof getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a White
2851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciRabbit with pink eyes ran close by her.</p>
2861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
2871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>There was nothing so <i>very</i> remarkable in that; nor did
2881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice think it so <i>very</i> much out of the way to hear the
2891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciRabbit say to itself, 'Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!' (when
2901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe thought it over afterwards, it occurred to her that she ought
2911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito have wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite
2921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinatural); but when the Rabbit actually <i>took a watch out of its
2931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwaistcoat-pocket,</i> and looked at it, and then hurried on,
2941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that
2951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe had never before seen a rabbit with either a
2961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwaistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with
2971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicuriosity, she ran across the field after it, and fortunately was
2981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cijust in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the
2991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihedge.</p>
3001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
3011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>In another moment down went Alice after it, never once
3021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciconsidering how in the world she was to get out again.</p>
3031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
3041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way,
3051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a
3061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimoment to think about stopping herself before she found herself
3071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifalling down a very deep well.</p>
3081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
3091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Either the well was very deep, or she fell very slowly, for
3101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe had plenty of time as she went down to look about her and to
3111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwonder what was going to happen next. First, she tried to look
3121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidown and make out what she was coming to, but it was too dark to
3131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisee anything; then she looked at the sides of the well, and
3141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinoticed that they were filled with cupboards and book-shelves;
3151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihere and there she saw maps and pictures hung upon pegs. She took
3161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidown a jar from one of the shelves as she passed; it was labelled
3171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'ORANGE MARMALADE', but to her great disappointment it was empty:
3181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe did not like to drop the jar for fear of killing somebody, so
3191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimanaged to put it into one of the cupboards as she fell past
3201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit.</p>
3211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
3221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Well!' thought Alice to herself, 'after such a fall as this,
3231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciI shall think nothing of tumbling down stairs! How brave they'll
3241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciall think me at home! Why, I wouldn't say anything about it, even
3251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciif I fell off the top of the house!' (Which was very likely
3261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citrue.)</p>
3271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
3281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Down, down, down. Would the fall <i>never</i> come to an end!
3291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'I wonder how many miles I've fallen by this time?' she said
3301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cialoud. 'I must be getting somewhere near the centre of the earth.
3311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciLet me see: that would be four thousand miles down, I think--'
3321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci(for, you see, Alice had learnt several things of this sort in
3331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciher lessons in the schoolroom, and though this was not a <i>very</i>
3341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigood opportunity for showing off her knowledge, as there was no
3351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cione to listen to her, still it was good practice to say it over)
3361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'--yes, that's about the right distance--but then I wonder what
3371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciLatitude or Longitude I've got to?' (Alice had no idea what
3381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciLatitude was, or Longitude either, but thought they were nice
3391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigrand words to say.)</p>
3401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
3411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Presently she began again. 'I wonder if I shall fall right
3421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>through</i> the earth! How funny it'll seem to come out among
3431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe people that walk with their heads downward! The Antipathies,
3441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciI think--' (she was rather glad there <i>was</i> no one listening, this
3451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citime, as it didn't sound at all the right word) '--but I shall
3461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihave to ask them what the name of the country is, you know.
3471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciPlease, Ma'am, is this New Zealand or Australia?' (and she tried
3481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito curtsey as she spoke--fancy <i>curtseying</i> as you're
3491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifalling through the air! Do you think you could manage it?) 'And
3501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhat an ignorant little girl she'll think me for asking! No,
3511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit'll never do to ask: perhaps I shall see it written up
3521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisomewhere.'</p>
3531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
3541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Down, down, down. There was nothing else to do, so Alice soon
3551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibegan talking again. 'Dinah'll miss me very much to-night, I
3561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishould think!' (Dinah was the cat.) 'I hope they'll remember her
3571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisaucer of milk at tea-time. Dinah my dear! I wish you were down
3581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihere with me! There are no mice in the air, I'm afraid, but you
3591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimight catch a bat, and that's very like a mouse, you know. But do
3601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicats eat bats, I wonder?' And here Alice began to get rather
3611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisleepy, and went on saying to herself, in a dreamy sort of way,
3621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?' and sometimes, 'Do bats eat
3631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicats?' for, you see, as she couldn't answer either question, it
3641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cididn't much matter which way she put it. She felt that she was
3651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidozing off, and had just begun to dream that she was walking hand
3661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciin hand with Dinah, and saying to her very earnestly, 'Now,
3671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciDinah, tell me the truth: did you ever eat a bat?' when suddenly,
3681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithump! thump! down she came upon a heap of sticks and dry leaves,
3691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand the fall was over.</p>
3701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
3711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice was not a bit hurt, and she jumped up on to her feet in
3721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cia moment: she looked up, but it was all dark overhead; before her
3731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwas another long passage, and the White Rabbit was still in
3741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisight, hurrying down it. There was not a moment to be lost: away
3751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwent Alice like the wind, and was just in time to hear it say, as
3761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit turned a corner, 'Oh my ears and whiskers, how late it's
3771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigetting!' She was close behind it when she turned the corner, but
3781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe Rabbit was no longer to be seen: she found herself in a long,
3791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilow hall, which was lit up by a row of lamps hanging from the
3801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciroof.</p>
3811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
3821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>There were doors all round the hall, but they were all locked;
3831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand when Alice had been all the way down one side and up the
3841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciother, trying every door, she walked sadly down the middle,
3851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwondering how she was ever to get out again.</p>
3861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
3871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Suddenly she came upon a little three-legged table, all made
3881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciof solid glass; there was nothing on it except a tiny golden key,
3891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand Alice's first thought was that it might belong to one of the
3901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidoors of the hall; but, alas! either the locks were too large, or
3911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe key was too small, but at any rate it would not open any of
3921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithem. However, on the second time round, she came upon a low
3931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicurtain she had not noticed before, and behind it was a little
3941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidoor about fifteen inches high: she tried the little golden key
3951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciin the lock, and to her great delight it fitted!</p>
3961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
3971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice opened the door and found that it led into a small
3981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipassage, not much larger than a rat-hole: she knelt down and
3991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilooked along the passage into the loveliest garden you ever saw.
4001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciHow she longed to get out of that dark hall, and wander about
4011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciamong those beds of bright flowers and those cool fountains, but
4021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe could not even get her head though the doorway; 'and even if
4031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimy head <i>would</i> go through,' thought poor Alice, 'it would
4041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibe of very little use without my shoulders. Oh, how I wish I
4051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicould shut up like a telescope! I think I could, if I only know
4061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihow to begin.' For, you see, so many out-of-the-way things had
4071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihappened lately, that Alice had begun to think that very few
4081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithings indeed were really impossible.</p>
4091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
4101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>There seemed to be no use in waiting by the little door, so
4111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe went back to the table, half hoping she might find another
4121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cikey on it, or at any rate a book of rules for shutting people up
4131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilike telescopes: this time she found a little bottle on it,
4141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci('which certainly was not here before,' said Alice,) and round
4151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe neck of the bottle was a paper label, with the words 'DRINK
4161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciME' beautifully printed on it in large letters.</p>
4171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
4181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>It was all very well to say 'Drink me,' but the wise little
4191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice was not going to do <i>that</i> in a hurry. 'No, I'll look
4201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifirst,' she said, 'and see whether it's marked "<i>poison</i>" or
4211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinot'; for she had read several nice little histories about
4221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cichildren who had got burnt, and eaten up by wild beasts and other
4231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciunpleasant things, all because they <i>would</i> not remember the
4241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisimple rules their friends had taught them: such as, that a
4251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cired-hot poker will burn you if you hold it too long; and that if
4261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyou cut your finger <i>very</i> deeply with a knife, it usually
4271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibleeds; and she had never forgotten that, if you drink much from
4281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cia bottle marked '<i>poison</i>,' it is almost certain to disagree
4291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwith you, sooner or later.</p>
4301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
4311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>However, this bottle was <i>not</i> marked 'poison,' so Alice
4321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civentured to taste it, and finding it very nice, (it had, in fact,
4331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cia sort of mixed flavour of cherry-tart, custard, pine-apple,
4341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciroast turkey, toffee, and hot buttered toast,) she very soon
4351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifinished it off.</p>
4361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
4371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p class="asterisks">
4381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<br>
4391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*
4401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<br>
4411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*
4421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<br>
4431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*
4441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<br>
4451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci</p>
4461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
4471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'What a curious feeling!' said Alice; 'I must be shutting up
4481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilike a telescope.'</p>
4491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
4501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>And so it was indeed: she was now only ten inches high, and
4511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciher face brightened up at the thought that she was now the right
4521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisize for going through the little door into that lovely garden.
4531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciFirst, however, she waited for a few minutes to see if she was
4541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigoing to shrink any further: she felt a little nervous about
4551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithis; 'for it might end, you know,' said Alice to herself, 'in my
4561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigoing out altogether, like a candle. I wonder what I should be
4571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilike then?' And she tried to fancy what the flame of a candle is
4581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilike after the candle is blown out, for she could not remember
4591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciever having seen such a thing.</p>
4601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
4611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>After a while, finding that nothing more happened, she decided
4621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cion going into the garden at once; but, alas for poor Alice! when
4631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe got to the door, she found she had forgotten the little
4641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigolden key, and when she went back to the table for it, she found
4651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe could not possibly reach it: she could see it quite plainly
4661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithrough the glass, and she tried her best to climb up one of the
4671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilegs of the table, but it was too slippery; and when she had
4681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citired herself out with trying, the poor little thing sat down and
4691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicried.</p>
4701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
4711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Come, there's no use in crying like that!' said Alice to
4721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciherself, rather sharply; 'I advise you to leave off this minute!'
4731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciShe generally gave herself very good advice, (though she very
4741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciseldom followed it), and sometimes she scolded herself so
4751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciseverely as to bring tears into her eyes; and once she remembered
4761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citrying to box her own ears for having cheated herself in a game
4771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciof croquet she was playing against herself, for this curious
4781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cichild was very fond of pretending to be two people. 'But it's no
4791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciuse now,' thought poor Alice, 'to pretend to be two people! Why,
4801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithere's hardly enough of me left to make <i>one</i> respectable
4811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciperson!'</p>
4821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
4831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Soon her eye fell on a little glass box that was lying under
4841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe table: she opened it, and found in it a very small cake, on
4851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhich the words 'EAT ME' were beautifully marked in currants.
4861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'Well, I'll eat it,' said Alice, 'and if it makes me grow larger,
4871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciI can reach the key; and if it makes me grow smaller, I can creep
4881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciunder the door; so either way I'll get into the garden, and I
4891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidon't care which happens!'</p>
4901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
4911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>She ate a little bit, and said anxiously to herself, 'Which
4921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciway? Which way?', holding her hand on the top of her head to feel
4931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhich way it was growing, and she was quite surprised to find
4941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithat she remained the same size: to be sure, this generally
4951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihappens when one eats cake, but Alice had got so much into the
4961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciway of expecting nothing but out-of-the-way things to happen,
4971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithat it seemed quite dull and stupid for life to go on in the
4981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicommon way.</p>
4991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
5001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>So she set to work, and very soon finished off the cake.</p>
5011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
5021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p class="asterisks">
5031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<br>
5041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*
5051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<br>
5061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*
5071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<br>
5081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;*
5091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<br>
5101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci</p>
5111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
5121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<hr>
5131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">CHAPTER II</h3>
5141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
5151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">The Pool of Tears</h3>
5161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
5171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Curiouser and curiouser!' cried Alice (she was so much
5181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisurprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good
5191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciEnglish); 'now I'm opening out like the largest telescope that
5201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciever was! Good-bye, feet!' (for when she looked down at her feet,
5211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithey seemed to be almost out of sight, they were getting so far
5221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cioff). 'Oh, my poor little feet, I wonder who will put on your
5231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishoes and stockings for you now, dears? I'm sure <i>I</i> shan't
5241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibe able! I shall be a great deal too far off to trouble myself
5251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciabout you: you must manage the best way you can; --but I must be
5261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cikind to them,' thought Alice, 'or perhaps they won't walk the way
5271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciI want to go! Let me see: I'll give them a new pair of boots
5281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cievery Christmas.'</p>
5291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
5301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>And she went on planning to herself how she would manage it.
5311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'They must go by the carrier,' she thought; 'and how funny it'll
5321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciseem, sending presents to one's own feet! And how odd the
5331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidirections will look!</p>
5341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
5351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<blockquote><i>ALICE'S RIGHT FOOT, ESQ.</i>
5361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>HEARTHRUG,</i></p>
5371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
5381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>NEAR THE FENDER,</i></p>
5391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
5401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>(WITH ALICE'S LOVE).</i></p>
5411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci</blockquote>
5421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
5431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Oh dear, what nonsense I'm talking!'</p>
5441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
5451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Just then her head struck against the roof of the hall: in
5461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifact she was now more than nine feet high, and she at once took
5471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciup the little golden key and hurried off to the garden door.</p>
5481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
5491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Poor Alice! It was as much as she could do, lying down on one
5501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciside, to look through into the garden with one eye; but to get
5511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithrough was more hopeless than ever: she sat down and began to
5521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicry again.</p>
5531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
5541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You ought to be ashamed of yourself,' said Alice, 'a great
5551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigirl like you,' (she might well say this), 'to go on crying in
5561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithis way! Stop this moment, I tell you!' But she went on all the
5571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisame, shedding gallons of tears, until there was a large pool all
5581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciround her, about four inches deep and reaching half down the
5591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihall.</p>
5601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
5611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>After a time she heard a little pattering of feet in the
5621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidistance, and she hastily dried her eyes to see what was coming.
5631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciIt was the White Rabbit returning, splendidly dressed, with a
5641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipair of white kid gloves in one hand and a large fan in the
5651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciother: he came trotting along in a great hurry, muttering to
5661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihimself as he came, 'Oh! the Duchess, the Duchess! Oh!
5671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>won't</i> she be savage if I've kept her waiting!' Alice felt
5681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciso desperate that she was ready to ask help of any one; so, when
5691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe Rabbit came near her, she began, in a low, timid voice, 'If
5701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyou please, sir--' The Rabbit started violently, dropped the
5711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhite kid gloves and the fan, and skurried away into the darkness
5721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cias hard as he could go.</p>
5731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
5741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice took up the fan and gloves, and, as the hall was very
5751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihot, she kept fanning herself all the time she went on talking:
5761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'Dear, dear! How queer everything is to-day! And yesterday things
5771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwent on just as usual. I wonder if I've been changed in the
5781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinight? Let me think: <i>was</i> I the same when I got up this
5791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimorning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little
5801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidifferent. But if I'm not the same, the next question is, Who in
5811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe world am I? Ah, <i>that's</i> the great puzzle!' And she
5821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibegan thinking over all the children she knew that were of the
5831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisame age as herself, to see if she could have been changed for
5841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciany of them.</p>
5851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
5861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I'm sure I'm not Ada,' she said, 'for her hair goes in such
5871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilong ringlets, and mine doesn't go in ringlets at all; and I'm
5881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisure I can't be Mabel, for I know all sorts of things, and she,
5891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cioh! she knows such a very little! Besides, <i>she's</i> she, and
5901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>I'm</i> I, and--oh dear, how puzzling it all is! I'll try if I
5911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciknow all the things I used to know. Let me see: four times five
5921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciis twelve, and four times six is thirteen, and four times seven
5931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciis--oh dear! I shall never get to twenty at that rate! However,
5941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe Multiplication Table doesn't signify: let's try Geography.
5951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciLondon is the capital of Paris, and Paris is the capital of Rome,
5961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand Rome--no, <i>that's</i> all wrong, I'm certain! I must have
5971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibeen changed for Mabel! I'll try and say "<i>How doth the
5981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilittle--</i>"' and she crossed her hands on her lap as if she
5991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwere saying lessons, and began to repeat it, but her voice
6001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisounded hoarse and strange, and the words did not come the same
6011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cias they used to do:--</p>
6021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
6031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<blockquote><i>'How doth the little crocodile</i>
6041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>Improve his shining tail,</i></p>
6051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
6061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>And pour the waters of the Nile</i></p>
6071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
6081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>On every golden scale!</i></p>
6091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
6101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i><br>
6111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'How cheerfully he seems to grin,</i></p>
6121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
6131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>How neatly spread his claws,</i></p>
6141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
6151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>And welcome little fishes in</i></p>
6161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
6171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>With gently smiling jaws!</i>'</p>
6181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci</blockquote>
6191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
6201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I'm sure those are not the right words,' said poor Alice, and
6211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciher eyes filled with tears again as she went on, 'I must be Mabel
6221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciafter all, and I shall have to go and live in that poky little
6231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihouse, and have next to no toys to play with, and oh! ever so
6241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimany lessons to learn! No, I've made up my mind about it; if I'm
6251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciMabel, I'll stay down here! It'll be no use their putting their
6261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciheads down and saying "Come up again, dear!" I shall only look up
6271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand say "Who am I then? Tell me that first, and then, if I like
6281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibeing that person, I'll come up: if not, I'll stay down here till
6291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciI'm somebody else"--but, oh dear!' cried Alice, with a sudden
6301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciburst of tears, 'I do wish they <i>would</i> put their heads
6311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidown! I am so <i>very</i> tired of being all alone here!'</p>
6321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
6331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>As she said this she looked down at her hands, and was
6341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisurprised to see that she had put on one of the Rabbit's little
6351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhite kid gloves while she was talking. 'How <i>can</i> I have
6361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidone that?' she thought. 'I must be growing small again.' She got
6371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciup and went to the table to measure herself by it, and found
6381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithat, as nearly as she could guess, she was now about two feet
6391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihigh, and was going on shrinking rapidly: she soon found out that
6401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe cause of this was the fan she was holding, and she dropped it
6411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihastily, just in time to avoid shrinking away altogether.</p>
6421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
6431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'That <i>was</i> a narrow escape!' said Alice, a good deal
6441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifrightened at the sudden change, but very glad to find herself
6451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cistill in existence; 'and now for the garden!' and she ran with
6461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciall speed back to the little door: but, alas! the little door was
6471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishut again, and the little golden key was lying on the glass
6481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citable as before, 'and things are worse than ever,' thought the
6491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipoor child, 'for I never was so small as this before, never! And
6501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciI declare it's too bad, that it is!'</p>
6511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
6521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>As she said these words her foot slipped, and in another
6531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimoment, splash! she was up to her chin in salt water. Her first
6541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciidea was that she had somehow fallen into the sea, 'and in that
6551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicase I can go back by railway,' she said to herself. (Alice had
6561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibeen to the seaside once in her life, and had come to the general
6571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciconclusion, that wherever you go to on the English coast you find
6581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cia number of bathing machines in the sea, some children digging in
6591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe sand with wooden spades, then a row of lodging houses, and
6601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibehind them a railway station.) However, she soon made out that
6611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe was in the pool of tears which she had wept when she was nine
6621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifeet high.</p>
6631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
6641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I wish I hadn't cried so much!' said Alice, as she swam
6651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciabout, trying to find her way out. 'I shall be punished for it
6661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinow, I suppose, by being drowned in my own tears! That
6671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>will</i> be a queer thing, to be sure! However, everything is
6681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciqueer to-day.'</p>
6691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
6701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Just then she heard something splashing about in the pool a
6711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilittle way off, and she swam nearer to make out what it was: at
6721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifirst she thought it must be a walrus or hippopotamus, but then
6731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe remembered how small she was now, and she soon made out that
6741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit was only a mouse that had slipped in like herself.</p>
6751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
6761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Would it be of any use, now,' thought Alice, 'to speak to
6771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithis mouse? Everything is so out-of-the-way down here, that I
6781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishould think very likely it can talk: at any rate, there's no
6791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciharm in trying.' So she began: 'O Mouse, do you know the way out
6801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciof this pool? I am very tired of swimming about here, O Mouse!'
6811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci(Alice thought this must be the right way of speaking to a mouse:
6821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe had never done such a thing before, but she remembered having
6831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciseen in her brother's Latin Grammar, 'A mouse--of a mouse--to a
6841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimouse--a mouse--O mouse!') The Mouse looked at her rather
6851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciinquisitively, and seemed to her to wink with one of its little
6861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cieyes, but it said nothing.</p>
6871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
6881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Perhaps it doesn't understand English,' thought Alice; 'I
6891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidaresay it's a French mouse, come over with William the
6901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciConqueror.' (For, with all her knowledge of history, Alice had no
6911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civery clear notion how long ago anything had happened.) So she
6921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibegan again: 'Ou est ma chatte?' which was the first sentence in
6931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciher French lesson-book. The Mouse gave a sudden leap out of the
6941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwater, and seemed to quiver all over with fright. 'Oh, I beg your
6951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipardon!' cried Alice hastily, afraid that she had hurt the poor
6961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cianimal's feelings. 'I quite forgot you didn't like cats.'</p>
6971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
6981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Not like cats!' cried the Mouse, in a shrill, passionate
6991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civoice. 'Would <i>you</i> like cats if you were me?'</p>
7001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
7011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Well, perhaps not,' said Alice in a soothing tone: 'don't be
7021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciangry about it. And yet I wish I could show you our cat Dinah: I
7031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithink you'd take a fancy to cats if you could only see her. She
7041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciis such a dear quiet thing,' Alice went on, half to herself, as
7051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe swam lazily about in the pool, 'and she sits purring so
7061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinicely by the fire, licking her paws and washing her face--and
7071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe is such a nice soft thing to nurse--and she's such a capital
7081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cione for catching mice--oh, I beg your pardon!' cried Alice again,
7091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifor this time the Mouse was bristling all over, and she felt
7101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicertain it must be really offended. 'We won't talk about her any
7111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimore if you'd rather not.'</p>
7121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
7131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'We indeed!' cried the Mouse, who was trembling down to the
7141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciend of his tail. 'As if I would talk on such a subject! Our
7151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifamily always <i>hated</i> cats: nasty, low, vulgar things! Don't
7161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilet me hear the name again!'</p>
7171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
7181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I won't indeed!' said Alice, in a great hurry to change the
7191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisubject of conversation. 'Are you--are you fond--of--of dogs?'
7201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciThe Mouse did not answer, so Alice went on eagerly: 'There is
7211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisuch a nice little dog near our house I should like to show you!
7221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciA little bright-eyed terrier, you know, with oh, such long curly
7231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibrown hair! And it'll fetch things when you throw them, and it'll
7241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisit up and beg for its dinner, and all sorts of things--I can't
7251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciremember half of them--and it belongs to a farmer, you know, and
7261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihe says it's so useful, it's worth a hundred pounds! He says it
7271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cikills all the rats and--oh dear!' cried Alice in a sorrowful
7281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citone, 'I'm afraid I've offended it again!' For the Mouse was
7291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciswimming away from her as hard as it could go, and making quite a
7301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicommotion in the pool as it went.</p>
7311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
7321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>So she called softly after it, 'Mouse dear! Do come back
7331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciagain, and we won't talk about cats or dogs either, if you don't
7341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilike them!' When the Mouse heard this, it turned round and swam
7351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cislowly back to her: its face was quite pale (with passion, Alice
7361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithought), and it said in a low trembling voice, 'Let us get to
7371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe shore, and then I'll tell you my history, and you'll
7381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciunderstand why it is I hate cats and dogs.'</p>
7391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
7401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>It was high time to go, for the pool was getting quite crowded
7411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwith the birds and animals that had fallen into it: there were a
7421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciDuck and a Dodo, a Lory and an Eaglet, and several other curious
7431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicreatures. Alice led the way, and the whole party swam to the
7441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishore.</p>
7451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
7461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<hr>
7471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">CHAPTER III</h3>
7481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
7491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">A Caucus-Race and a Long Tale</h3>
7501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
7511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>They were indeed a queer-looking party that assembled on the
7521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibank--the birds with draggled feathers, the animals with their
7531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifur clinging close to them, and all dripping wet, cross, and
7541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciuncomfortable.</p>
7551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
7561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The first question of course was, how to get dry again: they
7571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihad a consultation about this, and after a few minutes it seemed
7581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciquite natural to Alice to find herself talking familiarly with
7591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithem, as if she had known them all her life. Indeed, she had
7601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciquite a long argument with the Lory, who at last turned sulky,
7611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand would only say, 'I am older than you, and must know better';
7621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand this Alice would not allow without knowing how old it was,
7631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand, as the Lory positively refused to tell its age, there was no
7641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimore to be said.</p>
7651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
7661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>At last the Mouse, who seemed to be a person of authority
7671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciamong them, called out, 'Sit down, all of you, and listen to me!
7681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>I'll</i> soon make you dry enough!' They all sat down at once,
7691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciin a large ring, with the Mouse in the middle. Alice kept her
7701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cieyes anxiously fixed on it, for she felt sure she would catch a
7711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibad cold if she did not get dry very soon.</p>
7721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
7731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Ahem!' said the Mouse with an important air, 'are you all
7741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciready? This is the driest thing I know. Silence all round, if you
7751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciplease! "William the Conqueror, whose cause was favoured by the
7761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipope, was soon submitted to by the English, who wanted leaders,
7771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand had been of late much accustomed to usurpation and conquest.
7781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciEdwin and Morcar, the earls of Mercia and Northumbria--"'</p>
7791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
7801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Ugh!' said the Lory, with a shiver.</p>
7811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
7821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I beg your pardon!' said the Mouse, frowning, but very
7831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipolitely: 'Did you speak?'</p>
7841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
7851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Not I!' said the Lory hastily.</p>
7861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
7871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I thought you did,' said the Mouse. '--I proceed. "Edwin and
7881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciMorcar, the earls of Mercia and Northumbria, declared for him:
7891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand even Stigand, the patriotic archbishop of Canterbury, found
7901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit advisable--"'</p>
7911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
7921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Found <i>what</i>?' said the Duck.</p>
7931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
7941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Found <i>it</i>,' the Mouse replied rather crossly: 'of
7951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicourse you know what "it" means.'</p>
7961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
7971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I know what "it" means well enough, when <i>I</i> find a
7981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithing,' said the Duck: 'it's generally a frog or a worm. The
7991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciquestion is, what did the archbishop find?'</p>
8001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Mouse did not notice this question, but hurriedly went on,
8021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'"--found it advisable to go with Edgar Atheling to meet William
8031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand offer him the crown. William's conduct at first was moderate.
8041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciBut the insolence of his Normans--" How are you getting on now,
8051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimy dear?' it continued, turning to Alice as it spoke.</p>
8061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'As wet as ever,' said Alice in a melancholy tone: 'it doesn't
8081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciseem to dry me at all.'</p>
8091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'In that case,' said the Dodo solemnly, rising to its feet, 'I
8111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimove that the meeting adjourn, for the immediate adoption of more
8121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cienergetic remedies--'</p>
8131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Speak English!' said the Eaglet. 'I don't know the meaning of
8151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihalf those long words, and, what's more, I don't believe you do
8161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cieither!' And the Eaglet bent down its head to hide a smile: some
8171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciof the other birds tittered audibly.</p>
8181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'What I was going to say,' said the Dodo in an offended tone,
8201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'was, that the best thing to get us dry would be a
8211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciCaucus-race.'</p>
8221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'What <i>is</i> a Caucus-race?' said Alice; not that she
8241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwanted much to know, but the Dodo had paused as if it thought
8251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithat <i>somebody</i> ought to speak, and no one else seemed
8261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciinclined to say anything.</p>
8271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Why,' said the Dodo, 'the best way to explain it is to do
8291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit.' (And, as you might like to try the thing yourself, some
8301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwinter day, I will tell you how the Dodo managed it.)</p>
8311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>First it marked out a race-course, in a sort of circle, ('the
8331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciexact shape doesn't matter,' it said,) and then all the party
8341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwere placed along the course, here and there. There was no 'One,
8351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citwo, three, and away,' but they began running when they liked,
8361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand left off when they liked, so that it was not easy to know
8371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhen the race was over. However, when they had been running half
8381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cian hour or so, and were quite dry again, the Dodo suddenly called
8391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciout 'The race is over!' and they all crowded round it, panting,
8401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand asking, 'But who has won?'</p>
8411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>This question the Dodo could not answer without a great deal
8431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciof thought, and it sat for a long time with one finger pressed
8441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciupon its forehead (the position in which you usually see
8451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciShakespeare, in the pictures of him), while the rest waited in
8461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisilence. At last the Dodo said, '<i>everybody</i> has won, and
8471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>all</i> must have prizes.'</p>
8481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'But who is to give the prizes?' quite a chorus of voices
8501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciasked.</p>
8511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Why, <i>she</i>, of course,' said the Dodo, pointing to Alice
8531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwith one finger; and the whole party at once crowded round her,
8541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicalling out in a confused way, 'Prizes! Prizes!'</p>
8551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice had no idea what to do, and in despair she put her hand
8571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciin her pocket, and pulled out a box of comfits, (luckily the salt
8581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwater had not got into it), and handed them round as prizes.
8591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciThere was exactly one a-piece all round.</p>
8601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'But she must have a prize herself, you know,' said the
8621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciMouse.</p>
8631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Of course,' the Dodo replied very gravely. 'What else have
8651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyou got in your pocket?' he went on, turning to Alice.</p>
8661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Only a thimble,' said Alice sadly.</p>
8681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Hand it over here,' said the Dodo.</p>
8701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Then they all crowded round her once more, while the Dodo
8721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisolemnly presented the thimble, saying 'We beg your acceptance of
8731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithis elegant thimble'; and, when it had finished this short
8741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cispeech, they all cheered.</p>
8751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice thought the whole thing very absurd, but they all looked
8771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciso grave that she did not dare to laugh; and, as she could not
8781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithink of anything to say, she simply bowed, and took the thimble,
8791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilooking as solemn as she could.</p>
8801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The next thing was to eat the comfits: this caused some noise
8821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand confusion, as the large birds complained that they could not
8831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citaste theirs, and the small ones choked and had to be patted on
8841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe back. However, it was over at last, and they sat down again
8851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciin a ring, and begged the Mouse to tell them something more.</p>
8861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You promised to tell me your history, you know,' said Alice,
8881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'and why it is you hate--C and D,' she added in a whisper, half
8891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciafraid that it would be offended again.</p>
8901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Mine is a long and a sad tale!' said the Mouse, turning to
8921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice, and sighing.</p>
8931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It <i>is</i> a long tail, certainly,' said Alice, looking down with
8951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwonder at the Mouse's tail; 'but why do you call it sad?' And she
8961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cikept on puzzling about it while the Mouse was speaking, so that
8971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciher idea of the tale was something like this:--</p>
8981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
8991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Fury said to a mouse, That he met in the house, "Let us both
9001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigo to law: I will prosecute <i>you</i>. --Come, I'll take no
9011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidenial; We must have a trial: For really this morning I've
9021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinothing to do." Said the mouse to the cur, "Such a trial, dear
9031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciSir, With no jury or judge, would be wasting our breath." "I'll be
9041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cijudge, I'll be jury," said cunning old Fury: "I'll try the whole
9051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicause, and condemn you to death."'</p>
9061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
9071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You are not attending!' said the Mouse to Alice severely.
9081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'What are you thinking of?'</p>
9091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
9101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I beg your pardon,' said Alice very humbly: 'you had got to
9111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe fifth bend, I think?'</p>
9121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
9131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I had <i>not</i>!' cried the Mouse, sharply and very
9141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciangrily.</p>
9151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
9161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'A knot!' said Alice, always ready to make herself useful, and
9171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilooking anxiously about her. 'Oh, do let me help to undo it!'</p>
9181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
9191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I shall do nothing of the sort,' said the Mouse, getting up
9201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand walking away. 'You insult me by talking such nonsense!'</p>
9211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
9221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I didn't mean it!' pleaded poor Alice. 'But you're so easily
9231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cioffended, you know!'</p>
9241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
9251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Mouse only growled in reply.</p>
9261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
9271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Please come back and finish your story!' Alice called after
9281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit; and the others all joined in chorus, 'Yes, please do!' but
9291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe Mouse only shook its head impatiently, and walked a little
9301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciquicker.</p>
9311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
9321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'What a pity it wouldn't stay!' sighed the Lory, as soon as it
9331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwas quite out of sight; and an old Crab took the opportunity of
9341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisaying to her daughter 'Ah, my dear! Let this be a lesson to you
9351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinever to lose <i>your</i> temper!' 'Hold your tongue, Ma!' said
9361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe young Crab, a little snappishly. 'You're enough to try the
9371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipatience of an oyster!'</p>
9381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
9391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I wish I had our Dinah here, I know I do!' said Alice aloud,
9401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciaddressing nobody in particular. 'She'd soon fetch it back!'</p>
9411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
9421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'And who is Dinah, if I might venture to ask the question?'
9431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisaid the Lory.</p>
9441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
9451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice replied eagerly, for she was always ready to talk about
9461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciher pet: 'Dinah's our cat. And she's such a capital one for
9471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicatching mice you can't think! And oh, I wish you could see her
9481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciafter the birds! Why, she'll eat a little bird as soon as look at
9491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit!'</p>
9501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
9511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>This speech caused a remarkable sensation among the party.
9521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciSome of the birds hurried off at once: one old Magpie began
9531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwrapping itself up very carefully, remarking, 'I really must be
9541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigetting home; the night-air doesn't suit my throat!' and a Canary
9551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicalled out in a trembling voice to its children, 'Come away, my
9561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidears! It's high time you were all in bed!' On various pretexts
9571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithey all moved off, and Alice was soon left alone.</p>
9581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
9591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I wish I hadn't mentioned Dinah!' she said to herself in a
9601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimelancholy tone. 'Nobody seems to like her, down here, and I'm
9611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisure she's the best cat in the world! Oh, my dear Dinah! I wonder
9621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciif I shall ever see you any more!' And here poor Alice began to
9631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicry again, for she felt very lonely and low-spirited. In a little
9641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhile, however, she again heard a little pattering of footsteps
9651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciin the distance, and she looked up eagerly, half hoping that the
9661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciMouse had changed his mind, and was coming back to finish his
9671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cistory.</p>
9681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
9691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<hr>
9701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">CHAPTER IV</h3>
9711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
9721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">The Rabbit Sends in a Little Bill</h3>
9731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
9741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>It was the White Rabbit, trotting slowly back again, and
9751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilooking anxiously about as it went, as if it had lost something;
9761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand she heard it muttering to itself 'The Duchess! The Duchess!
9771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciOh my dear paws! Oh my fur and whiskers! She'll get me executed,
9781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cias sure as ferrets are ferrets! Where <i>can</i> I have dropped
9791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithem, I wonder?' Alice guessed in a moment that it was looking
9801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifor the fan and the pair of white kid gloves, and she very
9811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigood-naturedly began hunting about for them, but they were
9821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinowhere to be seen--everything seemed to have changed since her
9831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciswim in the pool, and the great hall, with the glass table and
9841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe little door, had vanished completely.</p>
9851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
9861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Very soon the Rabbit noticed Alice, as she went hunting about,
9871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand called out to her in an angry tone, 'Why, Mary Ann, what
9881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>are</i> you doing out here? Run home this moment, and fetch me
9891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cia pair of gloves and a fan! Quick, now!' And Alice was so much
9901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifrightened that she ran off at once in the direction it pointed
9911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito, without trying to explain the mistake it had made.</p>
9921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
9931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'He took me for his housemaid,' she said to herself as she
9941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciran. 'How surprised he'll be when he finds out who I am! But I'd
9951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibetter take him his fan and gloves--that is, if I can find them.'
9961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAs she said this, she came upon a neat little house, on the door
9971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciof which was a bright brass plate with the name 'W. RABBIT'
9981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciengraved upon it. She went in without knocking, and hurried
9991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciupstairs, in great fear lest she should meet the real Mary Ann,
10001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand be turned out of the house before she had found the fan and
10011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigloves.</p>
10021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
10031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'How queer it seems,' Alice said to herself, 'to be going
10041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimessages for a rabbit! I suppose Dinah'll be sending me on
10051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimessages next!' And she began fancying the sort of thing that
10061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwould happen: '"Miss Alice! Come here directly, and get ready for
10071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyour walk!" "Coming in a minute, nurse! But I've got to see that
10081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe mouse doesn't get out." Only I don't think,' Alice went on,
10091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'that they'd let Dinah stop in the house if it began ordering
10101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipeople about like that!'</p>
10111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
10121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>By this time she had found her way into a tidy little room
10131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwith a table in the window, and on it (as she had hoped) a fan
10141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand two or three pairs of tiny white kid gloves: she took up the
10151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifan and a pair of the gloves, and was just going to leave the
10161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciroom, when her eye fell upon a little bottle that stood near the
10171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilooking- glass. There was no label this time with the words
10181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'DRINK ME,' but nevertheless she uncorked it and put it to her
10191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilips. 'I know <i>something</i> interesting is sure to happen,'
10201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe said to herself, 'whenever I eat or drink anything; so I'll
10211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cijust see what this bottle does. I do hope it'll make me grow
10221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilarge again, for really I'm quite tired of being such a tiny
10231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilittle thing!'</p>
10241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
10251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>It did so indeed, and much sooner than she had expected:
10261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibefore she had drunk half the bottle, she found her head pressing
10271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciagainst the ceiling, and had to stoop to save her neck from being
10281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibroken. She hastily put down the bottle, saying to herself
10291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'That's quite enough--I hope I shan't grow any more--As it is, I
10301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cican't get out at the door--I do wish I hadn't drunk quite so
10311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimuch!'</p>
10321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
10331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alas! it was too late to wish that! She went on growing, and
10341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigrowing, and very soon had to kneel down on the floor: in another
10351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciminute there was not even room for this, and she tried the effect
10361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciof lying down with one elbow against the door, and the other arm
10371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicurled round her head. Still she went on growing, and, as a last
10381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciresource, she put one arm out of the window, and one foot up the
10391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cichimney, and said to herself 'Now I can do no more, whatever
10401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihappens. What <i>will</i> become of me?'</p>
10411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
10421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Luckily for Alice, the little magic bottle had now had its
10431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifull effect, and she grew no larger: still it was very
10441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciuncomfortable, and, as there seemed to be no sort of chance of
10451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciher ever getting out of the room again, no wonder she felt
10461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciunhappy.</p>
10471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
10481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It was much pleasanter at home,' thought poor Alice, 'when
10491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cione wasn't always growing larger and smaller, and being ordered
10501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciabout by mice and rabbits. I almost wish I hadn't gone down that
10511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cirabbit-hole--and yet--and yet--it's rather curious, you know,
10521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithis sort of life! I do wonder what <i>can</i> have happened to
10531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cime! When I used to read fairy-tales, I fancied that kind of thing
10541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinever happened, and now here I am in the middle of one! There
10551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciought to be a book written about me, that there ought! And when I
10561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigrow up, I'll write one--but I'm grown up now,' she added in a
10571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisorrowful tone; 'at least there's no room to grow up any more
10581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>here</i>.'</p>
10591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
10601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'But then,' thought Alice, 'shall I <i>never</i> get any older
10611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithan I am now? That'll be a comfort, one way--never to be an old
10621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwoman-- but then--always to have lessons to learn! Oh, I
10631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishouldn't like <i>that</i>!'</p>
10641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
10651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Oh, you foolish Alice!' she answered herself. 'How can you
10661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilearn lessons in here? Why, there's hardly room for you, and no
10671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciroom at all for any lesson-books!'</p>
10681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
10691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>And so she went on, taking first one side and then the other,
10701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand making quite a conversation of it altogether; but after a few
10711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciminutes she heard a voice outside, and stopped to listen.</p>
10721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
10731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Mary Ann! Mary Ann!' said the voice. 'Fetch me my gloves this
10741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimoment!' Then came a little pattering of feet on the stairs.
10751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice knew it was the Rabbit coming to look for her, and she
10761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citrembled till she shook the house, quite forgetting that she was
10771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinow about a thousand times as large as the Rabbit, and had no
10781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cireason to be afraid of it.</p>
10791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
10801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Presently the Rabbit came up to the door, and tried to open
10811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit; but, as the door opened inwards, and Alice's elbow was
10821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipressed hard against it, that attempt proved a failure. Alice
10831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciheard it say to itself 'Then I'll go round and get in at the
10841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwindow.'</p>
10851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
10861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'<i>That</i> you won't' thought Alice, and, after waiting till
10871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe fancied she heard the Rabbit just under the window, she
10881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisuddenly spread out her hand, and made a snatch in the air. She
10891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidid not get hold of anything, but she heard a little shriek and a
10901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifall, and a crash of broken glass, from which she concluded that
10911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit was just possible it had fallen into a cucumber-frame, or
10921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisomething of the sort.</p>
10931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
10941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Next came an angry voice--the Rabbit's--'Pat! Pat! Where are
10951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyou?' And then a voice she had never heard before, 'Sure then I'm
10961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihere! Digging for apples, yer honour!'</p>
10971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
10981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Digging for apples, indeed!' said the Rabbit angrily. 'Here!
10991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciCome and help me out of <i>this</i>!' (Sounds of more broken
11001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciglass.)</p>
11011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
11021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Now tell me, Pat, what's that in the window?'</p>
11031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
11041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Sure, it's an arm, yer honour!' (He pronounced it
11051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'arrum.')</p>
11061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
11071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'An arm, you goose! Who ever saw one that size? Why, it fills
11081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe whole window!'</p>
11091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
11101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Sure, it does, yer honour: but it's an arm for all that.'</p>
11111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
11121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Well, it's got no business there, at any rate: go and take it
11131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciaway!'</p>
11141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
11151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>There was a long silence after this, and Alice could only hear
11161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhispers now and then; such as, 'Sure, I don't like it, yer
11171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihonour, at all, at all!' 'Do as I tell you, you coward!' and at
11181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilast she spread out her hand again, and made another snatch in
11191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe air. This time there were <i>two</i> little shrieks, and more
11201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisounds of broken glass. 'What a number of cucumber-frames there
11211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimust be!' thought Alice. 'I wonder what they'll do next! As for
11221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipulling me out of the window, I only wish they <i>could</i>! I'm
11231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisure I don't want to stay in here any longer!'</p>
11241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
11251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>She waited for some time without hearing anything more: at
11261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilast came a rumbling of little cartwheels, and the sound of a
11271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigood many voices all talking together: she made out the words:
11281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'Where's the other ladder?--Why, I hadn't to bring but one;
11291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciBill's got the other--Bill! fetch it here, lad!--Here, put 'em up
11301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciat this corner--No, tie 'em together first--they don't reach half
11311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihigh enough yet--Oh! they'll do well enough; don't be
11321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciparticular-- Here, Bill! catch hold of this rope--Will the roof
11331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibear?--Mind that loose slate--Oh, it's coming down! Heads below!'
11341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci(a loud crash)--'Now, who did that?--It was Bill, I fancy--Who's
11351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito go down the chimney?--Nay, I shan't! <i>you</i> do it!--That I
11361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwon't, then!--Bill's to go down--Here, Bill! the master says
11371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyou're to go down the chimney!'</p>
11381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
11391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Oh! So Bill's got to come down the chimney, has he?' said
11401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice to herself. 'Shy, they seem to put everything upon Bill! I
11411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwouldn't be in Bill's place for a good deal: this fireplace is
11421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinarrow, to be sure; but I <i>think</i> I can kick a little!'</p>
11431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
11441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>She drew her foot as far down the chimney as she could, and
11451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwaited till she heard a little animal (she couldn't guess of what
11461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisort it was) scratching and scrambling about in the chimney close
11471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciabove her: then, saying to herself 'This is Bill,' she gave one
11481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisharp kick, and waited to see what would happen next.</p>
11491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
11501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The first thing she heard was a general chorus of 'There goes
11511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciBill!' then the Rabbit's voice along--'Catch him, you by the
11521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihedge!' then silence, and then another confusion of voices--'Hold
11531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciup his head--Brandy now--Don't choke him--How was it, old fellow?
11541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciWhat happened to you? Tell us all about it!'</p>
11551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
11561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Last came a little feeble, squeaking voice, ('That's Bill,'
11571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithought Alice,) 'Well, I hardly know--No more, thank ye; I'm
11581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibetter now--but I'm a deal too flustered to tell you--all I know
11591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciis, something comes at me like a Jack-in-the-box, and up I goes
11601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilike a sky-rocket!'</p>
11611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
11621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'So you did, old fellow!' said the others.</p>
11631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
11641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'We must burn the house down!' said the Rabbit's voice; and
11651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice called out as loud as she could, 'If you do. I'll set Dinah
11661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciat you!'</p>
11671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
11681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>There was a dead silence instantly, and Alice thought to
11691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciherself, 'I wonder what they <i>will</i> do next! If they had any
11701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisense, they'd take the roof off.' After a minute or two, they
11711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibegan moving about again, and Alice heard the Rabbit say, 'A
11721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibarrowful will do, to begin with.'</p>
11731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
11741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'A barrowful of <i>what</i>?' thought Alice; but she had not
11751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilong to doubt, for the next moment a shower of little pebbles
11761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicame rattling in at the window, and some of them hit her in the
11771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciface. 'I'll put a stop to this,' she said to herself, and shouted
11781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciout, 'You'd better not do that again!' which produced another
11791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidead silence.</p>
11801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
11811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice noticed with some surprise that the pebbles were all
11821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citurning into little cakes as they lay on the floor, and a bright
11831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciidea came into her head. 'If I eat one of these cakes,' she
11841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithought, 'it's sure to make <i>some</i> change in my size; and as
11851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit can't possibly make me larger, it must make me smaller, I
11861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisuppose.'</p>
11871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
11881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>So she swallowed one of the cakes, and was delighted to find
11891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithat she began shrinking directly. As soon as she was small
11901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cienough to get through the door, she ran out of the house, and
11911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifound quite a crowd of little animals and birds waiting outside.
11921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciThe poor little Lizard, Bill, was in the middle, being held up by
11931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citwo guinea-pigs, who were giving it something out of a bottle.
11941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciThey all made a rush at Alice the moment she appeared; but she
11951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciran off as hard as she could, and soon found herself safe in a
11961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithick wood.</p>
11971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
11981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'The first thing I've got to do,' said Alice to herself, as
11991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe wandered about in the wood, 'is to grow to my right size
12001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciagain; and the second thing is to find my way into that lovely
12011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigarden. I think that will be the best plan.'</p>
12021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
12031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>It sounded an excellent plan, no doubt, and very neatly and
12041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisimply arranged; the only difficulty was, that she had not the
12051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cismallest idea how to set about it; and while she was peering
12061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciabout anxiously among the trees, a little sharp bark just over
12071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciher head made her look up in a great hurry.</p>
12081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
12091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>An enormous puppy was looking down at her with large round
12101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cieyes, and feebly stretching out one paw, trying to touch her.
12111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'Poor little thing!' said Alice, in a coaxing tone, and she tried
12121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihard to whistle to it; but she was terribly frightened all the
12131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citime at the thought that it might be hungry, in which case it
12141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwould be very likely to eat her up in spite of all her
12151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicoaxing.</p>
12161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
12171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Hardly knowing what she did, she picked up a little bit of
12181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cistick, and held it out to the puppy; whereupon the puppy jumped
12191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciinto the air off all its feet at once, with a yelp of delight,
12201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand rushed at the stick, and made believe to worry it; then Alice
12211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidodged behind a great thistle, to keep herself from being run
12221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciover; and the moment she appeared on the other side, the puppy
12231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimade another rush at the stick, and tumbled head over heels in
12241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciits hurry to get hold of it; then Alice, thinking it was very
12251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilike having a game of play with a cart-horse, and expecting every
12261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimoment to be trampled under its feet, ran round the thistle
12271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciagain; then the puppy began a series of short charges at the
12281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cistick, running a very little way forwards each time and a long
12291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciway back, and barking hoarsely all the while, till at last it sat
12301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidown a good way off, panting, with its tongue hanging out of its
12311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimouth, and its great eyes half shut.</p>
12321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
12331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>This seemed to Alice a good opportunity for making her escape;
12341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciso she set off at once, and ran till she was quite tired and out
12351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciof breath, and till the puppy's bark sounded quite faint in the
12361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidistance.</p>
12371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
12381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'And yet what a dear little puppy it was!' said Alice, as she
12391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cileant against a buttercup to rest herself, and fanned herself
12401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwith one of the leaves: 'I should have liked teaching it tricks
12411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civery much, if--if I'd only been the right size to do it! Oh dear!
12421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciI'd nearly forgotten that I've got to grow up again! Let me
12431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisee--how <i>is</i> it to be managed? I suppose I ought to eat or drink
12441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisomething or other; but the great question is, what?'</p>
12451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
12461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The great question certainly was, what? Alice looked all round
12471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciher at the flowers and the blades of grass, but she did not see
12481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cianything that looked like the right thing to eat or drink under
12491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe circumstances. There was a large mushroom growing near her,
12501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciabout the same height as herself; and when she had looked under
12511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit, and on both sides of it, and behind it, it occurred to her
12521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithat she might as well look and see what was on the top of
12531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit.</p>
12541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
12551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>She stretched herself up on tiptoe, and peeped over the edge
12561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciof the mushroom, and her eyes immediately met those of a large
12571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicaterpillar, that was sitting on the top with its arms folded,
12581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciquietly smoking a long hookah, and taking not the smallest notice
12591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciof her or of anything else.</p>
12601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
12611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<hr>
12621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">CHAPTER V</h3>
12631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
12641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">Advice from a Caterpillar</h3>
12651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
12661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Caterpillar and Alice looked at each other for some time
12671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciin silence: at last the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its
12681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimouth, and addressed her in a languid, sleepy voice.</p>
12691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
12701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Who are <i>you</i>?' said the Caterpillar.</p>
12711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
12721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice
12731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cireplied, rather shyly, 'I--I hardly know, sir, just at present--
12741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciat least I know who I <i>was</i> when I got up this morning, but I think
12751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciI must have been changed several times since then.'</p>
12761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
12771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'What do you mean by that?' said the Caterpillar sternly.
12781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'Explain yourself!'</p>
12791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
12801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I can't explain <i>myself</i>, I'm afraid, sir' said Alice,
12811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'because I'm not myself, you see.'</p>
12821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
12831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I don't see,' said the Caterpillar.</p>
12841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
12851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I'm afraid I can't put it more clearly,' Alice replied very
12861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipolitely, 'for I can't understand it myself to begin with; and
12871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibeing so many different sizes in a day is very confusing.'</p>
12881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
12891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It isn't,' said the Caterpillar.</p>
12901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
12911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Well, perhaps you haven't found it so yet,' said Alice; 'but
12921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhen you have to turn into a chrysalis--you will some day, you
12931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciknow--and then after that into a butterfly, I should think you'll
12941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifeel it a little queer, won't you?'</p>
12951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
12961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Not a bit,' said the Caterpillar.</p>
12971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
12981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Well, perhaps your feelings may be different,' said Alice;
12991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'all I know is, it would feel very queer to <i>me</i>.'</p>
13001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You!' said the Caterpillar contemptuously. 'Who are
13021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>you</i>?'</p>
13031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Which brought them back again to the beginning of the
13051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciconversation. Alice felt a little irritated at the Caterpillar's
13061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimaking such <i>very</i> short remarks, and she drew herself up
13071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand said, very gravely, 'I think, you ought to tell me who
13081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>you</i> are, first.'</p>
13091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Why?' said the Caterpillar.</p>
13111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Here was another puzzling question; and as Alice could not
13131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithink of any good reason, and as the Caterpillar seemed to be in
13141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cia <i>very</i> unpleasant state of mind, she turned away.</p>
13151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Come back!' the Caterpillar called after her. 'I've something
13171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciimportant to say!'</p>
13181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>This sounded promising, certainly: Alice turned and came back
13201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciagain.</p>
13211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Keep your temper,' said the Caterpillar.</p>
13231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Is that all?' said Alice, swallowing down her anger as well
13251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cias she could.</p>
13261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'No,' said the Caterpillar.</p>
13281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice thought she might as well wait, as she had nothing else
13301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito do, and perhaps after all it might tell her something worth
13311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihearing. For some minutes it puffed away without speaking, but at
13321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilast it unfolded its arms, took the hookah out of its mouth
13331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciagain, and said, 'So you think you're changed, do you?'</p>
13341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I'm afraid I am, sir,' said Alice; 'I can't remember things
13361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cias I used--and I don't keep the same size for ten minutes
13371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citogether!'</p>
13381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Can't remember <i>what</i> things?' said the Caterpillar.</p>
13401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Well, I've tried to say "<i>How doth the little busy
13421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibee,</i>" but it all came different!' Alice replied in a very
13431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimelancholy voice.</p>
13441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Repeat, "<i>you are old, Father William,</i>"' said the
13461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciCaterpillar.</p>
13471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice folded her hands, and began:--</p>
13491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>'You are old, Father William,' the young man said, 'And
13511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyour hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on
13521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyour head-- Do you think, at your age, it is right?'</i></p>
13531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>'In my youth,' Father William replied to his son, 'I feared
13551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit might injure the brain; But, now that I'm perfectly sure I
13561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihave none, Why, I do it again and again.'</i></p>
13571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>'You are old,' said the youth, 'as I mentioned before, And
13591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihave grown most uncommonly fat; Yet you turned a back-somersault
13601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciin at the door-- Pray, what is the reason of that?'</i></p>
13611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>'In my youth,' said the sage, as he shook his grey locks,
13631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'I kept all my limbs very supple By the use of this ointment--one
13641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishilling the box-- Allow me to sell you a couple?'</i></p>
13651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>'You are old,' said the youth, 'and your jaws are too weak
13671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciFor anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with
13681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe bones and the beak-- Pray how did you manage to do
13691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit?'</i></p>
13701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>'In my youth,' said his father, 'I took to the law, And
13721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciargued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength, which
13731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit gave to my jaw, Has lasted the rest of my life.'</i></p>
13741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>'You are old,' said the youth, 'one would hardly suppose
13761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciThat your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on
13771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?'</i></p>
13781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>'I have answered three questions, and that is enough,' Said
13801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihis father; 'don't give yourself airs! Do you think I can listen
13811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciall day to such stuff? Be off, or I'll kick you down
13821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cistairs!'</i></p>
13831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'That is not said right,' said the Caterpillar.</p>
13851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Not <i>quite</i> right, I'm afraid,' said Alice, timidly;
13871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'some of the words have got altered.'</p>
13881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It is wrong from beginning to end,' said the Caterpillar
13901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidecidedly, and there was silence for some minutes.</p>
13911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Caterpillar was the first to speak.</p>
13931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'What size do you want to be?' it asked.</p>
13951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Oh, I'm not particular as to size,' Alice hastily replied;
13971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'only one doesn't like changing so often, you know.'</p>
13981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
13991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I <i>don't</i> know,' said the Caterpillar.</p>
14001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice said nothing: she had never been so much contradicted in
14021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciher life before, and she felt that she was losing her temper.</p>
14031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Are you content now?' said the Caterpillar.</p>
14051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Well, I should like to be a <i>little</i> larger, sir, if you
14071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwouldn't mind,' said Alice: 'three inches is such a wretched
14081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciheight to be.'</p>
14091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It is a very good height indeed!' said the Caterpillar
14111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciangrily, rearing itself upright as it spoke (it was exactly three
14121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciinches high).</p>
14131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'But I'm not used to it!' pleaded poor Alice in a piteous
14151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citone. And she thought of herself, 'I wish the creatures wouldn't
14161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibe so easily offended!'</p>
14171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You'll get used to it in time,' said the Caterpillar; and it
14191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciput the hookah into its mouth and began smoking again.</p>
14201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>This time Alice waited patiently until it chose to speak
14221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciagain. In a minute or two the Caterpillar took the hookah out of
14231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciits mouth and yawned once or twice, and shook itself. Then it got
14241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidown off the mushroom, and crawled away in the grass, merely
14251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciremarking as it went, 'One side will make you grow taller, and
14261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe other side will make you grow shorter.'</p>
14271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'One side of <i>what</i>? The other side of <i>what</i>?'
14291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithought Alice to herself.</p>
14301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Of the mushroom,' said the Caterpillar, just as if she had
14321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciasked it aloud; and in another moment it was out of sight.</p>
14331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice remained looking thoughtfully at the mushroom for a
14351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciminute, trying to make out which were the two sides of it; and as
14361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit was perfectly round, she found this a very difficult question.
14371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciHowever, at last she stretched her arms round it as far as they
14381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwould go, and broke off a bit of the edge with each hand.</p>
14391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'And now which is which?' she said to herself, and nibbled a
14411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilittle of the right-hand bit to try the effect: the next moment
14421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe felt a violent blow underneath her chin: it had struck her
14431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifoot!</p>
14441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>She was a good deal frightened by this very sudden change, but
14461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe felt that there was no time to be lost, as she was shrinking
14471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cirapidly; so she set to work at once to eat some of the other bit.
14481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciHer chin was pressed so closely against her foot, that there was
14491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihardly room to open her mouth; but she did it at last, and
14501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimanaged to swallow a morsel of the lefthand bit.</p>
14511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p align="Center">* * * * *</p>
14531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Come, my head's free at last!' said Alice in a tone of
14551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidelight, which changed into alarm in another moment, when she
14561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifound that her shoulders were nowhere to be found: all she could
14571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisee, when she looked down, was an immense length of neck, which
14581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciseemed to rise like a stalk out of a sea of green leaves that lay
14591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifar below her.</p>
14601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'What <i>can</i> all that green stuff be?' said Alice. 'And
14621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhere <i>have</i> my shoulders got to? And oh, my poor hands, how
14631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciis it I can't see you?' She was moving them about as she spoke,
14641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibut no result seemed to follow, except a little shaking among the
14651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidistant green leaves.</p>
14661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>As there seemed to be no chance of getting her hands up to her
14681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihead, she tried to get her head down to them, and was delighted
14691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito find that her neck would bend about easily in any direction,
14701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilike a serpent. She had just succeeded in curving it down into a
14711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigraceful zigzag, and was going to dive in among the leaves, which
14721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe found to be nothing but the tops of the trees under which she
14731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihad been wandering, when a sharp hiss made her draw back in a
14741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihurry: a large pigeon had flown into her face, and was beating
14751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciher violently with its wings.</p>
14761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Serpent!' screamed the Pigeon.</p>
14781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I'm <i>not</i> a serpent!' said Alice indignantly. 'Let me
14801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cialone!'</p>
14811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Serpent, I say again!' repeated the Pigeon, but in a more
14831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisubdued tone, and added with a kind of sob, 'I've tried every
14841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciway, and nothing seems to suit them!'</p>
14851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I haven't the least idea what you're talking about,' said
14871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice.</p>
14881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I've tried the roots of trees, and I've tried banks, and I've
14901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citried hedges,' the Pigeon went on, without attending to her; 'but
14911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithose serpents! There's no pleasing them!'</p>
14921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice was more and more puzzled, but she thought there was no
14941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciuse in saying anything more till the Pigeon had finished.</p>
14951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
14961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'As if it wasn't trouble enough hatching the eggs,' said the
14971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciPigeon; 'but I must be on the look-out for serpents night and
14981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciday! Why, I haven't had a wink of sleep these three weeks!'</p>
14991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
15001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I'm very sorry you've been annoyed,' said Alice, who was
15011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibeginning to see its meaning.</p>
15021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
15031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'And just as I'd taken the highest tree in the wood,'
15041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicontinued the Pigeon, raising its voice to a shriek, 'and just as
15051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciI was thinking I should be free of them at last, they must needs
15061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicome wriggling down from the sky! Ugh, Serpent!'</p>
15071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
15081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'But I'm <i>not</i> a serpent, I tell you!' said Alice. 'I'm
15091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cia--I'm a--'</p>
15101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
15111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Well! <i>what</i> are you?' said the Pigeon. 'I can see
15121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyou're trying to invent something!'</p>
15131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
15141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I--I'm a little girl,' said Alice, rather doubtfully, as she
15151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciremembered the number of changes she had gone through that
15161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciday.</p>
15171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
15181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'A likely story indeed!' said the Pigeon in a tone of the
15191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cideepest contempt. 'I've seen a good many little girls in my time,
15201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibut never <i>one</i> with such a neck as that! No, no! You're a
15211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciserpent; and there's no use denying it. I suppose you'll be
15221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citelling me next that you never tasted an egg!'</p>
15231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
15241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I <i>have</i> tasted eggs, certainly,' said Alice, who was a
15251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civery truthful child; 'but little girls eat eggs quite as much as
15261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciserpents do, you know.'</p>
15271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
15281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I don't believe it,' said the Pigeon; 'but if they do, why
15291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithen they're a kind of serpent, that's all I can say.'</p>
15301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
15311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>This was such a new idea to Alice, that she was quite silent
15321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifor a minute or two, which gave the Pigeon the opportunity of
15331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciadding, 'You're looking for eggs, I know <i>that</i> well enough;
15341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand what does it matter to me whether you're a little girl or a
15351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciserpent?'</p>
15361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
15371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It matters a good deal to <i>me</i>,' said Alice hastily;
15381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'but I'm not looking for eggs, as it happens; and if I was, I
15391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishouldn't want <i>yours</i>: I don't like them raw.'</p>
15401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
15411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Well, be off, then!' said the Pigeon in a sulky tone, as it
15421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisettled down again into its nest. Alice crouched down among the
15431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citrees as well as she could, for her neck kept getting entangled
15441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciamong the branches, and every now and then she had to stop and
15451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciuntwist it. After a while she remembered that she still held the
15461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipieces of mushroom in her hands, and she set to work very
15471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicarefully, nibbling first at one and then at the other, and
15481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigrowing sometimes taller and sometimes shorter, until she had
15491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisucceeded in bringing herself down to her usual height.</p>
15501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
15511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>It was so long since she had been anything near the right
15521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisize, that it felt quite strange at first; but she got used to it
15531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciin a few minutes, and began talking to herself, as usual. 'Come,
15541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithere's half my plan done now! How puzzling all these changes
15551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciare! I'm never sure what I'm going to be, from one minute to
15561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cianother! However, I've got back to my right size: the next thing
15571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciis, to get into that beautiful garden--how <i>is</i> that to be
15581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidone, I wonder?' As she said this, she came suddenly upon an open
15591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciplace, with a little house in it about four feet high. 'Whoever
15601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilives there,' thought Alice, 'it'll never do to come upon them
15611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>this</i> size: why, I should frighten them out of their wits!'
15621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciSo she began nibbling at the righthand bit again, and did not
15631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civenture to go near the house till she had brought herself down to
15641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinine inches high.</p>
15651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
15661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<hr>
15671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">CHAPTER VI</h3>
15681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
15691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">Pig and Pepper</h3>
15701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
15711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>For a minute or two she stood looking at the house, and
15721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwondering what to do next, when suddenly a footman in livery came
15731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cirunning out of the wood--(she considered him to be a footman
15741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibecause he was in livery: otherwise, judging by his face only,
15751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe would have called him a fish)--and rapped loudly at the door
15761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwith his knuckles. It was opened by another footman in livery,
15771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwith a round face, and large eyes like a frog; and both footmen,
15781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice noticed, had powdered hair that curled all over their
15791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciheads. She felt very curious to know what it was all about, and
15801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicrept a little way out of the wood to listen.</p>
15811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
15821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Fish-Footman began by producing from under his arm a great
15831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciletter, nearly as large as himself, and this he handed over to
15841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe other, saying, in a solemn tone, 'For the Duchess. An
15851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciinvitation from the Queen to play croquet.' The Frog-Footman
15861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cirepeated, in the same solemn tone, only changing the order of the
15871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwords a little, 'From the Queen. An invitation for the Duchess to
15881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciplay croquet.'</p>
15891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
15901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Then they both bowed low, and their curls got entangled
15911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citogether.</p>
15921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
15931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice laughed so much at this, that she had to run back into
15941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe wood for fear of their hearing her; and when she next peeped
15951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciout the Fish-Footman was gone, and the other was sitting on the
15961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciground near the door, staring stupidly up into the sky.</p>
15971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
15981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice went timidly up to the door, and knocked.</p>
15991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'There's no sort of use in knocking,' said the Footman, 'and
16011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithat for two reasons. First, because I'm on the same side of the
16021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidoor as you are; secondly, because they're making such a noise
16031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciinside, no one could possibly hear you.' And certainly there was
16041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cia most extraordinary noise going on within--a constant howling
16051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand sneezing, and every now and then a great crash, as if a dish
16061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cior kettle had been broken to pieces.</p>
16071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Please, then,' said Alice, 'how am I to get in?'</p>
16091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'There might be some sense in your knocking,' the Footman went
16111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cion without attending to her, 'if we had the door between us. For
16121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciinstance, if you were <i>inside</i>, you might knock, and I could
16131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilet you out, you know.' He was looking up into the sky all the
16141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citime he was speaking, and this Alice thought decidedly uncivil.
16151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'But perhaps he can't help it,' she said to herself; 'his eyes
16161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciare so <i>very</i> nearly at the top of his head. But at any rate
16171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihe might answer questions.--How am I to get in?' she repeated,
16181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cialoud.</p>
16191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I shall sit here,' the Footman remarked, 'till
16211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citomorrow--'</p>
16221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>At this moment the door of the house opened, and a large plate
16241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicame skimming out, straight at the Footman's head: it just grazed
16251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihis nose, and broke to pieces against one of the trees behind
16261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihim.</p>
16271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'--or next day, maybe,' the Footman continued in the same
16291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citone, exactly as if nothing had happened.</p>
16301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'How am I to get in?' asked Alice again, in a louder tone.</p>
16321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'<i>Are</i> you to get in at all?' said the Footman. 'That's
16341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe first question, you know.'</p>
16351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>It was, no doubt: only Alice did not like to be told so. 'It's
16371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cireally dreadful,' she muttered to herself, 'the way all the
16381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicreatures argue. It's enough to drive one crazy!'</p>
16391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Footman seemed to think this a good opportunity for
16411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cirepeating his remark, with variations. 'I shall sit here,' he
16421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisaid, 'on and off, for days and days.'</p>
16431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'But what am I to do?' said Alice.</p>
16451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Anything you like,' said the Footman, and began
16471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhistling.</p>
16481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Oh, there's no use in talking to him,' said Alice
16501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidesperately: 'he's perfectly idiotic!' And she opened the door
16511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand went in.</p>
16521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The door led right into a large kitchen, which was full of
16541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cismoke from one end to the other: the Duchess was sitting on a
16551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithree-legged stool in the middle, nursing a baby; the cook was
16561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cileaning over the fire, stirring a large cauldron which seemed to
16571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibe full of soup.</p>
16581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'There's certainly too much pepper in that soup!' Alice said
16601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito herself, as well as she could for sneezing.</p>
16611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>There was certainly too much of it in the air. Even the
16631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciDuchess sneezed occasionally; and as for the baby, it was
16641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisneezing and howling alternately without a moment's pause. The
16651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cionly things in the kitchen that did not sneeze, were the cook,
16661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand a large cat which was sitting on the hearth and grinning from
16671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciear to ear.</p>
16681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Please would you tell me,' said Alice, a little timidly, for
16701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe was not quite sure whether it was good manners for her to
16711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cispeak first, 'why your cat grins like that?'</p>
16721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It's a Cheshire cat,' said the Duchess, 'and that's why.
16741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciPig!'</p>
16751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>She said the last word with such sudden violence that Alice
16771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciquite jumped; but she saw in another moment that it was addressed
16781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito the baby, and not to her, so she took courage, and went on
16791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciagain:--</p>
16801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I didn't know that Cheshire cats always grinned; in fact, I
16821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cididn't know that cats <i>could</i> grin.'</p>
16831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'They all can,' said the Duchess; 'and most of 'em do.'</p>
16851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I don't know of any that do,' Alice said very politely,
16871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifeeling quite pleased to have got into a conversation.</p>
16881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You don't know much,' said the Duchess; 'and that's a
16901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifact.'</p>
16911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
16921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice did not at all like the tone of this remark, and thought
16931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit would be as well to introduce some other subject of
16941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciconversation. While she was trying to fix on one, the cook took
16951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe cauldron of soup off the fire, and at once set to work
16961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithrowing everything within her reach at the Duchess and the baby
16971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci--the fire-irons came first; then followed a shower of saucepans,
16981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciplates, and dishes. The Duchess took no notice of them even when
16991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithey hit her; and the baby was howling so much already, that it
17001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwas quite impossible to say whether the blows hurt it or not.</p>
17011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Oh, <i>please</i> mind what you're doing!' cried Alice,
17031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cijumping up and down in an agony of terror. 'Oh, there goes his
17041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>precious</i> nose'; as an unusually large saucepan flew close
17051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciby it, and very nearly carried it off.</p>
17061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'If everybody minded their own business,' the Duchess said in
17081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cia hoarse growl, 'the world would go round a deal faster than it
17091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidoes.'</p>
17101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Which would <i>not</i> be an advantage,' said Alice, who felt
17121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civery glad to get an opportunity of showing off a little of her
17131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciknowledge. 'Just think of what work it would make with the day
17141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand night! You see the earth takes twenty-four hours to turn
17151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciround on its axis--'</p>
17161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Talking of axes,' said the Duchess, 'chop off her head!'</p>
17181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice glanced rather anxiously at the cook, to see if she
17201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimeant to take the hint; but the cook was busily stirring the
17211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisoup, and seemed not to be listening, so she went on again:
17221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'Twenty-four hours, I <i>think</i>; or is it twelve? I--'</p>
17231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Oh, don't bother <i>me</i>,' said the Duchess; 'I never could abide
17251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifigures!' And with that she began nursing her child again,
17261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisinging a sort of lullaby to it as she did so, and giving it a
17271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civiolent shake at the end of every line:</p>
17281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p align="Center"><i>'Speak roughly to your little boy,</i></p>
17301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p align="Center"><i>And beat him when he sneezes:</i></p>
17321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p align="Center"><i>He only does it to annoy,</i></p>
17341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p align="Center"><i>Because he knows it teases.'</i></p>
17361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p align="Center">CHORUS</p>
17381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>(In which the cook and the baby joined):--</p>
17401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p align="Center">'Wow! wow! wow!'</p>
17421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>While the Duchess sang the second verse of the song, she kept
17441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citossing the baby violently up and down, and the poor little thing
17451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihowled so, that Alice could hardly hear the words:--</p>
17461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p align="Center"><i>'I speak severely to my boy,</i></p>
17481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p align="Center"><i>I beat him when he sneezes;</i></p>
17501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p align="Center"><i>For he can thoroughly enjoy</i></p>
17521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p align="Center"><i>The pepper when he pleases!'</i></p>
17541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p align="Center">CHORUS</p>
17561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p align="Center">'Wow! wow! wow!'</p>
17581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Here! you may nurse it a bit, if you like!' the Duchess said
17601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito Alice, flinging the baby at her as she spoke. 'I must go and
17611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciget ready to play croquet with the Queen,' and she hurried out of
17621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe room. The cook threw a frying-pan after her as she went out,
17631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibut it just missed her.</p>
17641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice caught the baby with some difficulty, as it was a queer-
17661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishaped little creature, and held out its arms and legs in all
17671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidirections, 'just like a star-fish,' thought Alice. The poor
17681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilittle thing was snorting like a steam-engine when she caught it,
17691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand kept doubling itself up and straightening itself out again,
17701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciso that altogether, for the first minute or two, it was as much
17711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cias she could do to hold it.</p>
17721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>As soon as she had made out the proper way of nursing it,
17741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci(which was to twist it up into a sort of knot, and then keep
17751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citight hold of its right ear and left foot, so as to prevent its
17761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciundoing itself,) she carried it out into the open air. '<i>If</i>
17771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciI don't take this child away with me,' thought Alice, 'they're
17781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisure to kill it in a day or two: wouldn't it be murder to leave
17791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit behind?' She said the last words out loud, and the little
17801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithing grunted in reply (it had left off sneezing by this time).
17811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'Don't grunt,' said Alice; 'that's not at all a proper way of
17821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciexpressing yourself.'</p>
17831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The baby grunted again, and Alice looked very anxiously into
17851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciits face to see what was the matter with it. There could be no
17861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidoubt that it had a <i>very</i> turn-up nose, much more like a
17871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisnout than a real nose; also its eyes were getting extremely
17881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cismall for a baby: altogether Alice did not like the look of the
17891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithing at all. 'But perhaps it was only sobbing,' she thought, and
17901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilooked into its eyes again, to see if there were any tears.</p>
17911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>No, there were no tears. 'If you're going to turn into a pig,
17931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimy dear,' said Alice, seriously, 'I'll have nothing more to do
17941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwith you. Mind now!' The poor little thing sobbed again (or
17951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigrunted, it was impossible to say which), and they went on for
17961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisome while in silence.</p>
17971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
17981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice was just beginning to think to herself, 'Now, what am I
17991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito do with this creature when I get it home?' when it grunted
18001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciagain, so violently, that she looked down into its face in some
18011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cialarm. This time there could be <i>no</i> mistake about it: it
18021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwas neither more nor less than a pig, and she felt that it would
18031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibe quite absurd for her to carry it further.</p>
18041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>So she set the little creature down, and felt quite relieved
18061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito see it trot away quietly into the wood. 'If it had grown up,'
18071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe said to herself, 'it would have made a dreadfully ugly child:
18081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibut it makes rather a handsome pig, I think.' And she began
18091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithinking over other children she knew, who might do very well as
18101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipigs, and was just saying to herself, 'if one only knew the right
18111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciway to change them--' when she was a little startled by seeing
18121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe Cheshire Cat sitting on a bough of a tree a few yards
18131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cioff.</p>
18141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Cat only grinned when it saw Alice. It looked good-
18161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinatured, she thought: still it had <i>very</i> long claws and a
18171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigreat many teeth, so she felt that it ought to be treated with
18181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cirespect.</p>
18191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Cheshire Puss,' she began, rather timidly, as she did not at
18211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciall know whether it would like the name: however, it only grinned
18221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cia little wider. 'Come, it's pleased so far,' thought Alice, and
18231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe went on. 'Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go
18241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifrom here?'</p>
18251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said
18271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe Cat.</p>
18281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I don't much care where--' said Alice.</p>
18301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat.</p>
18321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'--so long as I get <i>somewhere</i>,' Alice added as an
18341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciexplanation.</p>
18351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Oh, you're sure to do that,' said the Cat, 'if you only walk
18371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilong enough.'</p>
18381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice felt that this could not be denied, so she tried another
18401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciquestion. 'What sort of people live about here?'</p>
18411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'In <i>that</i> direction,' the Cat said, waving its right paw
18431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciround, 'lives a Hatter: and in <i>that</i> direction,' waving the
18441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciother paw, 'lives a March Hare. Visit either you like: they're
18451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciboth mad.'</p>
18461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'But I don't want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked.</p>
18481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: 'we're all mad here.
18501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciI'm mad. You're mad.'</p>
18511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'How do you know I'm mad?' said Alice.</p>
18531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You must be,' said the Cat, 'or you wouldn't have come
18551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihere.'</p>
18561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice didn't think that proved it at all; however, she went on
18581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'And how do you know that you're mad?'</p>
18591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'To begin with,' said the Cat, 'a dog's not mad. You grant
18611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithat?'</p>
18621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I suppose so,' said Alice.</p>
18641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Well, then,' the Cat went on, 'you see, a dog growls when
18661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit's angry, and wags its tail when it's pleased. Now I growl when
18671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciI'm pleased, and wag my tail when I'm angry. Therefore I'm
18681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimad.'</p>
18691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I call it purring, not growling,' said Alice.</p>
18711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Call it what you like,' said the Cat. 'Do you play croquet
18731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwith the Queen to-day?'</p>
18741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I should like it very much,' said Alice, 'but I haven't been
18761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciinvited yet.'</p>
18771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You'll see me there,' said the Cat, and vanished.</p>
18791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice was not much surprised at this, she was getting so used
18811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito queer things happening. While she was looking at the place
18821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhere it had been, it suddenly appeared again.</p>
18831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'By-the-bye, what became of the baby?' said the Cat. 'I'd
18851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinearly forgotten to ask.'</p>
18861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It turned into a pig,' Alice quietly said, just as if it had
18881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicome back in a natural way.</p>
18891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I thought it would,' said the Cat, and vanished again.</p>
18911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
18921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice waited a little, half expecting to see it again, but it
18931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidid not appear, and after a minute or two she walked on in the
18941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidirection in which the March Hare was said to live. 'I've seen
18951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihatters before,' she said to herself; 'the March Hare will be
18961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimuch the most interesting, and perhaps as this is May it won't be
18971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciraving mad--at least not so mad as it was in March.' As she said
18981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithis, she looked up, and there was the Cat again, sitting on a
18991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibranch of a tree.</p>
19001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Did you say pig, or fig?' said the Cat.</p>
19021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I said pig,' replied Alice; 'and I wish you wouldn't keep
19041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciappearing and vanishing so suddenly: you make one quite
19051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigiddy.'</p>
19061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'All right,' said the Cat; and this time it vanished quite
19081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cislowly, beginning with the end of the tail, and ending with the
19091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigrin, which remained some time after the rest of it had gone.</p>
19101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Well! I've often seen a cat without a grin,' thought Alice;
19121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'but a grin without a cat! It's the most curious thing I ever saw
19131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciin my life!'</p>
19141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>She had not gone much farther before she came in sight of the
19161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihouse of the March Hare: she thought it must be the right house,
19171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibecause the chimneys were shaped like ears and the roof was
19181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithatched with fur. It was so large a house, that she did not like
19191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito go nearer till she had nibbled some more of the lefthand bit
19201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciof mushroom, and raised herself to about two feet high: even then
19211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe walked up towards it rather timidly, saying to herself
19221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'Suppose it should be raving mad after all! I almost wish I'd
19231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigone to see the Hatter instead!'</p>
19241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<hr>
19261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">CHAPTER VII</h3>
19271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">A Mad Tea-Party</h3>
19291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>There was a table set out under a tree in front of the house,
19311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand the March Hare and the Hatter were having tea at it: a
19321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciDormouse was sitting between them, fast asleep, and the other two
19331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwere using it as a cushion, resting their elbows on it, and
19341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citalking over its head. 'Very uncomfortable for the Dormouse,'
19351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithought Alice; 'only, as it's asleep, I suppose it doesn't
19361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimind.'</p>
19371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The table was a large one, but the three were all crowded
19391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citogether at one corner of it: 'No room! No room!' they cried out
19401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhen they saw Alice coming. 'There's <i>plenty</i> of room!' said
19411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice indignantly, and she sat down in a large arm-chair at one
19421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciend of the table.</p>
19431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Have some wine,' the March Hare said in an encouraging
19451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citone.</p>
19461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice looked all round the table, but there was nothing on it
19481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibut tea. 'I don't see any wine,' she remarked.</p>
19491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'There isn't any,' said the March Hare.</p>
19511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Then it wasn't very civil of you to offer it,' said Alice
19531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciangrily.</p>
19541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It wasn't very civil of you to sit down without being
19561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciinvited,' said the March Hare.</p>
19571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I didn't know it was <i>your</i> table,' said Alice; 'it's
19591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilaid for a great many more than three.'</p>
19601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Your hair wants cutting,' said the Hatter. He had been
19621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilooking at Alice for some time with great curiosity, and this was
19631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihis first speech.</p>
19641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You should learn not to make personal remarks,' Alice said
19661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwith some severity; 'it's very rude.'</p>
19671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Hatter opened his eyes very wide on hearing this; but all
19691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihe <i>said</i> was, 'Why is a raven like a writing-desk?'</p>
19701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Come, we shall have some fun now!' thought Alice. 'I'm glad
19721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithey've begun asking riddles.--I believe I can guess that,' she
19731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciadded aloud.</p>
19741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Do you mean that you think you can find out the answer to
19761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit?' said the March Hare.</p>
19771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Exactly so,' said Alice.</p>
19791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Then you should say what you mean,' the March Hare went
19811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cion.</p>
19821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I do,' Alice hastily replied; 'at least--at least I mean what
19841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciI say--that's the same thing, you know.'</p>
19851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Not the same thing a bit!' said the Hatter. 'You might just
19871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cias well say that "I see what I eat" is the same thing as "I eat
19881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhat I see"!'</p>
19891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You might just as well say,' added the March Hare, 'that "I
19911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilike what I get" is the same thing as "I get what I like"!'</p>
19921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You might just as well say,' added the Dormouse, who seemed
19941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito be talking in his sleep, 'that "I breathe when I sleep" is the
19951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisame thing as "I sleep when I breathe"!'</p>
19961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
19971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It <i>is</i> the same thing with you,' said the Hatter, and
19981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihere the conversation dropped, and the party sat silent for a
19991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciminute, while Alice thought over all she could remember about
20001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciravens and writing-desks, which wasn't much.</p>
20011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Hatter was the first to break the silence. 'What day of
20031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe month is it?' he said, turning to Alice: he had taken his
20041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwatch out of his pocket, and was looking at it uneasily, shaking
20051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit every now and then, and holding it to his ear.</p>
20061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice considered a little, and then said 'The fourth.'</p>
20081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Two days wrong!' sighed the Hatter. 'I told you butter
20101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwouldn't suit the works!' he added looking angrily at the March
20111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciHare.</p>
20121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It was the <i>best</i> butter,' the March Hare meekly
20141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cireplied.</p>
20151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Yes, but some crumbs must have got in as well,' the Hatter
20171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigrumbled: 'you shouldn't have put it in with the
20181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibread-knife.'</p>
20191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The March Hare took the watch and looked at it gloomily: then
20211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihe dipped it into his cup of tea, and looked at it again: but he
20221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicould think of nothing better to say than his first remark, 'It
20231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwas the <i>best</i> butter, you know.'</p>
20241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice had been looking over his shoulder with some curiosity.
20261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'What a funny watch!' she remarked. 'It tells the day of the
20271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimonth, and doesn't tell what o'clock it is!'</p>
20281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Why should it?' muttered the Hatter. 'Does <i>your</i> watch
20301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citell you what year it is?'</p>
20311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Of course not,' Alice replied very readily: 'but that's
20331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibecause it stays the same year for such a long time
20341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citogether.'</p>
20351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Which is just the case with <i>mine</i>,' said the
20371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciHatter.</p>
20381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice felt dreadfully puzzled. The Hatter's remark seemed to
20401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihave no sort of meaning in it, and yet it was certainly English.
20411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'I don't quite understand you,' she said, as politely as she
20421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicould.</p>
20431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'The Dormouse is asleep again,' said the Hatter, and he poured
20451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cia little hot tea upon its nose.</p>
20461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Dormouse shook its head impatiently, and said, without
20481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciopening its eyes, 'Of course, of course; just what I was going to
20491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciremark myself.'</p>
20501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Have you guessed the riddle yet?' the Hatter said, turning to
20521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice again.</p>
20531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'No, I give it up,' Alice replied: 'what's the answer?'</p>
20551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I haven't the slightest idea,' said the Hatter.</p>
20571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Nor I,' said the March Hare.</p>
20591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice sighed wearily. 'I think you might do something better
20611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwith the time,' she said, 'than waste it in asking riddles that
20621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihave no answers.'</p>
20631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'If you knew Time as well as I do,' said the Hatter, 'you
20651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwouldn't talk about wasting <i>it</i>. It's <i>him</i>.'</p>
20661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I don't know what you mean,' said Alice.</p>
20681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Of course you don't!' the Hatter said, tossing his head
20701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicontemptuously. 'I dare say you never even spoke to Time!'</p>
20711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Perhaps not,' Alice cautiously replied: 'but I know I have to
20731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibeat time when I learn music.'</p>
20741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Ah! that accounts for it,' said the Hatter. 'He won't stand
20761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibeating. Now, if you only kept on good terms with him, he'd do
20771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cialmost anything you liked with the clock. For instance, suppose
20781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit were nine o'clock in the morning, just time to begin lessons:
20791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyou'd only have to whisper a hint to Time, and round goes the
20801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciclock in a twinkling! Half-past one, time for dinner!'</p>
20811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>('I only wish it was,' the March Hare said to itself in a
20831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhisper.)</p>
20841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'That would be grand, certainly,' said Alice thoughtfully:
20861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'but then--I shouldn't be hungry for it, you know.'</p>
20871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Not at first, perhaps,' said the Hatter: 'but you could keep
20891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit to half-past one as long as you liked.'</p>
20901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Is that the way <i>you</i> manage?' Alice asked.</p>
20921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Hatter shook his head mournfully. 'Not I!' he replied. 'We
20941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciquarrelled last March--just before <i>he</i> went mad, you
20951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciknow--' (pointing with his tea spoon at the March Hare,) '--it
20961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwas at the great concert given by the Queen of Hearts, and I had
20971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito sing</p>
20981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
20991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>"Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!</i></p>
21001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>How I wonder what you're at!"</i></p>
21021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>You know the song, perhaps?'</p>
21041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I've heard something like it,' said Alice.</p>
21061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It goes on, you know,' the Hatter continued, 'in this
21081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciway:--</p>
21091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>"Up above the world you fly,</i></p>
21111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>Like a tea-tray in the sky.</i></p>
21131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>Twinkle, twinkle--"'</i></p>
21151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Here the Dormouse shook itself, and began singing in its sleep
21171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'<i>Twinkle, twinkle, twinkle, twinkle--</i>' and went on so long
21181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithat they had to pinch it to make it stop.</p>
21191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Well, I'd hardly finished the first verse,' said the Hatter,
21211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'when the Queen jumped up and bawled out, "He's murdering the
21221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citime! Off with his head!"'</p>
21231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'How dreadfully savage!' exclaimed Alice.</p>
21251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'And ever since that,' the Hatter went on in a mournful tone,
21271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'he won't do a thing I ask! It's always six o'clock now.'</p>
21281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>A bright idea came into Alice's head. 'Is that the reason so
21301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimany tea-things are put out here?' she asked.</p>
21311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Yes, that's it,' said the Hatter with a sigh: 'it's always
21331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citea-time, and we've no time to wash the things between
21341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhiles.'</p>
21351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Then you keep moving round, I suppose?' said Alice.</p>
21371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Exactly so,' said the Hatter: 'as the things get used
21391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciup.'</p>
21401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'But what happens when you come to the beginning again?' Alice
21421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civentured to ask.</p>
21431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Suppose we change the subject,' the March Hare interrupted,
21451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyawning. 'I'm getting tired of this. I vote the young lady tells
21461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cius a story.'</p>
21471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I'm afraid I don't know one,' said Alice, rather alarmed at
21491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe proposal.</p>
21501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Then the Dormouse shall!' they both cried. 'Wake up,
21521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciDormouse!' And they pinched it on both sides at once.</p>
21531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Dormouse slowly opened his eyes. 'I wasn't asleep,' he
21551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisaid in a hoarse, feeble voice: 'I heard every word you fellows
21561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwere saying.'</p>
21571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Tell us a story!' said the March Hare.</p>
21591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Yes, please do!' pleaded Alice.</p>
21611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'And be quick about it,' added the Hatter, 'or you'll be
21631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciasleep again before it's done.'</p>
21641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Once upon a time there were three little sisters,' the
21661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciDormouse began in a great hurry; 'and their names were Elsie,
21671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciLacie, and Tillie; and they lived at the bottom of a well--'</p>
21681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'What did they live on?' said Alice, who always took a great
21701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciinterest in questions of eating and drinking.</p>
21711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'They lived on treacle,' said the Dormouse, after thinking a
21731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciminute or two.</p>
21741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'They couldn't have done that, you know,' Alice gently
21761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciremarked; 'they'd have been ill.'</p>
21771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'So they were,' said the Dormouse; '<i>very</i> ill.'</p>
21791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice tried to fancy to herself what such an extraordinary
21811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciways of living would be like, but it puzzled her too much, so she
21821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwent on: 'But why did they live at the bottom of a well?'</p>
21831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Take some more tea,' the March Hare said to Alice, very
21851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciearnestly.</p>
21861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I've had nothing yet,' Alice replied in an offended tone, 'so
21881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciI can't take more.'</p>
21891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You mean you can't take <i>less</i>,' said the Hatter: 'it's
21911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civery easy to take <i>more</i> than nothing.'</p>
21921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Nobody asked <i>your</i> opinion,' said Alice.</p>
21941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Who's making personal remarks now?' the Hatter asked
21961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citriumphantly.</p>
21971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
21981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice did not quite know what to say to this: so she helped
21991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciherself to some tea and bread-and-butter, and then turned to the
22001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciDormouse, and repeated her question. 'Why did they live at the
22011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibottom of a well?'</p>
22021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Dormouse again took a minute or two to think about it, and
22041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithen said, 'It was a treacle-well.'</p>
22051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'There's no such thing!' Alice was beginning very angrily, but
22071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe Hatter and the March Hare went 'Sh! sh!' and the Dormouse
22081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisulkily remarked, 'If you can't be civil, you'd better finish the
22091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cistory for yourself.'</p>
22101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'No, please go on!' Alice said very humbly; 'I won't interrupt
22121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciagain. I dare say there may be <i>one</i>.'</p>
22131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'One, indeed!' said the Dormouse indignantly. However, he
22151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciconsented to go on. 'And so these three little sisters--they were
22161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilearning to draw, you know--'</p>
22171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'What did they draw?' said Alice, quite forgetting her
22191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipromise.</p>
22201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Treacle,' said the Dormouse, without considering at all this
22221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citime.</p>
22231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I want a clean cup,' interrupted the Hatter: 'let's all move
22251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cione place on.'</p>
22261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>He moved on as he spoke, and the Dormouse followed him: the
22281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciMarch Hare moved into the Dormouse's place, and Alice rather
22291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciunwillingly took the place of the March Hare. The Hatter was the
22301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cionly one who got any advantage from the change: and Alice was a
22311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigood deal worse off than before, as the March Hare had just upset
22321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe milk-jug into his plate.</p>
22331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice did not wish to offend the Dormouse again, so she began
22351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civery cautiously: 'But I don't understand. Where did they draw the
22361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citreacle from?'</p>
22371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You can draw water out of a water-well,' said the Hatter; 'so
22391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciI should think you could draw treacle out of a treacle-well--eh,
22401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cistupid?'</p>
22411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'But they were <i>in</i> the well,' Alice said to the
22431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciDormouse, not choosing to notice this last remark.</p>
22441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Of course they were', said the Dormouse; '--well in.'</p>
22461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>This answer so confused poor Alice, that she let the Dormouse
22481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigo on for some time without interrupting it.</p>
22491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'They were learning to draw,' the Dormouse went on, yawning
22511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand rubbing its eyes, for it was getting very sleepy; 'and they
22521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidrew all manner of things--everything that begins with an
22531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciM--'</p>
22541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Why with an M?' said Alice.</p>
22561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Why not?' said the March Hare.</p>
22581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice was silent.</p>
22601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Dormouse had closed its eyes by this time, and was going
22621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cioff into a doze; but, on being pinched by the Hatter, it woke up
22631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciagain with a little shriek, and went on: '--that begins with an
22641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciM, such as mouse-traps, and the moon, and memory, and muchness--
22651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyou know you say things are "much of a muchness"--did you ever
22661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisee such a thing as a drawing of a muchness?'</p>
22671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Really, now you ask me,' said Alice, very much confused, 'I
22691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidon't think--'</p>
22701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Then you shouldn't talk,' said the Hatter.</p>
22721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>This piece of rudeness was more than Alice could bear: she got
22741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciup in great disgust, and walked off; the Dormouse fell asleep
22751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciinstantly, and neither of the others took the least notice of her
22761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigoing, though she looked back once or twice, half hoping that
22771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithey would call after her: the last time she saw them, they were
22781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citrying to put the Dormouse into the teapot.</p>
22791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'At any rate I'll never go <i>there</i> again!' said Alice as
22811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe picked her way through the wood. 'It's the stupidest
22821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citea-party I ever was at in all my life!'</p>
22831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Just as she said this, she noticed that one of the trees had a
22851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidoor leading right into it. 'That's very curious!' she thought.
22861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'But everything's curious today. I think I may as well go in at
22871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cionce.' And in she went.</p>
22881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Once more she found herself in the long hall, and close to the
22901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilittle glass table. 'Now, I'll manage better this time,' she said
22911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito herself, and began by taking the little golden key, and
22921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciunlocking the door that led into the garden. Then she went to
22931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwork nibbling at the mushroom (she had kept a piece of it in her
22941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipocket) till she was about a foot high: then she walked down the
22951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilittle passage: and <i>then</i>--she found herself at last in the
22961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibeautiful garden, among the bright flower-beds and the cool
22971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifountains.</p>
22981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
22991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<hr>
23001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">CHAPTER VIII</h3>
23011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
23021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">The Queen's Croquet-Ground</h3>
23031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
23041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>A large rose-tree stood near the entrance of the garden: the
23051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciroses growing on it were white, but there were three gardeners at
23061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit, busily painting them red. Alice thought this a very curious
23071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithing, and she went nearer to watch them, and just as she came up
23081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito them she heard one of them say, 'Look out now, Five! Don't go
23091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisplashing paint over me like that!'</p>
23101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
23111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I couldn't help it,' said Five, in a sulky tone; 'Seven
23121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cijogged my elbow.'</p>
23131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
23141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>On which Seven looked up and said, 'That's right, Five! Always
23151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilay the blame on others!'</p>
23161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
23171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>You'd</i> better not talk!' said Five. 'I heard the Queen
23181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisay only yesterday you deserved to be beheaded!'</p>
23191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
23201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'What for?' said the one who had spoken first.</p>
23211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
23221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'That's none of <i>your</i> business, Two!' said Seven.</p>
23231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
23241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Yes, it <i>is</i> his business!' said Five, 'and I'll tell
23251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihim--it was for bringing the cook tulip-roots instead of
23261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cionions.'</p>
23271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
23281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Seven flung down his brush, and had just begun 'Well, of all
23291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe unjust things--' when his eye chanced to fall upon Alice, as
23301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe stood watching them, and he checked himself suddenly: the
23311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciothers looked round also, and all of them bowed low.</p>
23321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
23331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Would you tell me,' said Alice, a little timidly, 'why you
23341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciare painting those roses?'</p>
23351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
23361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Five and Seven said nothing, but looked at Two. Two began in a
23371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilow voice, 'Why the fact is, you see, Miss, this here ought to
23381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihave been a <i>red</i> rose-tree, and we put a white one in by
23391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimistake; and if the Queen was to find it out, we should all have
23401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciour heads cut off, you know. So you see, Miss, we're doing our
23411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibest, afore she comes, to--' At this moment Five, who had been
23421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cianxiously looking across the garden, called out 'The Queen! The
23431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciQueen!' and the three gardeners instantly threw themselves flat
23441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciupon their faces. There was a sound of many footsteps, and Alice
23451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilooked round, eager to see the Queen.</p>
23461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
23471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>First came ten soldiers carrying clubs; these were all shaped
23481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilike the three gardeners, oblong and flat, with their hands and
23491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifeet at the corners: next the ten courtiers; these were
23501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciornamented all over with diamonds, and walked two and two, as the
23511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisoldiers did. After these came the royal children; there were ten
23521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciof them, and the little dears came jumping merrily along hand in
23531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihand, in couples: they were all ornamented with hearts. Next came
23541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe guests, mostly Kings and Queens, and among them Alice
23551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cirecognised the White Rabbit: it was talking in a hurried nervous
23561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimanner, smiling at everything that was said, and went by without
23571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinoticing her. Then followed the Knave of Hearts, carrying the
23581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciKing's crown on a crimson velvet cushion; and, last of all this
23591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigrand procession, came THE KING AND QUEEN OF HEARTS.</p>
23601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
23611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice was rather doubtful whether she ought not to lie down on
23621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciher face like the three gardeners, but she could not remember
23631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciever having heard of such a rule at processions; 'and besides,
23641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhat would be the use of a procession,' thought she, 'if people
23651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihad all to lie down upon their faces, so that they couldn't see
23661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit?' So she stood still where she was, and waited.</p>
23671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
23681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>When the procession came opposite to Alice, they all stopped
23691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand looked at her, and the Queen said severely 'Who is this?' She
23701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisaid it to the Knave of Hearts, who only bowed and smiled in
23711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cireply.</p>
23721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
23731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Idiot!' said the Queen, tossing her head impatiently; and,
23741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citurning to Alice, she went on, 'What's your name, child?'</p>
23751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
23761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'My name is Alice, so please your Majesty,' said Alice very
23771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipolitely; but she added, to herself, 'Why, they're only a pack of
23781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicards, after all. I needn't be afraid of them!'</p>
23791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
23801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'And who are <i>these</i>?' said the Queen, pointing to the
23811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithree gardeners who were lying round the rosetree; for, you see,
23821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cias they were lying on their faces, and the pattern on their backs
23831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwas the same as the rest of the pack, she could not tell whether
23841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithey were gardeners, or soldiers, or courtiers, or three of her
23851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciown children.</p>
23861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
23871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'How should I know?' said Alice, surprised at her own courage.
23881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'It's no business of <i>mine</i>.'</p>
23891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
23901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Queen turned crimson with fury, and, after glaring at her
23911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifor a moment like a wild beast, screamed 'Off with her head!
23921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciOff--'</p>
23931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
23941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Nonsense!' said Alice, very loudly and decidedly, and the
23951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciQueen was silent.</p>
23961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
23971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The King laid his hand upon her arm, and timidly said
23981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'Consider, my dear: she is only a child!'</p>
23991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Queen turned angrily away from him, and said to the Knave
24011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'Turn them over!'</p>
24021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Knave did so, very carefully, with one foot.</p>
24041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Get up!' said the Queen, in a shrill, loud voice, and the
24061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithree gardeners instantly jumped up, and began bowing to the
24071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciKing, the Queen, the royal children, and everybody else.</p>
24081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Leave off that!' screamed the Queen. 'You make me giddy.' And
24101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithen, turning to the rose-tree, she went on, 'What <i>have</i>
24111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyou been doing here?'</p>
24121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'May it please your Majesty,' said Two, in a very humble tone,
24141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigoing down on one knee as he spoke, 'we were trying--'</p>
24151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I see!' said the Queen, who had meanwhile been examining the
24171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciroses. 'Off with their heads!' and the procession moved on, three
24181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciof the soldiers remaining behind to execute the unfortunate
24191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigardeners, who ran to Alice for protection.</p>
24201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You shan't be beheaded!' said Alice, and she put them into a
24221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilarge flower-pot that stood near. The three soldiers wandered
24231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciabout for a minute or two, looking for them, and then quietly
24241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimarched off after the others.</p>
24251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Are their heads off?' shouted the Queen.</p>
24271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Their heads are gone, if it please your Majesty!' the
24291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisoldiers shouted in reply.</p>
24301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'That's right!' shouted the Queen. 'Can you play croquet?'</p>
24321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The soldiers were silent, and looked at Alice, as the question
24341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwas evidently meant for her.</p>
24351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Yes!' shouted Alice.</p>
24371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Come on, then!' roared the Queen, and Alice joined the
24391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciprocession, wondering very much what would happen next.</p>
24401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It's--it's a very fine day!' said a timid voice at her side.
24421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciShe was walking by the White Rabbit, who was peeping anxiously
24431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciinto her face.</p>
24441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Very,' said Alice: '--where's the Duchess?'</p>
24461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Hush! Hush!' said the Rabbit in a low, hurried tone. He
24481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilooked anxiously over his shoulder as he spoke, and then raised
24491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihimself upon tiptoe, put his mouth close to her ear, and
24501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhispered 'She's under sentence of execution.'</p>
24511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'What for?' said Alice.</p>
24531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Did you say "What a pity!"?' the Rabbit asked.</p>
24551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'No, I didn't,' said Alice: 'I don't think it's at all a pity.
24571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciI said "What for?"'</p>
24581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'She boxed the Queen's ears--' the Rabbit began. Alice gave a
24601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilittle scream of laughter. 'Oh, hush!' the Rabbit whispered in a
24611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifrightened tone. 'The Queen will hear you! You see, she came
24621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cirather late, and the Queen said--'</p>
24631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Get to your places!' shouted the Queen in a voice of thunder,
24651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand people began running about in all directions, tumbling up
24661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciagainst each other; however, they got settled down in a minute or
24671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citwo, and the game began. Alice thought she had never seen such a
24681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicurious croquet-ground in her life; it was all ridges and
24691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifurrows; the balls were live hedgehogs, the mallets live
24701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciflamingoes, and the soldiers had to double themselves up and to
24711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cistand on their hands and feet, to make the arches.</p>
24721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The chief difficulty Alice found at first was in managing her
24741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciflamingo: she succeeded in getting its body tucked away,
24751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicomfortably enough, under her arm, with its legs hanging down,
24761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibut generally, just as she had got its neck nicely straightened
24771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciout, and was going to give the hedgehog a blow with its head, it
24781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>would</i> twist itself round and look up in her face, with
24791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisuch a puzzled expression that she could not help bursting out
24801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilaughing: and when she had got its head down, and was going to
24811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibegin again, it was very provoking to find that the hedgehog had
24821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciunrolled itself, and was in the act of crawling away: besides all
24831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithis, there was generally a ridge or furrow in the way wherever
24841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe wanted to send the hedgehog to, and, as the doubled-up
24851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisoldiers were always getting up and walking off to other parts of
24861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe ground, Alice soon came to the conclusion that it was a very
24871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidifficult game indeed.</p>
24881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The players all played at once without waiting for turns,
24901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciquarrelling all the while, and fighting for the hedgehogs; and in
24911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cia very short time the Queen was in a furious passion, and went
24921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cistamping about, and shouting 'Off with his head!' or 'Off with
24931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciher head!' about once in a minute.</p>
24941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
24951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice began to feel very uneasy: to be sure, she had not as
24961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyet had any dispute with the Queen, but she knew that it might
24971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihappen any minute, 'and then,' thought she, 'what would become of
24981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cime? They're dreadfully fond of beheading people here; the great
24991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwonder is, that there's any one left alive!'</p>
25001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>She was looking about for some way of escape, and wondering
25021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhether she could get away without being seen, when she noticed a
25031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicurious appearance in the air: it puzzled her very much at first,
25041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibut, after watching it a minute or two, she made it out to be a
25051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigrin, and she said to herself 'It's the Cheshire Cat: now I shall
25061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihave somebody to talk to.'</p>
25071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'How are you getting on?' said the Cat, as soon as there was
25091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimouth enough for it to speak with.</p>
25101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice waited till the eyes appeared, and then nodded. 'It's no
25121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciuse speaking to it,' she thought, 'till its ears have come, or at
25131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cileast one of them.' In another minute the whole head appeared,
25141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand then Alice put down her flamingo, and began an account of the
25151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigame, feeling very glad she had someone to listen to her. The Cat
25161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciseemed to think that there was enough of it now in sight, and no
25171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimore of it appeared.</p>
25181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I don't think they play at all fairly,' Alice began, in
25201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cirather a complaining tone, 'and they all quarrel so dreadfully
25211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cione can't hear oneself speak--and they don't seem to have any
25221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cirules in particular; at least, if there are, nobody attends to
25231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithem--and you've no idea how confusing it is all the things being
25241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cialive; for instance, there's the arch I've got to go through next
25251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwalking about at the other end of the ground--and I should have
25261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicroqueted the Queen's hedgehog just now, only it ran away when it
25271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisaw mine coming!'</p>
25281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'How do you like the Queen?' said the Cat in a low voice.</p>
25301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Not at all,' said Alice: 'she's so extremely--' Just then she
25321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinoticed that the Queen was close behind her, listening: so she
25331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwent on, '--likely to win, that it's hardly worth while finishing
25341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe game.'</p>
25351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Queen smiled and passed on.</p>
25371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Who <i>are</i> you talking to?' said the King, going up to
25391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice, and looking at the Cat's head with great curiosity.</p>
25401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It's a friend of mine--a Cheshire Cat,' said Alice: 'allow me
25421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito introduce it.'</p>
25431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I don't like the look of it at all,' said the King: 'however,
25451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit may kiss my hand if it likes.'</p>
25461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I'd rather not,' the Cat remarked.</p>
25481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Don't be impertinent,' said the King, 'and don't look at me
25501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilike that!' He got behind Alice as he spoke.</p>
25511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'A cat may look at a king,' said Alice. 'I've read that in
25531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisome book, but I don't remember where.'</p>
25541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Well, it must be removed,' said the King very decidedly, and
25561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihe called the Queen, who was passing at the moment, 'My dear! I
25571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwish you would have this cat removed!'</p>
25581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Queen had only one way of settling all difficulties, great
25601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cior small. 'Off with his head!' she said, without even looking
25611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciround.</p>
25621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I'll fetch the executioner myself,' said the King eagerly,
25641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand he hurried off.</p>
25651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice thought she might as well go back, and see how the game
25671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwas going on, as she heard the Queen's voice in the distance,
25681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciscreaming with passion. She had already heard her sentence three
25691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciof the players to be executed for having missed their turns, and
25701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe did not like the look of things at all, as the game was in
25711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisuch confusion that she never knew whether it was her turn or
25721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinot. So she went in search of her hedgehog.</p>
25731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The hedgehog was engaged in a fight with another hedgehog,
25751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhich seemed to Alice an excellent opportunity for croqueting one
25761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciof them with the other: the only difficulty was, that her
25771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciflamingo was gone across to the other side of the garden, where
25781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice could see it trying in a helpless sort of way to fly up
25791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciinto a tree.</p>
25801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>By the time she had caught the flamingo and brought it back,
25821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe fight was over, and both the hedgehogs were out of sight:
25831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'but it doesn't matter much,' thought Alice, 'as all the arches
25841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciare gone from this side of the ground.' So she tucked it away
25851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciunder her arm, that it might not escape again, and went back for
25861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cia little more conversation with her friend.</p>
25871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>When she got back to the Cheshire Cat, she was surprised to
25891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifind quite a large crowd collected round it: there was a dispute
25901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigoing on between the executioner, the King, and the Queen, who
25911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwere all talking at once, while all the rest were quite silent,
25921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand looked very uncomfortable.</p>
25931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The moment Alice appeared, she was appealed to by all three to
25951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisettle the question, and they repeated their arguments to her,
25961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithough, as they all spoke at once, she found it very hard indeed
25971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito make out exactly what they said.</p>
25981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
25991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a
26001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihead unless there was a body to cut it off from: that he had
26011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinever had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin
26021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciat <i>his</i> time of life.</p>
26031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The King's argument was, that anything that had a head could
26051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibe beheaded, and that you weren't to talk nonsense.</p>
26061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Queen's argument was, that if something wasn't done about
26081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit in less than no time she'd have everybody executed, all round.
26091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci(It was this last remark that had made the whole party look so
26101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigrave and anxious.)</p>
26111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice could think of nothing else to say but 'It belongs to
26131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe Duchess: you'd better ask <i>her</i> about it.'</p>
26141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'She's in prison,' the Queen said to the executioner: 'fetch
26161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciher here.' And the executioner went off like an arrow.</p>
26171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Cat's head began fading away the moment he was gone, and,
26191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciby the time he had come back with the Duchess, it had entirely
26201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidisappeared; so the King and the executioner ran wildly up and
26211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidown looking for it, while the rest of the party went back to the
26221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigame.</p>
26231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<hr>
26251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">CHAPTER IX</h3>
26261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">The Mock Turtle's Story</h3>
26281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You can't think how glad I am to see you again, you dear old
26301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithing!' said the Duchess, as she tucked her arm affectionately
26311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciinto Alice's, and they walked off together.</p>
26321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice was very glad to find her in such a pleasant temper, and
26341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithought to herself that perhaps it was only the pepper that had
26351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimade her so savage when they met in the kitchen.</p>
26361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'When <i>I'm</i> a Duchess,' she said to herself, (not in a
26381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civery hopeful tone though), 'I won't have any pepper in my kitchen
26391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>at all</i>. Soup does very well without--Maybe it's always
26401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipepper that makes people hot-tempered,' she went on, very much
26411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipleased at having found out a new kind of rule, 'and vinegar that
26421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimakes them sour--and camomile that makes them bitter--and--and
26431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibarley-sugar and such things that make children sweet-tempered. I
26441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cionly wish people knew that: then they wouldn't be so stingy about
26451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit, you know--'</p>
26461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>She had quite forgotten the Duchess by this time, and was a
26481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilittle startled when she heard her voice close to her ear.
26491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'You're thinking about something, my dear, and that makes you
26501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciforget to talk. I can't tell you just now what the moral of that
26511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciis, but I shall remember it in a bit.'</p>
26521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Perhaps it hasn't one,' Alice ventured to remark.</p>
26541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Tut, tut, child!' said the Duchess. 'Everything's got a
26561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimoral, if only you can find it.' And she squeezed herself up
26571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicloser to Alice's side as she spoke.</p>
26581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice did not much like keeping so close to her: first,
26601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibecause the Duchess was <i>very</i> ugly; and secondly, because she was
26611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciexactly the right height to rest her chin upon Alice's shoulder,
26621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand it was an uncomfortably sharp chin. However, she did not like
26631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito be rude, so she bore it as well as she could.</p>
26641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'The game's going on rather better now,' she said, by way of
26661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cikeeping up the conversation a little.</p>
26671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>''Tis so,' said the Duchess: 'and the moral of that is--"Oh,
26691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'tis love, 'tis love, that makes the world go round!"'</p>
26701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Somebody said,' Alice whispered, 'that it's done by everybody
26721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciminding their own business!'</p>
26731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Ah, well! It means much the same thing,' said the Duchess,
26751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidigging her sharp little chin into Alice's shoulder as she added,
26761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'and the moral of <i>that</i> is--"Take care of the sense, and
26771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe sounds will take care of themselves."'</p>
26781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'How fond she is of finding morals in things!' Alice thought
26801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito herself.</p>
26811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I dare say you're wondering why I don't put my arm round your
26831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwaist,' the Duchess said after a pause: 'the reason is, that I'm
26841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidoubtful about the temper of your flamingo. Shall I try the
26851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciexperiment?'</p>
26861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'<i>He</i> might bite,' Alice cautiously replied, not feeling
26881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciat all anxious to have the experiment tried.</p>
26891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Very true,' said the Duchess: 'flamingoes and mustard both
26911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibite. And the moral of that is--"Birds of a feather flock
26921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citogether."'</p>
26931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Only mustard isn't a bird,' Alice remarked.</p>
26951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Right, as usual,' said the Duchess: 'what a clear way you
26971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihave of putting things!'</p>
26981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
26991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It's a mineral, I <i>think</i>,' said Alice.</p>
27001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Of course it is,' said the Duchess, who seemed ready to agree
27021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito everything that Alice said; 'there's a large mustard-mine near
27031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihere. And the moral of that is--"The more there is of mine, the
27041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciless there is of yours."'</p>
27051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Oh, I know!' exclaimed Alice, who had not attended to this
27071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilast remark, 'it's a vegetable. It doesn't look like one, but it
27081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciis.'</p>
27091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I quite agree with you,' said the Duchess; 'and the moral of
27111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithat is--"Be what you would seem to be"--or if you'd like it put
27121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimore simply--"Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than
27131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhat it might appear to others that what you were or might have
27141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibeen was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared
27151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito them to be otherwise."'</p>
27161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I think I should understand that better,' Alice said very
27181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipolitely, 'if I had it written down: but I can't quite follow it
27191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cias you say it.'</p>
27201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'That's nothing to what I could say if I chose,' the Duchess
27221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cireplied, in a pleased tone.</p>
27231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Pray don't trouble yourself to say it any longer than that,'
27251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisaid Alice.</p>
27261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Oh, don't talk about trouble!' said the Duchess. 'I make you
27281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cia present of everything I've said as yet.'</p>
27291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'A cheap sort of present!' thought Alice. 'I'm glad they don't
27311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigive birthday presents like that!' But she did not venture to say
27321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit out loud.</p>
27331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Thinking again?' the Duchess asked, with another dig of her
27351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisharp little chin.</p>
27361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I've a right to think,' said Alice sharply, for she was
27381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibeginning to feel a little worried.</p>
27391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Just about as much right,' said the Duchess, 'as pigs have to
27411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifly; and the m--'</p>
27421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>But here, to Alice's great surprise, the Duchess's voice died
27441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciaway, even in the middle of her favourite word 'moral,' and the
27451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciarm that was linked into hers began to tremble. Alice looked up,
27461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand there stood the Queen in front of them, with her arms folded,
27471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifrowning like a thunderstorm.</p>
27481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'A fine day, your Majesty!' the Duchess began in a low, weak
27501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civoice.</p>
27511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Now, I give you fair warning,' shouted the Queen, stamping on
27531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe ground as she spoke; 'either you or your head must be off,
27541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand that in about half no time! Take your choice!'</p>
27551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Duchess took her choice, and was gone in a moment.</p>
27571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Let's go on with the game,' the Queen said to Alice; and
27591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice was too much frightened to say a word, but slowly followed
27601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciher back to the croquet-ground.</p>
27611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The other guests had taken advantage of the Queen's absence,
27631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand were resting in the shade: however, the moment they saw her,
27641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithey hurried back to the game, the Queen merely remarking that a
27651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimoment's delay would cost them their lives.</p>
27661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>All the time they were playing the Queen never left off
27681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciquarrelling with the other players, and shouting 'Off with his
27691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihead!' or 'Off with her head!' Those whom she sentenced were
27701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citaken into custody by the soldiers, who of course had to leave
27711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cioff being arches to do this, so that by the end of half an hour
27721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cior so there were no arches left, and all the players, except the
27731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciKing, the Queen, and Alice, were in custody and under sentence of
27741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciexecution.</p>
27751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Then the Queen left off, quite out of breath, and said to
27771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice, 'Have you seen the Mock Turtle yet?'</p>
27781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'No,' said Alice. 'I don't even know what a Mock Turtle
27801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciis.'</p>
27811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It's the thing Mock Turtle Soup is made from,' said the
27831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciQueen.</p>
27841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I never saw one, or heard of one,' said Alice.</p>
27861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Come on, then,' said the Queen, 'and he shall tell you his
27881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihistory,'</p>
27891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>As they walked off together, Alice heard the King say in a low
27911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civoice, to the company generally, 'You are all pardoned.' 'Come,
27921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>that's</i> a good thing!' she said to herself, for she had
27931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifelt quite unhappy at the number of executions the Queen had
27941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciordered.</p>
27951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
27961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>They very soon came upon a Gryphon, lying fast asleep in the
27971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisun. (<i>If</i> you don't know what a Gryphon is, look at the picture.)
27981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'Up, lazy thing!' said the Queen, 'and take this young lady to
27991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisee the Mock Turtle, and to hear his history. I must go back and
28001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisee after some executions I have ordered'; and she walked off,
28011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cileaving Alice alone with the Gryphon. Alice did not quite like
28021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe look of the creature, but on the whole she thought it would
28031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibe quite as safe to stay with it as to go after that savage
28041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciQueen: so she waited.</p>
28051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Gryphon sat up and rubbed its eyes: then it watched the
28071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciQueen till she was out of sight: then it chuckled. 'What fun!'
28081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisaid the Gryphon, half to itself, half to Alice.</p>
28091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'What <i>is</i> the fun?' said Alice.</p>
28111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Why, <i>she</i>,' said the Gryphon. 'It's all her fancy,
28131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithat: they never executes nobody, you know. Come on!'</p>
28141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Everybody says "come on!" here,' thought Alice, as she went
28161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cislowly after it: 'I never was so ordered about in all my life,
28171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinever!'</p>
28181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>They had not gone far before they saw the Mock Turtle in the
28201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidistance, sitting sad and lonely on a little ledge of rock, and,
28211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cias they came nearer, Alice could hear him sighing as if his heart
28221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwould break. She pitied him deeply. 'What is his sorrow?' she
28231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciasked the Gryphon, and the Gryphon answered, very nearly in the
28241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisame words as before, 'It's all his fancy, that: he hasn't got no
28251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisorrow, you know. Come on!'</p>
28261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>So they went up to the Mock Turtle, who looked at them with
28281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilarge eyes full of tears, but said nothing.</p>
28291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'This here young lady,' said the Gryphon, 'she wants for to
28311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciknow your history, she do.'</p>
28321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I'll tell it her,' said the Mock Turtle in a deep, hollow
28341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citone: 'sit down, both of you, and don't speak a word till I've
28351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifinished.'</p>
28361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>So they sat down, and nobody spoke for some minutes. Alice
28381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithought to herself, 'I don't see how he can <i>even</i> finish,
28391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciif he doesn't begin.' But she waited patiently.</p>
28401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Once,' said the Mock Turtle at last, with a deep sigh, 'I was
28421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cia real Turtle.'</p>
28431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>These words were followed by a very long silence, broken only
28451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciby an occasional exclamation of 'Hjckrrh!' from the Gryphon, and
28461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe constant heavy sobbing of the Mock Turtle. Alice was very
28471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinearly getting up and saying, 'Thank you, sir, for your
28481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciinteresting story,' but she could not help thinking there
28491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>must</i> be more to come, so she sat still and said
28501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinothing.</p>
28511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'When we were little,' the Mock Turtle went on at last, more
28531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicalmly, though still sobbing a little now and then, 'we went to
28541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cischool in the sea. The master was an old Turtle--we used to call
28551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihim Tortoise--'</p>
28561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Why did you call him Tortoise, if he wasn't one?' Alice
28581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciasked.</p>
28591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'We called him Tortoise because he taught us,' said the Mock
28611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciTurtle angrily: 'really you are very dull!'</p>
28621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You ought to be ashamed of yourself for asking such a simple
28641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciquestion,' added the Gryphon; and then they both sat silent and
28651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilooked at poor Alice, who felt ready to sink into the earth. At
28661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilast the Gryphon said to the Mock Turtle, 'Drive on, old fellow!
28671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciDon't be all day about it!' and he went on in these words:</p>
28681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Yes, we went to school in the sea, though you mayn't believe
28701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit--'</p>
28711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I never said I didn't!' interrupted Alice.</p>
28731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You did,' said the Mock Turtle.</p>
28751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Hold your tongue!' added the Gryphon, before Alice could
28771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cispeak again. The Mock Turtle went on.</p>
28781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'We had the best of educations--in fact, we went to school
28801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cievery day--'</p>
28811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'<i>I've</i> been to a day-school, too,' said Alice; 'you
28831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cineedn't be so proud as all that.'</p>
28841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'With extras?' asked the Mock Turtle a little anxiously.</p>
28861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Yes,' said Alice, 'we learned French and music.'</p>
28881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'And washing?' said the Mock Turtle.</p>
28901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Certainly not!' said Alice indignantly.</p>
28921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Ah! then yours wasn't a really good school,' said the Mock
28941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciTurtle in a tone of great relief. 'Now at <i>ours</i> they had at
28951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe end of the bill, "French, music, <i>and
28961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwashing</i>--extra."'</p>
28971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
28981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You couldn't have wanted it much,' said Alice; 'living at the
28991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibottom of the sea.'</p>
29001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I couldn't afford to learn it.' said the Mock Turtle with a
29021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisigh. 'I only took the regular course.'</p>
29031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'What was that?' inquired Alice.</p>
29051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with,' the Mock
29071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciTurtle replied; 'and then the different branches of Arithmetic--
29081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAmbition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision.'</p>
29091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I never heard of "Uglification,"' Alice ventured to say.
29111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'What is it?'</p>
29121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Gryphon lifted up both its paws in surprise. 'What! Never
29141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciheard of uglifying!' it exclaimed. 'You know what to beautify is,
29151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciI suppose?'</p>
29161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Yes,' said Alice doubtfully: 'it
29181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimeans--to--make--anything--prettier.'</p>
29191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Well, then,' the Gryphon went on, 'if you don't know what to
29211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciuglify is, you <i>are</i> a simpleton.'</p>
29221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice did not feel encouraged to ask any more questions about
29241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit, so she turned to the Mock Turtle, and said 'What else had you
29251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito learn?'</p>
29261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Well, there was Mystery,' the Mock Turtle replied, counting
29281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cioff the subjects on his flappers, '--Mystery, ancient and modern,
29291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwith Seaography: then Drawling--the Drawling-master was an old
29301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciconger-eel, that used to come once a week: <i>He</i> taught us
29311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciDrawling, Stretching, and Fainting in Coils.'</p>
29321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'What was <i>that</i> like?' said Alice.</p>
29341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Well, I can't show it you myself,' the Mock Turtle said: 'I'm
29361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citoo stiff. And the Gryphon never learnt it.'</p>
29371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Hadn't time,' said the Gryphon: 'I went to the Classics
29391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimaster, though. He was an old crab, <i>he</i> was.'</p>
29401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I never went to him,' the Mock Turtle said with a sigh: 'he
29421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citaught Laughing and Grief, they used to say.'</p>
29431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'So he did, so he did,' said the Gryphon, sighing in his turn;
29451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand both creatures hid their faces in their paws.</p>
29461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'And how many hours a day did you do lessons?' said Alice, in
29481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cia hurry to change the subject.</p>
29491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Ten hours the first day,' said the Mock Turtle: 'nine the
29511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinext, and so on.'</p>
29521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'What a curious plan!' exclaimed Alice.</p>
29541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'That's the reason they're called lessons,' the Gryphon
29561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciremarked: 'because they lessen from day to day.'</p>
29571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>This was quite a new idea to Alice, and she thought it over a
29591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilittle before she made her next remark. 'Then the eleventh day
29601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimust have been a holiday?'</p>
29611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Of course it was,' said the Mock Turtle.</p>
29631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'And how did you manage on the twelfth?' Alice went on
29651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cieagerly.</p>
29661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'That's enough about lessons,' the Gryphon interrupted in a
29681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civery decided tone: 'tell her something about the games now.'</p>
29691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<hr>
29711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">CHAPTER X</h3>
29721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">The Lobster Quadrille</h3>
29741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Mock Turtle sighed deeply, and drew the back of one
29761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciflapper across his eyes. He looked at Alice, and tried to speak,
29771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibut for a minute or two sobs choked his voice. 'Same as if he had
29781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cia bone in his throat,' said the Gryphon: and it set to work
29791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishaking him and punching him in the back. At last the Mock Turtle
29801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cirecovered his voice, and, with tears running down his cheeks, he
29811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwent on again:--</p>
29821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You may not have lived much under the sea--' ('I haven't,'
29841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisaid Alice)-- 'and perhaps you were never even introduced to a
29851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilobster--' (Alice began to say 'I once tasted--' but checked
29861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciherself hastily, and said 'No, never') '--so you can have no idea
29871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhat a delightful thing a Lobster Quadrille is!'</p>
29881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'No, indeed,' said Alice. 'What sort of a dance is it?'</p>
29901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Why,' said the Gryphon, 'you first form into a line along the
29921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisea-shore--'</p>
29931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Two lines!' cried the Mock Turtle. 'Seals, turtles, salmon,
29951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand so on; then, when you've cleared all the jelly-fish out of
29961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe way--'</p>
29971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
29981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'<i>That</i> generally takes some time,' interrupted the
29991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciGryphon.</p>
30001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'--you advance twice--'</p>
30021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Each with a lobster as a partner!' cried the Gryphon.</p>
30041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Of course,' the Mock Turtle said: 'advance twice, set to
30061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipartners--'</p>
30071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'--change lobsters, and retire in same order,' continued the
30091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciGryphon.</p>
30101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Then, you know,' the Mock Turtle went on, 'you throw
30121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe--'</p>
30131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'The lobsters!' shouted the Gryphon, with a bound into the
30151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciair.</p>
30161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'--as far out to sea as you can--'</p>
30181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Swim after them!' screamed the Gryphon.</p>
30201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Turn a somersault in the sea!' cried the Mock Turtle,
30221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicapering wildly about.</p>
30231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Change lobster's again!' yelled the Gryphon at the top of its
30251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civoice.</p>
30261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Back to land again, and that's all the first figure,' said
30281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe Mock Turtle, suddenly dropping his voice; and the two
30291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicreatures, who had been jumping about like mad things all this
30301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citime, sat down again very sadly and quietly, and looked at
30311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice.</p>
30321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It must be a very pretty dance,' said Alice timidly.</p>
30341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Would you like to see a little of it?' said the Mock
30361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciTurtle.</p>
30371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Very much indeed,' said Alice.</p>
30391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Come, let's try the first figure!' said the Mock Turtle to
30411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe Gryphon. 'We can do without lobsters, you know. Which shall
30421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cising?'</p>
30431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Oh, <i>you</i> sing,' said the Gryphon. 'I've forgotten the
30451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwords.'</p>
30461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>So they began solemnly dancing round and round Alice, every
30481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinow and then treading on her toes when they passed too close, and
30491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwaving their forepaws to mark the time, while the Mock Turtle
30501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisang this, very slowly and sadly:--</p>
30511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>'"Will you walk a little faster?" said a whiting to a
30531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisnail. "There's a porpoise close behind us, and he's treading on
30541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimy tail. See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all
30551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciadvance! They are waiting on the shingle--will you come and join
30561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe dance?</i></p>
30571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the
30591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidance? Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, won't you join
30601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe dance?</i></p>
30611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>"You can really have no notion how delightful it will be
30631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciWhen they take us up and throw us, with the lobsters, out to
30641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisea!" But the snail replied "Too far, too far!" and gave a look
30651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciaskance-- Said he thanked the whiting kindly, but he would not
30661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cijoin the dance. Would not, could not, would not, could not, would
30671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinot join the dance. Would not, could not, would not, could not,
30681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicould not join the dance.</i></p>
30691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>'"What matters it how far we go?" his scaly friend replied.
30711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci"There is another shore, you know, upon the other side. The
30721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifurther off from England the nearer is to France-- Then turn not
30731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipale, beloved snail, but come and join the dance.</i></p>
30741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the
30761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidance? Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, won't you join
30771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe dance?"'</i></p>
30781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Thank you, it's a very interesting dance to watch,' said
30801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice, feeling very glad that it was over at last: 'and I do so
30811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilike that curious song about the whiting!'</p>
30821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Oh, as to the whiting,' said the Mock Turtle, 'they--you've
30841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciseen them, of course?'</p>
30851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Yes,' said Alice, 'I've often seen them at dinn--' she
30871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cichecked herself hastily.</p>
30881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I don't know where Dinn may be,' said the Mock Turtle, 'but
30901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciif you've seen them so often, of course you know what they're
30911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilike.'</p>
30921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I believe so,' Alice replied thoughtfully. 'They have their
30941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citails in their mouths--and they're all over crumbs.'</p>
30951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
30961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You're wrong about the crumbs,' said the Mock Turtle: 'crumbs
30971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwould all wash off in the sea. But they <i>have</i> their tails
30981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciin their mouths; and the reason is--' here the Mock Turtle yawned
30991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand shut his eyes.--'Tell her about the reason and all that,' he
31001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisaid to the Gryphon.</p>
31011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'The reason is,' said the Gryphon, 'that they <i>would</i> go
31031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwith the lobsters to the dance. So they got thrown out to sea. So
31041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithey had to fall a long way. So they got their tails fast in
31051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citheir mouths. So they couldn't get them out again. That's
31061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciall.'</p>
31071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Thank you,' said Alice, 'it's very interesting. I never knew
31091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciso much about a whiting before.'</p>
31101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I can tell you more than that, if you like,' said the
31121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciGryphon. 'Do you know why it's called a whiting?'</p>
31131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I never thought about it,' said Alice. 'Why?'</p>
31151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>'It does the boots and shoes.'</i> the Gryphon replied very
31171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisolemnly.</p>
31181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice was thoroughly puzzled. 'Does the boots and shoes!' she
31201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cirepeated in a wondering tone.</p>
31211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Why, what are <i>your</i> shoes done with?' said the Gryphon.
31231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'I mean, what makes them so shiny?'</p>
31241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice looked down at them, and considered a little before she
31261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigave her answer. 'They're done with blacking, I believe.'</p>
31271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Boots and shoes under the sea,' the Gryphon went on in a deep
31291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civoice, 'are done with a whiting. Now you know.'</p>
31301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'And what are they made of?' Alice asked in a tone of great
31321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicuriosity.</p>
31331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Soles and eels, of course,' the Gryphon replied rather
31351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciimpatiently: 'any shrimp could have told you that.'</p>
31361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'If I'd been the whiting,' said Alice, whose thoughts were
31381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cistill running on the song, 'I'd have said to the porpoise, "Keep
31391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciback, please: we don't want <i>you</i> with us!"'</p>
31401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'They were obliged to have him with them,' the Mock Turtle
31421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisaid: 'no wise fish would go anywhere without a porpoise.'</p>
31431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Wouldn't it really?' said Alice in a tone of great
31451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisurprise.</p>
31461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Of course not,' said the Mock Turtle: 'why, if a fish came to
31481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>me</i>, and told me he was going a journey, I should say "With
31491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhat porpoise?"'</p>
31501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Don't you mean "purpose"?' said Alice.</p>
31521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I mean what I say,' the Mock Turtle replied in an offended
31541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citone. And the Gryphon added 'Come, let's hear some of <i>your</i>
31551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciadventures.'</p>
31561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I could tell you my adventures--beginning from this morning,'
31581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisaid Alice a little timidly: 'but it's no use going back to
31591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyesterday, because I was a different person then.'</p>
31601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Explain all that,' said the Mock Turtle.</p>
31621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'No, no! The adventures first,' said the Gryphon in an
31641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciimpatient tone: 'explanations take such a dreadful time.'</p>
31651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>So Alice began telling them her adventures from the time when
31671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe first saw the White Rabbit. She was a little nervous about it
31681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cijust at first, the two creatures got so close to her, one on each
31691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciside, and opened their eyes and mouths so <i>very</i> wide, but
31701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe gained courage as she went on. Her listeners were perfectly
31711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciquiet till she got to the part about her repeating <i>'You are
31721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciold, Father William,'</i> to the Caterpillar, and the words all
31731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicoming different, and then the Mock Turtle drew a long breath,
31741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand said 'That's very curious.'</p>
31751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It's all about as curious as it can be,' said the
31771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciGryphon.</p>
31781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It all came different!' the Mock Turtle repeated
31801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithoughtfully. 'I should like to hear her try and repeat something
31811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinow. Tell her to begin.' He looked at the Gryphon as if he
31821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithought it had some kind of authority over Alice.</p>
31831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Stand up and repeat <i>"'Tis the voice of the sluggard,"'</i>
31851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisaid the Gryphon.</p>
31861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'How the creatures order one about, and make one repeat
31881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilessons!' thought Alice; 'I might as well be at school at once.'
31891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciHowever, she got up, and began to repeat it, but her head was so
31901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifull of the Lobster Quadrille, that she hardly knew what she was
31911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisaying, and the words came very queer indeed:--</p>
31921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>''Tis the voice of the Lobster; I heard him declare, "You have
31941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibaked me too brown, I must sugar my hair." As a duck with its
31951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cieyelids, so he with his nose Trims his belt and his buttons, and
31961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citurns out his toes.'</p>
31971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
31981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>[later editions continued as follows When the sands are all
31991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidry, he is gay as a lark, And will talk in contemptuous tones of
32001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe Shark, But, when the tide rises and sharks are around, His
32011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civoice has a timid and tremulous sound.]</p>
32021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'That's different from what I used to say when I was a child,'
32041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisaid the Gryphon.</p>
32051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Well, I never heard it before,' said the Mock Turtle; 'but it
32071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisounds uncommon nonsense.'</p>
32081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice said nothing; she had sat down with her face in her
32101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihands, wondering if anything would <i>ever</i> happen in a
32111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinatural way again.</p>
32121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I should like to have it explained,' said the Mock
32141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciTurtle.</p>
32151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'She can't explain it,' said the Gryphon hastily. 'Go on with
32171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe next verse.'</p>
32181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'But about his toes?' the Mock Turtle persisted. 'How
32201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>could</i> he turn them out with his nose, you know?'</p>
32211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It's the first position in dancing.' Alice said; but was
32231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidreadfully puzzled by the whole thing, and longed to change the
32241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisubject.</p>
32251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Go on with the next verse,' the Gryphon repeated impatiently:
32271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'it begins "I passed by his garden."'</p>
32281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice did not dare to disobey, though she felt sure it would
32301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciall come wrong, and she went on in a trembling voice:--</p>
32311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>'I passed by his garden, and marked, with one eye, How the
32331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciOwl and the Panther were sharing a pie--'</i></p>
32341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>[<tt>later editions continued as follows:</tt> <i>The Panther
32361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citook pie-crust, and gravy, and meat, While the Owl had the dish
32371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cias its share of the treat. When the pie was all finished, the
32381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciOwl, as a boon, Was kindly permitted to pocket the spoon: While
32391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe Panther received knife and fork with a growl, And concluded
32401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe banquet--</i>]</p>
32411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'What <i>is</i> the use of repeating all that stuff,' the Mock Turtle
32431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciinterrupted, 'if you don't explain it as you go on? It's by far
32441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe most confusing thing I ever heard!'</p>
32451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Yes, I think you'd better leave off,' said the Gryphon: and
32471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice was only too glad to do so.</p>
32481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Shall we try another figure of the Lobster Quadrille?' the
32501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciGryphon went on. 'Or would you like the Mock Turtle to sing you a
32511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisong?'</p>
32521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Oh, a song, please, if the Mock Turtle would be so kind,'
32541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice replied, so eagerly that the Gryphon said, in a rather
32551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cioffended tone, 'Hm! No accounting for tastes! Sing her "Turtle
32561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciSoup," will you, old fellow?'</p>
32571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Mock Turtle sighed deeply, and began, in a voice sometimes
32591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cichoked with sobs, to sing this:--</p>
32601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>'Beautiful Soup, so rich and green, Waiting in a hot
32621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citureen! Who for such dainties would not stoop? Soup of the
32631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cievening, beautiful Soup! Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup!
32641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciBeau--ootiful Soo--oop! Beau--ootiful Soo--oop! Soo--oop of the
32651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cie--e--evening, Beautiful, beautiful Soup!</i></p>
32661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>'Beautiful Soup! Who cares for fish, Game, or any other
32681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidish? Who would not give all else for two pennyworth only of
32691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibeautiful Soup? Pennyworth only of beautiful Soup? Beau--ootiful
32701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciSoo--oop! Beau--ootiful Soo--oop! Soo--oop of the e--e--evening,
32711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciBeautiful, beauti--FUL SOUP!'</i></p>
32721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Chorus again!' cried the Gryphon, and the Mock Turtle had
32741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cijust begun to repeat it, when a cry of 'The trial's beginning!'
32751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwas heard in the distance.</p>
32761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Come on!' cried the Gryphon, and, taking Alice by the hand,
32781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit hurried off, without waiting for the end of the song.</p>
32791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'What trial is it?' Alice panted as she ran; but the Gryphon
32811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cionly answered 'Come on!' and ran the faster, while more and more
32821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifaintly came, carried on the breeze that followed them, the
32831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimelancholy words:--</p>
32841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>'Soo--oop of the e--e--evening, Beautiful, beautiful
32861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciSoup!'</i></p>
32871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<hr>
32891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">CHAPTER XI</h3>
32901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">Who Stole the Tarts?</h3>
32921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
32931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The King and Queen of Hearts were seated on their throne when
32941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithey arrived, with a great crowd assembled about them--all sorts
32951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciof little birds and beasts, as well as the whole pack of cards:
32961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe Knave was standing before them, in chains, with a soldier on
32971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cieach side to guard him; and near the King was the White Rabbit,
32981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwith a trumpet in one hand, and a scroll of parchment in the
32991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciother. In the very middle of the court was a table, with a large
33001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidish of tarts upon it: they looked so good, that it made Alice
33011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciquite hungry to look at them--'I wish they'd get the trial done,'
33021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe thought, 'and hand round the refreshments!' But there seemed
33031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito be no chance of this, so she began looking at everything about
33041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciher, to pass away the time.</p>
33051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice had never been in a court of justice before, but she had
33071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciread about them in books, and she was quite pleased to find that
33081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe knew the name of nearly everything there. 'That's the judge,'
33091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe said to herself, 'because of his great wig.'</p>
33101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The judge, by the way, was the King; and as he wore his crown
33121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciover the wig, (look at the frontispiece if you want to see how he
33131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidid it,) he did not look at all comfortable, and it was certainly
33141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinot becoming.</p>
33151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'And that's the jury-box,' thought Alice, 'and those twelve
33171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicreatures,' (she was obliged to say 'creatures,' you see, because
33181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisome of them were animals, and some were birds,) 'I suppose they
33191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciare the jurors.' She said this last word two or three times over
33201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito herself, being rather proud of it: for she thought, and
33211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cirightly too, that very few little girls of her age knew the
33221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimeaning of it at all. However, 'jury-men' would have done just as
33231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwell.</p>
33241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The twelve jurors were all writing very busily on slates.
33261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'What are they doing?' Alice whispered to the Gryphon. 'They
33271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cican't have anything to put down yet, before the trial's
33281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibegun.'</p>
33291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'They're putting down their names,' the Gryphon whispered in
33311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cireply, 'for fear they should forget them before the end of the
33321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citrial.'</p>
33331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Stupid things!' Alice began in a loud, indignant voice, but
33351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe stopped hastily, for the White Rabbit cried out, 'Silence in
33361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe court!' and the King put on his spectacles and looked
33371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cianxiously round, to make out who was talking.</p>
33381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice could see, as well as if she were looking over their
33401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishoulders, that all the jurors were writing down 'stupid things!'
33411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cion their slates, and she could even make out that one of them
33421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cididn't know how to spell 'stupid,' and that he had to ask his
33431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cineighbour to tell him. 'A nice muddle their slates'll be in
33441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibefore the trial's over!' thought Alice.</p>
33451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>One of the jurors had a pencil that squeaked. This of course,
33471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice could <i>not</i> stand, and she went round the court and
33481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigot behind him, and very soon found an opportunity of taking it
33491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciaway. She did it so quickly that the poor little juror (it was
33501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciBill, the Lizard) could not make out at all what had become of
33511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit; so, after hunting all about for it, he was obliged to write
33521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwith one finger for the rest of the day; and this was of very
33531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilittle use, as it left no mark on the slate.</p>
33541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Herald, read the accusation!' said the King.</p>
33561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>On this the White Rabbit blew three blasts on the trumpet, and
33581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithen unrolled the parchment scroll, and read as follows:--</p>
33591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>'The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts, All on a summer
33611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciday: The Knave of Hearts, he stole those tarts, And took them
33621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciquite away!'</i></p>
33631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Consider your verdict,' the King said to the jury.</p>
33651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Not yet, not yet!' the Rabbit hastily interrupted. 'There's a
33671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigreat deal to come before that!'</p>
33681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Call the first witness,' said the King; and the White Rabbit
33701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciblew three blasts on the trumpet, and called out, 'First
33711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwitness!'</p>
33721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The first witness was the Hatter. He came in with a teacup in
33741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cione hand and a piece of bread-and-butter in the other. 'I beg
33751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipardon, your Majesty,' he began, 'for bringing these in: but I
33761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihadn't quite finished my tea when I was sent for.'</p>
33771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You ought to have finished,' said the King. 'When did you
33791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibegin?'</p>
33801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Hatter looked at the March Hare, who had followed him into
33821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe court, arm-in-arm with the Dormouse. 'Fourteenth of March, I
33831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>think</i> it was,' he said.</p>
33841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Fifteenth,' said the March Hare.</p>
33861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Sixteenth,' added the Dormouse.</p>
33881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Write that down,' the King said to the jury, and the jury
33901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cieagerly wrote down all three dates on their slates, and then
33911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciadded them up, and reduced the answer to shillings and pence.</p>
33921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Take off your hat,' the King said to the Hatter.</p>
33941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It isn't mine,' said the Hatter.</p>
33961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
33971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'<i>Stolen!</i>' the King exclaimed, turning to the jury, who
33981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciinstantly made a memorandum of the fact.</p>
33991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I keep them to sell,' the Hatter added as an explanation;
34011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'I've none of my own. I'm a hatter.'</p>
34021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Here the Queen put on her spectacles, and began staring at the
34041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciHatter, who turned pale and fidgeted.</p>
34051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Give your evidence,' said the King; 'and don't be nervous, or
34071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciI'll have you executed on the spot.'</p>
34081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>This did not seem to encourage the witness at all: he kept
34101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishifting from one foot to the other, looking uneasily at the
34111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciQueen, and in his confusion he bit a large piece out of his
34121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citeacup instead of the bread-and-butter.</p>
34131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Just at this moment Alice felt a very curious sensation, which
34151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipuzzled her a good deal until she made out what it was: she was
34161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibeginning to grow larger again, and she thought at first she
34171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwould get up and leave the court; but on second thoughts she
34181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidecided to remain where she was as long as there was room for
34191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciher.</p>
34201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I wish you wouldn't squeeze so.' said the Dormouse, who was
34221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisitting next to her. 'I can hardly breathe.'</p>
34231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I can't help it,' said Alice very meekly: 'I'm growing.'</p>
34251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You've no right to grow <i>here</i>,' said the Dormouse.</p>
34271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Don't talk nonsense,' said Alice more boldly: 'you know
34291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyou're growing too.'</p>
34301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Yes, but <i>I</i> grow at a reasonable pace,' said the
34321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciDormouse: 'not in that ridiculous fashion.' And he got up very
34331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisulkily and crossed over to the other side of the court.</p>
34341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>All this time the Queen had never left off staring at the
34361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciHatter, and, just as the Dormouse crossed the court, she said to
34371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cione of the officers of the court, 'Bring me the list of the
34381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisingers in the last concert!' on which the wretched Hatter
34391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citrembled so, that he shook both his shoes off.</p>
34401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Give your evidence,' the King repeated angrily, 'or I'll have
34421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyou executed, whether you're nervous or not.'</p>
34431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I'm a poor man, your Majesty,' the Hatter began, in a
34451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citrembling voice, '--and I hadn't begun my tea--not above a week
34461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cior so--and what with the bread-and-butter getting so thin--and
34471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe twinkling of the tea--'</p>
34481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'The twinkling of the <i>what</i>?' said the King.</p>
34501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It <i>began</i> with the tea,' the Hatter replied.</p>
34521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Of course twinkling <i>begins</i> with a T!' said the King
34541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisharply. 'Do you take me for a dunce? Go on!'</p>
34551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I'm a poor man,' the Hatter went on, 'and most things
34571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citwinkled after that--only the March Hare said--'</p>
34581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I didn't!' the March Hare interrupted in a great hurry.</p>
34601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You did!' said the Hatter.</p>
34621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I deny it!' said the March Hare.</p>
34641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'He denies it,' said the King: 'leave out that part.'</p>
34661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Well, at any rate, the Dormouse said--' the Hatter went on,
34681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilooking anxiously round to see if he would deny it too: but the
34691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciDormouse denied nothing, being fast asleep.</p>
34701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'After that,' continued the Hatter, 'I cut some more bread-
34721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand-butter--'</p>
34731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'But what did the Dormouse say?' one of the jury asked.</p>
34751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'That I can't remember,' said the Hatter.</p>
34771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You <i>must</i> remember,' remarked the King, 'or I'll have
34791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyou executed.'</p>
34801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The miserable Hatter dropped his teacup and bread-and-butter,
34821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand went down on one knee. 'I'm a poor man, your Majesty,' he
34831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibegan.</p>
34841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You're a very poor <i>speaker</i>,' said the King.</p>
34861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Here one of the guinea-pigs cheered, and was immediately
34881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisuppressed by the officers of the court. (As that is rather a
34891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihard word, I will just explain to you how it was done. They had a
34901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilarge canvas bag, which tied up at the mouth with strings: into
34911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithis they slipped the guinea-pig, head first, and then sat upon
34921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit.)</p>
34931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
34941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I'm glad I've seen that done,' thought Alice. 'I've so often
34951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciread in the newspapers, at the end of trials, "There was some
34961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciattempts at applause, which was immediately suppressed by the
34971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciofficers of the court," and I never understood what it meant till
34981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinow.'</p>
34991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'If that's all you know about it, you may stand down,'
35011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicontinued the King.</p>
35021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I can't go no lower,' said the Hatter: 'I'm on the floor, as
35041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit is.'</p>
35051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Then you may <i>sit</i> down,' the King replied.</p>
35071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Here the other guinea-pig cheered, and was suppressed.</p>
35091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Come, that finished the guinea-pigs!' thought Alice. 'Now we
35111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishall get on better.'</p>
35121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I'd rather finish my tea,' said the Hatter, with an anxious
35141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilook at the Queen, who was reading the list of singers.</p>
35151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You may go,' said the King, and the Hatter hurriedly left the
35171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicourt, without even waiting to put his shoes on.</p>
35181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'--and just take his head off outside,' the Queen added to one
35201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciof the officers: but the Hatter was out of sight before the
35211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciofficer could get to the door.</p>
35221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Call the next witness!' said the King.</p>
35241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The next witness was the Duchess's cook. She carried the
35261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipepper-box in her hand, and Alice guessed who it was, even before
35271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe got into the court, by the way the people near the door began
35281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisneezing all at once.</p>
35291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Give your evidence,' said the King.</p>
35311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Shan't,' said the cook.</p>
35331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The King looked anxiously at the White Rabbit, who said in a
35351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilow voice, 'Your Majesty must cross-examine <i>this</i> witness.'</p>
35361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Well, if I must, I must,' the King said, with a melancholy
35381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciair, and, after folding his arms and frowning at the cook till
35391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihis eyes were nearly out of sight, he said in a deep voice, 'What
35401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciare tarts made of?'</p>
35411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Pepper, mostly,' said the cook.</p>
35431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Treacle,' said a sleepy voice behind her.</p>
35451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Collar that Dormouse,' the Queen shrieked out. 'Behead that
35471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciDormouse! Turn that Dormouse out of court! Suppress him! Pinch
35481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihim! Off with his whiskers!'</p>
35491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>For some minutes the whole court was in confusion, getting the
35511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciDormouse turned out, and, by the time they had settled down
35521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciagain, the cook had disappeared.</p>
35531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Never mind!' said the King, with an air of great relief.
35551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'Call the next witness.' And he added in an undertone to the
35561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciQueen, 'Really, my dear, <i>you</i> must cross-examine the next
35571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwitness. It quite makes my forehead ache!'</p>
35581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice watched the White Rabbit as he fumbled over the list,
35601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifeeling very curious to see what the next witness would be like,
35611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'--for they haven't got much evidence <i>yet</i>,' she said to
35621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciherself. Imagine her surprise, when the White Rabbit read out, at
35631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe top of his shrill little voice, the name 'Alice!'</p>
35641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<hr>
35661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">CHAPTER XII</h3>
35671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<h3 align="Center">Alice's Evidence</h3>
35691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Here!' cried Alice, quite forgetting in the flurry of the
35711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimoment how large she had grown in the last few minutes, and she
35721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cijumped up in such a hurry that she tipped over the jury-box with
35731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe edge of her skirt, upsetting all the jurymen on to the heads
35741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciof the crowd below, and there they lay sprawling about, reminding
35751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciher very much of a globe of goldfish she had accidentally upset
35761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe week before.</p>
35771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Oh, I <i>beg</i> your pardon!' she exclaimed in a tone of
35791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigreat dismay, and began picking them up again as quickly as she
35801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicould, for the accident of the goldfish kept running in her head,
35811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand she had a vague sort of idea that they must be collected at
35821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cionce and put back into the jury-box, or they would die.</p>
35831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'The trial cannot proceed,' said the King in a very grave
35851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civoice, 'until all the jurymen are back in their proper places--
35861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>all</i>,' he repeated with great emphasis, looking hard at
35871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice as he said do.</p>
35881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Alice looked at the jury-box, and saw that, in her haste, she
35901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihad put the Lizard in head downwards, and the poor little thing
35911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwas waving its tail about in a melancholy way, being quite unable
35921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cito move. She soon got it out again, and put it right; 'not that
35931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit signifies much,' she said to herself; 'I should think it would
35941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibe <i>quite</i> as much use in the trial one way up as the
35951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciother.'</p>
35961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
35971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>As soon as the jury had a little recovered from the shock of
35981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibeing upset, and their slates and pencils had been found and
35991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihanded back to them, they set to work very diligently to write
36001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciout a history of the accident, all except the Lizard, who seemed
36011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citoo much overcome to do anything but sit with its mouth open,
36021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigazing up into the roof of the court.</p>
36031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'What do you know about this business?' the King said to
36051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAlice.</p>
36061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Nothing,' said Alice.</p>
36081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Nothing <i>whatever?</i>' persisted the King.</p>
36101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Nothing <i>whatever,</i>' said Alice.</p>
36121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'That's very important,' the King said, turning to the jury.
36141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciThey were just beginning to write this down on their slates, when
36151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe White Rabbit interrupted: '<i>Un</i>important, your Majesty
36161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimeans, of course,' he said in a very respectful tone, but
36171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifrowning and making faces at him as he spoke.</p>
36181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'<i>Un</i>important, of course, I meant,' the King hastily
36201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisaid, and went on to himself in an undertone,
36211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'important--unimportant-- unimportant--important--' as if he were
36221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citrying which word sounded best.</p>
36231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Some of the jury wrote it down 'important,' and some
36251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'unimportant.' Alice could see this, as she was near enough to
36261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilook over their slates; 'but it doesn't matter a bit,' she
36271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithought to herself.</p>
36281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>At this moment the King, who had been for some time busily
36301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwriting in his note-book, cackled out 'Silence!' and read out
36311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifrom his book, 'Rule Forty-two. <i>All persons more than a mile
36321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihight to leave the court</i>.'</p>
36331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Everybody looked at Alice.</p>
36351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'<i>I'm</i> not a mile high,' said Alice.</p>
36371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'You are,' said the King.</p>
36391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Nearly two miles high,' added the Queen.</p>
36411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Well, I shan't go, at any rate,' said Alice: 'besides, that's
36431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cinot a regular rule: you invented it just now.'</p>
36441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It's the oldest rule in the book,' said the King.</p>
36461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Then it ought to be Number One,' said Alice.</p>
36481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The King turned pale, and shut his note-book hastily.
36501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci'Consider your verdict,' he said to the jury, in a low, trembling
36511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civoice.</p>
36521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'There's more evidence to come yet, please your Majesty,' said
36541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe White Rabbit, jumping up in a great hurry; 'this paper has
36551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cijust been picked up.'</p>
36561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'What's in it?' said the Queen.</p>
36581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I haven't opened it yet,' said the White Rabbit, 'but it
36601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciseems to be a letter, written by the prisoner to--to
36611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisomebody.'</p>
36621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It must have been that,' said the King, 'unless it was
36641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwritten to nobody, which isn't usual, you know.'</p>
36651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Who is it directed to?' said one of the jurymen.</p>
36671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It isn't directed at all,' said the White Rabbit; 'in fact,
36691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithere's nothing written on the <i>outside</i>.' He unfolded the
36701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cipaper as he spoke, and added 'It isn't a letter, after all: it's
36711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cia set of verses.'</p>
36721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Are they in the prisoner's handwriting?' asked another of
36741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithey jurymen.</p>
36751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'No, they're not,' said the White Rabbit, 'and that's the
36771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciqueerest thing about it.' (The jury all looked puzzled.)</p>
36781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'He must have imitated somebody else's hand,' said the King.
36801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci(The jury all brightened up again.)</p>
36811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Please your Majesty,' said the Knave, 'I didn't write it, and
36831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithey can't prove I did: there's no name signed at the end.'</p>
36841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'If you didn't sign it,' said the King, 'that only makes the
36861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimatter worse. You <i>must</i> have meant some mischief, or else
36871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyou'd have signed your name like an honest man.'</p>
36881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>There was a general clapping of hands at this: it was the
36901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifirst really clever thing the King had said that day.</p>
36911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'That <i>proves</i> his guilt,' said the Queen.</p>
36931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It proves nothing of the sort!' said Alice. 'Why, you don't
36951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cieven know what they're about!'</p>
36961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Read them,' said the King.</p>
36981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
36991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The White Rabbit put on his spectacles. 'Where shall I begin,
37001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciplease your Majesty?' he asked.</p>
37011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Begin at the beginning,' the King said gravely, 'and go on
37031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citill you come to the end: then stop.'</p>
37041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>These were the verses the White Rabbit read:--</p>
37061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>'They told me you had been to her, And mentioned me to him:
37081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciShe gave me a good character, But said I could not swim.</i></p>
37091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>He sent them word I had not gone (We know it to be true):
37111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciIf she should push the matter on, What would become of
37121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyou?</i></p>
37131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>I gave her one, they gave him two, You gave us three or
37151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimore; They all returned from him to you, Though they were mine
37161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibefore.</i></p>
37171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>If I or she should chance to be Involved in this affair, He
37191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citrusts to you to set them free, Exactly as we were.</i></p>
37201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>My notion was that you had been (Before she had this fit)
37221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAn obstacle that came between Him, and ourselves, and it.</i></p>
37231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p><i>Don't let him know she liked them best, For this must ever
37251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibe A secret, kept from all the rest, Between yourself and
37261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cime.'</i></p>
37271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'That's the most important piece of evidence we've heard yet,'
37291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisaid the King, rubbing his hands; 'so now let the jury--'</p>
37301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'If any one of them can explain it,' said Alice, (she had
37321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cigrown so large in the last few minutes that she wasn't a bit
37331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciafraid of interrupting him,) 'I'll give him sixpence. _I_ don't
37341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibelieve there's an atom of meaning in it.'</p>
37351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The jury all wrote down on their slates, '<i>She</i> doesn't
37371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibelieve there's an atom of meaning in it,' but none of them
37381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciattempted to explain the paper.</p>
37391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'If there's no meaning in it,' said the King, 'that saves a
37411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciworld of trouble, you know, as we needn't try to find any. And
37421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyet I don't know,' he went on, spreading out the verses on his
37431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciknee, and looking at them with one eye; 'I seem to see some
37441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimeaning in them, after all. "<i>-said I could not swim--</i>" you
37451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cican't swim, can you?' he added, turning to the Knave.</p>
37461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The Knave shook his head sadly. 'Do I look like it?' he said.
37481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci(Which he certainly did <i>not</i>, being made entirely of
37491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicardboard.)</p>
37501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'All right, so far,' said the King, and he went on muttering
37521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciover the verses to himself: '"<i>We know it to be true--</i>"
37531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithat's the jury, of course-- "<i>I gave her one, they gave him
37541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citwo--</i>" why, that must be what he did with the tarts, you
37551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciknow--'</p>
37561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'But, it goes on "<i>they all returned from him to you,</i>"'
37581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisaid Alice.</p>
37591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Why, there they are!' said the King triumphantly, pointing to
37611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe tarts on the table. 'Nothing can be clearer than <i>that</i>.
37621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciThen again--"<i>before she had this fit-</i>-" you never had
37631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>fits</i>, my dear, I think?' he said to the Queen.</p>
37641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Never!' said the Queen furiously, throwing an inkstand at the
37661cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciLizard as she spoke. (The unfortunate little Bill had left off
37671cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwriting on his slate with one finger, as he found it made no
37681cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimark; but he now hastily began again, using the ink, that was
37691cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citrickling down his face, as long as it lasted.)</p>
37701cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37711cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Then the words don't <i>fit</i> you,' said the King, looking
37721cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciround the court with a smile. There was a dead silence.</p>
37731cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37741cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'It's a pun!' the King added in an offended tone, and
37751cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cieverybody laughed, 'Let the jury consider their verdict,' the
37761cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciKing said, for about the twentieth time that day.</p>
37771cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37781cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'No, no!' said the Queen. 'Sentence first--verdict
37791cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciafterwards.'</p>
37801cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37811cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Stuff and nonsense!' said Alice loudly. 'The idea of having
37821cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe sentence first!'</p>
37831cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37841cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Hold your tongue!' said the Queen, turning purple.</p>
37851cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37861cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'I won't!' said Alice.</p>
37871cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37881cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Off with her head!' the Queen shouted at the top of her
37891cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civoice. Nobody moved.</p>
37901cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37911cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Who cares for you?' said Alice, (she had grown to her full
37921cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisize by this time.) 'You're nothing but a pack of cards!'</p>
37931cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
37941cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>At this the whole pack rose up into the air, and came flying
37951cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidown upon her: she gave a little scream, half of fright and half
37961cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciof anger, and tried to beat them off, and found herself lying on
37971cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe bank, with her head in the lap of her sister, who was gently
37981cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cibrushing away some dead leaves that had fluttered down from the
37991cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citrees upon her face.</p>
38001cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
38011cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Wake up, Alice dear!' said her sister; 'Why, what a long
38021cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisleep you've had!'</p>
38031cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
38041cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>'Oh, I've had such a curious dream!' said Alice, and she told
38051cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciher sister, as well as she could remember them, all these strange
38061cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciAdventures of hers that you have just been reading about; and
38071cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwhen she had finished, her sister kissed her, and said, 'It
38081cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<i>was</i> a curious dream, dear, certainly: but now run in to
38091cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciyour tea; it's getting late.' So Alice got up and ran off,
38101cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithinking while she ran, as well she might, what a wonderful dream
38111cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciit had been.</p>
38121cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
38131cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>But her sister sat still just as she left her, leaning her
38141cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihead on her hand, watching the setting sun, and thinking of
38151cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilittle Alice and all her wonderful Adventures, till she too began
38161cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cidreaming after a fashion, and this was her dream:--</p>
38171cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
38181cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>First, she dreamed of little Alice herself, and once again the
38191cb0ef41Sopenharmony_citiny hands were clasped upon her knee, and the bright eager eyes
38201cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciwere looking up into hers--she could hear the very tones of her
38211cb0ef41Sopenharmony_civoice, and see that queer little toss of her head to keep back
38221cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe wandering hair that <i>would</i> always get into her
38231cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cieyes--and still as she listened, or seemed to listen, the whole
38241cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciplace around her became alive the strange creatures of her little
38251cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cisister's dream.</p>
38261cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
38271cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>The long grass rustled at her feet as the White Rabbit hurried
38281cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciby--the frightened Mouse splashed his way through the
38291cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cineighbouring pool--she could hear the rattle of the teacups as
38301cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cithe March Hare and his friends shared their never-ending meal,
38311cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand the shrill voice of the Queen ordering off her unfortunate
38321cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciguests to execution--once more the pig-baby was sneezing on the
38331cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciDuchess's knee, while plates and dishes crashed around it--once
38341cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimore the shriek of the Gryphon, the squeaking of the Lizard's
38351cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cislate-pencil, and the choking of the suppressed guinea-pigs,
38361cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cifilled the air, mixed up with the distant sobs of the miserable
38371cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciMock Turtle.</p>
38381cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
38391cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>So she sat on, with closed eyes, and half believed herself in
38401cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciWonderland, though she knew she had but to open them again, and
38411cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciall would change to dull reality--the grass would be only
38421cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cirustling in the wind, and the pool rippling to the waving of the
38431cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cireeds--the rattling teacups would change to tinkling sheep-bells,
38441cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand the Queen's shrill cries to the voice of the shepherd
38451cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciboy--and the sneeze of the baby, the shriek of the Gryphon, and
38461cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciall the other queer noises, would change (she knew) to the
38471cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciconfused clamour of the busy farm-yard--while the lowing of the
38481cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cicattle in the distance would take the place of the Mock Turtle's
38491cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciheavy sobs.</p>
38501cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
38511cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>Lastly, she pictured to herself how this same little sister of
38521cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cihers would, in the after-time, be herself a grown woman; and how
38531cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cishe would keep, through all her riper years, the simple and
38541cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciloving heart of her childhood: and how she would gather about her
38551cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciother little children, and make <i>their</i> eyes bright and eager with
38561cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cimany a strange tale, perhaps even with the dream of Wonderland of
38571cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cilong ago: and how she would feel with all their simple sorrows,
38581cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciand find a pleasure in all their simple joys, remembering her own
38591cb0ef41Sopenharmony_cichild-life, and the happy summer days.</p>
38601cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
38611cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci<p>End of the Project Gutenberg Etext of Alice's Adventures in
38621cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ciWonderland</p>
38631cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci
38641cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci</body>
38651cb0ef41Sopenharmony_ci</html>
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