meaning in it, and yet it was certainly English. `I don't quite understandyou,' she said, as politely as she could.`The Dormouse is asleep again,' said the Hatter, and he poured a little hottea upon its nose.The Dormouse shook its head impatiently, and said, without opening its eyes, `Of course, of course; just what I was going to remark myself.'`Have you guessed the riddle yet?' the Hatter said, turning to Alice again.`No, I give it up,' Alice replied: `what's the answer?'`I haven't the slightest idea,' said the Hatter.`Nor I,' said the March Hare.Alice sighed wearily. `I think you might do something better with the time,'she said, `than waste it in asking riddles that have no answers.'`If you knew Time as well as I do,' said the Hatter, `you wouldn't talk aboutwasting IT. It's HIM.'`I don't know what you mean,' said Alice.`Of course you don't!' the Hatter said, tossing his head contemptuously. `Idare say you never even spoke to Time!'`Perhaps not,' Alice cautiously replied: `but I know I have to beat timewhen I learn music.'`Ah! that accounts for it,' said the Hatter. `He won't stand beating. Now, ifyou only kept on good terms with him, he'd do almost anything you likedwith the clock. For instance, suppose it were nine o'clock in the morning,just time to begin lessons: you'd only have to whisper a hint to Time, andround goes the clock in a twinkling! Half-past one, time for dinner!'(`I only wish it was,' the March Hare said to itself in a whisper.)`That would be grand, certainly,' said Alice thoughtfully: `but then--Ishouldn't be hungry for it, you know.'`Not at first, perhaps,' said the Hatter: `but you could keep it to half-pastone as long as you liked.'`Is that the way YOU manage?' Alice asked.The Hatter shook his head mournfully. `Not I!' he replied. `We quarrelledlast March--just before HE went mad, you know--' (pointing with his teaspoon at the March Hare,) `--it was at the great concert given by theQueen of Hearts, and I had to sing"Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!How I wonder what you're at!"You know the song, perhaps?'`I've heard something like it,' said Alice.`It goes on, you know,' the Hatter continued, `in this way:--"Up above the world you fly,Like a tea-tray in the sky.Twinkle, twinkle--"'Here the Dormouse shook itself, and began singing in its sleep `Twinkle,twinkle, twinkle, twinkle--' and went on so long that they had to pinch it tomake it stop.銆乣Well, I'd hardly finished the first verse,' said the Hatter, `when the Queen jumped up and bawled out, "He's murdering the time! Off with hishead!"'`How dreadfully savage!' exclaimed Alice.`And ever since that,' the Hatter went on in a mournful tone, `he won't doa thing I ask! It's always six o'clock now.'A bright idea came into Alice's head. `Is that the reason so many tea-thingsare put out here?' she asked.`Yes, that's it,' said the Hatter with a sigh: `it's always tea-time, and we'veno time to wash the things between whiles.'`Then you keep moving round, I suppose?' said Alice.`Exactly so,' said the Hatter: `as the things get used up.'`But what happens when you come to the beginning again?' Alice venturedto ask.`Suppose we change the subject,' the March Hare interrupted, yawning.`I'm getting tired of this. I vote the young lady tells us a story.'`I'm afraid I don't know one,' said Alice, rather alarmed at the proposal.`Then the Dormouse shall!' they both cried. `Wake up, Dormouse!' Andthey pinched it on both sides at once.The Dormouse slowly opened his eyes. `I wasn't asleep,' he said in ahoarse, feeble voice: `I heard every word you fellows were saying.'`Tell us a story!' said the March Hare.`Yes, please do!' pleaded Alice.`And be quick about it,' added the Hatter, `or you'll be asleep again beforeit's done.'`Once upon a time there were three little sisters,' the Dormouse began in agreat hurry; `and their names were Elsie, Lacie, and Tillie; and they lived atthe bottom of a well--'`What did they live on?' said Alice, who always took a great interest inquestions of eating and drinking.`They lived on treacle,' said the Dormouse, after thinking a minute or two.`They couldn't have done that, you know,' Alice gently remarked; `they'dhave been ill.'`So they were,' said the Dormouse; `VERY ill.'Alice tried to fancy to herself what such an extraordinary ways of livingwould be like, but it puzzled her too much, so she went on: `But why didthey live at the bottom of a well?'`Take some more tea,' the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly.`I've had nothing yet,' Alice replied in an offended tone, `so I can't takemore.'`You mean you can't take LESS,' said the Hatter: `it's very easy to takeMORE than nothing.'`Nobody asked YOUR opinion,' said Alice.`Who's making personal remarks now?' the Hatter asked triumphantly.Alice did not quite know what to say to this: so she helped herself to sometea and bread-and-butter, and then turned to the Dormouse, and repeatedher question. `Why did they live at the bottom of a well?'The Dormouse again took a minute or two to think about it, and then said,`It was a treacle-well.'`There's no such thing!' Alice was beginning very angrily, but the Hatterand the March Hare went `Sh! sh!' and the Dormouse sulkily remarked, `Ifyou can't be civil, you'd better finish the story for yourself.'`No, please go on!' Alice said very humbly; `I won't interrupt again. I daresay there may be ONE.'`One, indeed!' said the Dormouse indignantly. However, he consented to goon. `And so these three little sisters--they were learning to draw, youknow--'`What did they draw?' said Alice, quite forgetting her promise.`Treacle,' said the Dormouse, without considering at all this time.`I want a clean cup,' interrupted the Hatter: `let's all move one place on.'He moved on as he spoke, and the Dormouse followed him: the March Haremoved into the Dormouse's place, and Alice rather unwillingly took theplace of the March Hare. The Hatter was the only one who got anyadvantage from the change: and Alice was a good deal worse off thanbefore, as the March Hare had just upset the milk-jug into his plate.Alice did not wish to offend the Dormouse again, so she began verycautiously: `But I don't understand. Where did they draw the treacle from?'`You can draw water out of a water-well,' said the Hatter; `so I shouldthink you could draw treacle out of a treacle-well--eh, stupid?'`But they were IN the well,' Alice said to the Dormouse, not choosing to notice this last remark.`Of course they were', said the Dormouse; `--well in.'This answer so confused poor Alice, that she let the Dormouse go on forsome time without interrupting it.`They were learning to draw,' the Dormouse went on, yawning and rubbingits eyes, for it was getting very sleepy; `and they drew all manner ofthings--everything that begins with an M--'`Why with an M?' said Alice.`Why not?' said the March Hare.Alice was silent.The Dormouse had closed its eyes by this time, and was going off into adoze; but, on being pinched by the Hatter, it woke up again with a littleshriek, and went on: `--that begins with an M, such as mouse-traps, andthe moon, and memory, and muchness-- you know you say things are"much of a muchness"--did you ever see such a thing as a drawing of amuchness?'`Really, now you ask me,' said Alice, very much confused, `I don't think--'`Then you shouldn't talk,' said the Hatter.This piece of rudeness was more than Alice could bear: she got up in greatdisgust, and walked off; the Dormouse fell asleep instantly, and neither ofthe others took the least notice of her going, though she looked back onceor twice, half hoping that they would call after her: the last time she sawthem, they were trying to put the Dormouse into the teapot.`At any rate I'll never go THERE again!' said Alice as she picked her waythrough the wood. `It's the stupidest tea-party I ever was at in all my life!'Just as she said this, she noticed that one of the trees had a door leadingright into it. `That's very curious!' she thought. `But everything's curioustoday. I think I may as well go in at once.' And in she went.Once more she found herself in the long hall, and close to the little glasstable. `Now, I'll manage better this time,' she said to herself, and began bytaking the little golden key, and unlocking the door that led into the garden.Then she went to work nibbling at the mushroom (she had kept a piece ofit in her pocket) till she was about a foot high: then she walked down thelittle passage: and THEN--she found herself at last in the beautiful garden,among the bright flower-beds and the cool fountains.CHAPTER VIII The Queen's Croquet-GroundA large rose-tree stood near the entrance of the garden: the roses growingon it were white, but there were three gardeners at it, busily painting themred. Alice thought this a very curious thing, and she went nearer to watchthem, and just as she came up to them she heard one of them say, `Lookout now, Five! Don't go splashing paint over me like that!'`I couldn't help it,' said Five, in a sulky tone; `Seven jogged my elbow.'On which Seven looked up and said, `That's right, Five! Always lay theblame on others!'`YOU'D better not talk!' said Five. `I heard the Queen say only yesterdayyou deserved to be beheaded!'`What for?' said the one who had spoken first.`That's none of YOUR business, Two!' said Seven.`Yes, it IS his business!' said Five, `and I'll tell him--it was for bringing thecook tulip-roots instead of onions.'Seven flung down his brush, and had just begun `Well, of all the unjustthings--' when his eye chanced to fall upon Alice, as she stood watchingthem, and he checked himself suddenly: the others looked round also, andall of them bowed low.`Would you tell me,' said Alice, a little timidly, `why you are painting thoseroses?'Five and Seven said nothing, but looked at Two. Two began in a low voice,`Why the fact is, you see, Miss, this here ought to have been a RED rose-tree, and we put a white one in by mistake; and if the Queen was to find itout, we should all have our heads cut off, you know. So you see, Miss, we'redoing our best, afore she comes, to--' At this moment Five, who had beenanxiously looking across the garden, called out `The Queen! The Queen!'and the three gardeners instantly threw themselves flat upon their faces.There was a sound of many footsteps, and Alice looked round, eager to seethe Queen.First came ten soldiers carrying clubs; these were all shaped like the threegardeners, oblong and flat, with their hands and feet at the corners: nextthe ten courtiers; these were ornamented all over with diamonds, andwalked two and two, as the soldiers did. After these came the royalchildren; there were ten of them, and the little dears came jumping merrilyalong hand in hand, in couples: they were all ornamented with hearts. Nextcame the guests, mostly Kings and Queens, and among them Alicerecognised the White Rabbit: it was talking in a hurried nervous manner,smiling at everything that was said, and went by without noticing her. Thenfollowed the Knave of Hearts, carrying the King's crown on a crimson velvetcushion; and, last of all this grand procession, came THE KING AND QUEENOF HEARTS.Alice was rather doubtful whether she ought not to lie down on her facelike the three gardeners, but she could not remember ever having heard ofsuch a rule at processions; `and besides, what would be the use of aprocession,' thought she, `if people had all to lie down upon their faces, sothat they couldn't see it?' So she stood still where she was, and waited.When the procession came opposite to Alice, they all stopped and looked ather, and the Queen said severely `Who is this?' She said it to the Knave ofHearts, who only bowed and smiled in reply.`Idiot!' said the Queen, tossing her head impatiently; and, turning to Alice,she went on, `What's your name, child?'`My name is Alice, so please your Majesty,' said Alice very politely; but sheadded, to herself, `Why, they're only a pack of cards, after all. I needn't beafraid of them!'`And who are THESE?' said the Queen, pointing to the three gardeners whowere lying round the rosetree; for, you see, as they were lying on theirfaces, and the pattern on their backs was the same as the rest of the pack,she could not tell whether they were gardeners, or soldiers, or courtiers, orthree of her own children.`How should I know?' said Alice, surprised at her own courage. `It's nobusiness of MINE.'The Queen turned crimson with fury, and, after glaring at her for amoment like a wild beast, screamed `Off with her head! Off--'`Nonsense!' said Alice, very loudly and decidedly, and the Queen was silent.The King laid his hand upon her arm, and timidly said `Consider, my dear:she is only a child!'The Queen turned angrily away from him, and said to the Knave `Turn them over!'The Knave did so, very carefully, with one foot.`Get up!' said the Queen, in a shrill, loud voice, and the three gardenersinstantly jumped up, and began bowing to the King, the Queen, the royalchildren, and everybody else.`Leave off that!' screamed the Queen. `You make me giddy.' And then,turning to the rose-tree, she went on, `What HAVE you been doing here?'`May it please your Majesty,' said Two, in a very humble tone, going downon one knee as he spoke, `we were trying--'`I see!' said the Queen, who had meanwhile been examining the roses.`Off with their heads!' and the procession moved on, three of the soldiersremaining behind to execute the unfortunate gardeners, who ran to Alicefor protection.`You shan't be beheaded!' said Alice, and she put them into a largeflower-pot that stood near. The three soldiers wandered about for a minuteor two, looking for them, and then quietly marched off after the others.`Are their heads off?' shouted the Queen.`Their heads are gone, if it please your Majesty!' the soldiers shouted inreply.`That's right!' shouted the Queen. `Can you play croquet?'The soldiers were silent, and looked at Alice, as the question was evidentlymeant for her.`Yes!' shouted Alice.`Come on, then!' roared the Queen, and Alice joined the procession,wondering very much what would happen next.`It's--it's a very fine day!' said a timid voice at her side. She was walking bythe White Rabbit, who was peeping anxiously into her face.`Very,' said Alice: `--where's the Duchess?'`Hush! Hush!' said the Rabbit in a low, hurried tone. He looked anxiouslyover his shoulder as he spoke, and then raised himself upon tiptoe, put hismouth close to her ear, and whispered `She's under sentence of execution.'`What for?' said Alice.`Did you say "What a pity!"?' the Rabbit asked.`No, I didn't,' said Alice: `I don't think it's at all a pity. I said "What for?"'`She boxed the Queen's ears--' the Rabbit began. Alice gave a little screamof laughter. `Oh, hush!' the Rabbit whispered in a frightened tone. `TheQueen will hear you! You see, she came rather late, and the Queen said--'`Get to your places!' shouted the Queen in a voice of thunder, and peoplebegan running about in all directions, tumbling up against each other;however, they got settled down in a minute or two, and the game began.Alice thought she had never seen such a curious croquet-ground in her life;it was all ridges and furrows; the balls were live hedgehogs, the mallets liveflamingoes, and the soldiers had to double themselves up and to stand ontheir hands and feet, to make the arches.The chief difficulty Alice found at first was in managing her flamingo: shesucceeded in getting its body tucked away, comfortably enough, under herarm, with its legs hanging down, but generally, just as she had got its neck nicely straightened out, and was going to give the hedgehog a blow with itshead, it WOULD twist itself round and look up in her face, with such apuzzled expression that she could not help bursting out laughing: and whenshe had got its head down, and was going to begin again, it was veryprovoking to find that the hedgehog had unrolled itself, and was in the actof crawling away: besides all this, there was generally a ridge or furrow in