爱丽丝漫游奇境记-9

Don't let him know she liked them best,For this must ever beA secret, kept from all the rest,Between yourself and me.'`That's the most important piece of evidence we've heard yet,' said theKing, rubbing his hands; `so now let the jury--'`If any one of them can explain it,' said Alice, (she had grown so large inthe last few minutes that she wasn't a bit afraid of interrupting him,) `I'llgive him sixpence. _I_ don't believe there's an atom of meaning in it.'The jury all wrote down on their slates, `SHE doesn't believe there's anatom of meaning in it,' but none of them attempted to explain the paper.`If there's no meaning in it,' said the King, `that saves a world of trouble,you know, as we needn't try to find any. And yet I don't know,' he went on,spreading out the verses on his knee, and looking at them with one eye; `Iseem to see some meaning in them, after all. "--SAID I COULD NOTSWIM--" you can't swim, can you?' he added, turning to the Knave.The Knave shook his head sadly. `Do I look like it?' he said. (Which hecertainly did NOT, being made entirely of cardboard.)`All right, so far,' said the King, and he went on muttering over the versesto himself: `"WE KNOW IT TO BE TRUE--" that's the jury, of course-- "IGAVE HER ONE, THEY GAVE HIM TWO--" why, that must be what he didwith the tarts, you know--'`But, it goes on "THEY ALL RETURNED FROM HIM TO YOU,"' said Alice.`Why, there they are!' said the King triumphantly, pointing to the tarts onthe table. `Nothing can be clearer than THAT. Then again--"BEFORE SHEHAD THIS FIT--" you never had fits, my dear, I think?' he said to theQueen.`Never!' said the Queen furiously, throwing an inkstand at the Lizard as shespoke. (The unfortunate little Bill had left off writing on his slate with onefinger, as he found it made no mark; but he now hastily began again, usingthe ink, that was trickling down his face, as long as it lasted.)`Then the words don't FIT you,' said the King, looking round the court witha smile. There was a dead silence.`It's a pun!' the King added in an offended tone, and everybody laughed,`Let the jury consider their verdict,' the King said, for about the twentiethtime that day.`No, no!' said the Queen. `Sentence first--verdict afterwards.'`Stuff and nonsense!' said Alice loudly. `The idea of having the sentencefirst!'`Hold your tongue!' said the Queen, turning purple.`I won't!' said Alice.`Off with her head!' the Queen shouted at the top of her voice. Nobodymoved.`Who cares for you?' said Alice, (she had grown to her full size by thistime.) `You're nothing but a pack of cards!'At this the whole pack rose up into the air, and came flying down upon her:she gave a little scream, half of fright and half of anger, and tried to beatthem off, and found herself lying on the bank, with her head in the lap ofher sister, who was gently brushing away some dead leaves that hadfluttered down from the trees upon her face.`Wake up, Alice dear!' said her sister; `Why, what a long sleep you've had!'`Oh, I've had such a curious dream!' said Alice, and she told her sister, aswell as she could remember them, all these strange Adventures of hers thatyou have just been reading about; and when she had finished, her sisterkissed her, and said, `It WAS a curious dream, dear, certainly: but now runin to your tea; it's getting late.' So Alice got up and ran off, thinking whileshe ran, as well she might, what a wonderful dream it had been.But her sister sat still just as she left her, leaning her head on her hand,watching the setting sun, and thinking of little Alice and all her wonderfulAdventures, till she too began dreaming after a fashion, and this was herdream:--First, she dreamed of little Alice herself, and once again the tiny handswere clasped upon her knee, and the bright eager eyes were looking upinto hers--she could hear the very tones of her voice, and see that queerlittle toss of her head to keep back the wandering hair that WOULD alwaysget into her eyes--and still as she listened, or seemed to listen, the wholeplace around her became alive the strange creatures of her little sister'sdream.The long grass rustled at her feet as the White Rabbit hurried by--thefrightened Mouse splashed his way through the neighbouring pool--shecould hear the rattle of the teacups as the March Hare and his friendsshared their never-ending meal, and the shrill voice of the Queen orderingoff her unfortunate guests to execution--once more the pig-baby wassneezing on the Duchess's knee, while plates and dishes crashed aroundit--once more the shriek of the Gryphon, the squeaking of the Lizard'sslate-pencil, and the choking of the suppressed guinea-pigs, filled the air,mixed up with the distant sobs of the miserable Mock Turtle.So she sat on, with closed eyes, and half believed herself in Wonderland,though she knew she had but to open them again, and all would change todull reality--the grass would be only rustling in the wind, and the poolrippling to the waving of the reeds--the rattling teacups would change totinkling sheep- bells, and the Queen's shrill cries to the voice of theshepherd boy--and the sneeze of the baby, the shriek of the Gryphon, andall thy other queer noises, would change (she knew) to the confusedclamour of the busy farm-yard--while the lowing of the cattle in thedistance would take the place of the Mock Turtle's heavy sobs.Lastly, she pictured to herself how this same little sister of hers would, inthe after-time, be herself a grown woman; and how she would keep,through all her riper years, the simple and loving heart of her childhood:and how she would gather about her other little children, and make THEIReyes bright and eager with many a strange tale, perhaps even with thedream of Wonderland of long ago: and how she would feel with all theirsimple sorrows, and find a pleasure in all their simple joys,remembering her own child-life, and the happy summer days.THE END天天读书网（www.book.d78i.com）整理