Through the Looking-Glass

by Lewis Carroll
illustrations by John Tenniel
Chapter 1: Looking-Glass House
Chapter 2: The Garden Of Live Flowers
Chapter 3: Looking-Glass nse!ts
Chapter ": Tweedledu# $nd Tweedledee
Chapter %: &ool $nd &ater
Chapter ': Hu#pt( )u#pt(
Chapter *: The Lion $nd The +ni!orn
Chapter ,: -t.s /( Own nvention.
Chapter 0: 1ueen $li!e
Chapter 12: 3haking
Chapter 11: &aking
Chapter 12: &hi!h )rea#ed t4
Chapter 1: Looking-Glass House

One thing was !ertain5 that the
&HT6 kitten had had nothing to
do with it:--it was the 7la!k kitten.s
fault entirel(8 For the white kitten
had 7een having its fa!e washed 7(
the old !at for the last 9uarter of an
hour :and 7earing it prett( well5
!onsidering;< so (ou see that it
CO+L)=.T have had an( hand in
the #is!hief8

The wa( )inah washed her !hildren.s fa!es was this: first she held the poor
thing down 7( its ear with one paw5 and then with the other paw she ru77ed its
fa!e all over5 the wrong wa(5 7eginning at the nose: and >ust now5 as said5
she was hard at work on the white kitten5 whi!h was l(ing 9uite still and
tr(ing to purr--no dou7t feeling that it was all #eant for its good8

?ut the 7la!k kitten had 7een finished with earlier in the afternoon5 and so5
while $li!e was sitting !urled up in a !orner of the great ar#-!hair5 half
talking to herself and half asleep5 the kitten had 7een having a grand ga#e of
ro#ps with the 7all of worsted $li!e had 7een tr(ing to wind up5 and had 7een
rolling it up and down till it had all !o#e undone again< and there it was5
spread over the hearth-rug5 all knots and tangles5 with the kitten running after
its own tail in the #iddle8

-Oh5 (ou wi!ked little thing@. !ried $li!e5 !at!hing up the kitten5 and giving it
a little kiss to #ake it understand that it was in disgra!e8 -Aeall(5 )inah ought
to have taught (ou 7etter #anners@ Bou O+GHT5 )inah5 (ou know (ou
ought@. she added5 looking reproa!hfull( at the old !at5 and speaking in as
!ross a voi!e as she !ould #anage--and then she s!ra#7led 7a!k into the ar#-
!hair5 taking the kitten and the worsted with her5 and 7egan winding up the
7all again8 ?ut she didn.t get on ver( fast5 as she was talking all the ti#e5
so#eti#es to the kitten5 and so#eti#es to herself8 Citt( sat ver( de#urel( on
her knee5 pretending to wat!h the progress of the winding5 and now and then
putting out one paw and gentl( tou!hing the 7all5 as if it would 7e glad to
help5 if it #ight8

-)o (ou know what to-#orrow is5 Citt(4. $li!e 7egan8 -Bou.d have guessed
if (ou.d 7een up in the window with #e--onl( )inah was #aking (ou tid(5 so
(ou !ouldn.t8 was wat!hing the 7o(s getting in sti!ks for the 7onfire--and it
wants plent( of sti!ks5 Citt(@ Onl( it got so !old5 and it snowed so5 the( had
to leave off8 =ever #ind5 Citt(5 we.ll go and see the 7onfire to-#orrow8. Here
$li!e wound two or three turns of the worsted round the kitten.s ne!k5 >ust to
see how it would look: this led to a s!ra#7le5 in whi!h the 7all rolled down
upon the floor5 and (ards and (ards of it got unwound again8

-)o (ou know5 was so angr(5
Citt(5. $li!e went on as soon as
the( were !o#forta7l( settled
again5 -when saw all the #is!hief
(ou had 7een doing5 was ver(
nearl( opening the window5 and
putting (ou out into the snow@
$nd (ou.d have deserved it5 (ou
little #is!hievous darling@ &hat
have (ou got to sa( for (ourself4
=ow don.t interrupt #e@. she went
on5 holding up one finger8 -.#
going to tell (ou all (our faults8
=u#7er one: (ou s9ueaked twi!e
while )inah was washing (our
fa!e this #orning8 =ow (ou !an.t
den( it5 Citt(: heard (ou@ &hat that (ou sa(4. :pretending that the kitten
was speaking8; -Her paw went into (our e(e4 &ell5 that.s BO+A fault5 for
keeping (our e(es open--if (ou.d shut the# tight up5 it wouldn.t have
happened8 =ow don.t #ake an( #ore eD!uses5 7ut listen@ =u#7er two: (ou
pulled 3nowdrop awa( 7( the tail >ust as had put down the sau!er of #ilk
7efore her@ &hat5 (ou were thirst(5 were (ou4

How do (ou know she wasn.t thirst( too4 =ow for nu#7er three: (ou
unwound ever( 7it of the worsted while wasn.t looking@

-That.s three faults5 Citt(5 and (ou.ve not 7een punished for an( of the# (et8
Bou know .# saving up all (our punish#ents for &ednesda( week--3uppose
the( had saved up all /B punish#ents@. she went on5 talking #ore to herself
than the kitten8 -&hat &O+L) the( do at the end of a (ear4 should 7e sent
to prison5 suppose5 when the da( !a#e8 Or--let #e see--suppose ea!h
punish#ent was to 7e going without a dinner: then5 when the #isera7le da(
!a#e5 should have to go without fift( dinners at on!e@ &ell5 shouldn.t
#ind TH$T #u!h@ .d far rather go without the# than eat the#@

-)o (ou hear the snow against the window-panes5 Citt(4 How ni!e and soft
it sounds@ Eust as if so#e one was kissing the window all over outside8
wonder if the snow LOF63 the trees and fields5 that it kisses the# so gentl(4
$nd then it !overs the# up snug5 (ou know5 with a white 9uilt< and perhaps it
sa(s5 GGo to sleep5 darlings5 till the su##er !o#es again8G $nd when the(
wake up in the su##er5 Citt(5 the( dress the#selves all in green5 and dan!e
a7out--whenever the wind 7lows--oh5 that.s ver( prett(@. !ried $li!e5 dropping
the 7all of worsted to !lap her hands8 -$nd do so &3H it was true@ .#
sure the woods look sleep( in the autu#n5 when the leaves are getting 7rown8

-Citt(5 !an (ou pla( !hess4 =ow5 don.t s#ile5 #( dear5 .# asking it
seriousl(8 ?e!ause5 when we were pla(ing >ust now5 (ou wat!hed >ust as if
(ou understood it: and when said GChe!k@G (ou purred@ &ell5 it &$3 a ni!e
!he!k5 Citt(5 and reall( #ight have won5 if it hadn.t 7een for that nast(
Cnight5 that !a#e wiggling down a#ong #( pie!es8 Citt(5 dear5 let.s
pretend--. $nd here wish !ould tell (ou half the things $li!e used to sa(5
7eginning with her favourite phrase -Let.s pretend8. 3he had had 9uite a long
argu#ent with her sister onl( the da( 7efore --all 7e!ause $li!e had 7egun
with -Let.s pretend we.re kings and 9ueens<. and her sister5 who liked 7eing
ver( eDa!t5 had argued that the( !ouldn.t5 7e!ause there were onl( two of
the#5 and $li!e had 7een redu!ed at last to sa(5 -&ell5 BO+ !an 7e one of
the# then5 and .LL 7e all the rest8. $nd on!e she had reall( frightened her old
nurse 7( shouting suddenl( in her ear5 -=urse@ )o let.s pretend that .# a
hungr( h(aena5 and (ou.re a 7one8.

?ut this is taking us awa( fro# $li!e.s spee!h to the kitten8 -Let.s pretend
that (ou.re the Aed 1ueen5 Citt(@ )o (ou know5 think if (ou sat up and
folded (our ar#s5 (ou.d look eDa!tl( like her8 =ow do tr(5 there.s a dear@.
$nd $li!e got the Aed 1ueen off the ta7le5 and set it up 7efore the kitten as a
#odel for it to i#itate: however5 the thing didn.t su!!eed5 prin!ipall(5 $li!e
said5 7e!ause the kitten wouldn.t fold its ar#s properl(8 3o5 to punish it5 she
held it up to the Looking-glass5 that it #ight see how sulk( it was---and if
(ou.re not good dire!tl(5. she added5 -.ll put (ou through into Looking-glass
House8 How would (ou like TH$T4.

-=ow5 if (ou.ll onl( attend5 Citt(5 and not talk so #u!h5 .ll tell (ou all #(
ideas a7out Looking-glass House8 First5 there.s the roo# (ou !an see through
the glass--that.s >ust the sa#e as our drawing roo#5 onl( the things go the
other wa(8 !an see all of it when get upon a !hair--all 7ut the 7it 7ehind the
firepla!e8 Oh@ do so wish !ould see TH$T 7it@ want so #u!h to know
whether the(.ve a fire in the winter: (ou never C$= tell5 (ou know5 unless
our fire s#okes5 and then s#oke !o#es up in that roo# too--7ut that #a( 7e
onl( preten!e5 >ust to #ake it look as if the( had a fire8 &ell then5 the 7ooks
are so#ething like our 7ooks5 onl( the words go the wrong wa(< know that5
7e!ause .ve held up one of our 7ooks to the glass5 and then the( hold up one
in the other roo#8

-How would (ou like to live in Looking-glass House5 Citt(4 wonder if
the(.d give (ou #ilk in there4 Herhaps Looking-glass #ilk isn.t good to
drink--?ut oh5 Citt(@ now we !o#e to the passage8 Bou !an >ust see a little
H66H of the passage in Looking-glass House5 if (ou leave the door of our
drawing-roo# wide open: and it.s ver( like our passage as far as (ou !an see5
onl( (ou know it #a( 7e 9uite different on 7e(ond8 Oh5 Citt(@ how ni!e it
would 7e if we !ould onl( get through into Looking- glass House@ .# sure
it.s got5 oh@ su!h 7eautiful things in it@

Let.s pretend there.s a wa( of
getting through into it5 so#ehow5
Citt(8 Let.s pretend the glass has
got all soft like gauIe5 so that we
!an get through8 &h(5 it.s turning
into a sort of #ist now5 de!lare@
t.ll 7e eas( enough to get
through--. 3he was up on the
!hi#ne(-pie!e while she said this5
though she hardl( knew how she
had got there8 $nd !ertainl( the
glass &$3 7eginning to #elt
awa(5 >ust like a 7right silver(
#ist8
n another #o#ent $li!e was through the glass5 and had >u#ped lightl(
down into the Looking-glass roo#8 The ver( first thing she did was to look
whether there was a fire in the firepla!e5 and she was 9uite pleased to find that
there was a real one5 7laIing awa( as 7rightl( as the one she had left 7ehind8
-3o shall 7e as war# here as was in the old roo#5. thought $li!e: -war#er5
in fa!t5 7e!ause there.ll 7e no one here to s!old #e awa( fro# the fire8 Oh5
what fun it.ll 7e5 when the( see #e through the glass in here5 and !an.t get at
#e@.

Then she 7egan looking a7out5 and noti!ed that what !ould 7e seen fro# the
old roo# was 9uite !o##on and uninteresting5 7ut that all the rest was a
different as possi7le8 For instan!e5 the pi!tures on the wall neDt the fire
see#ed to 7e all alive5 and the ver( !lo!k on the !hi#ne(-pie!e :(ou know
(ou !an onl( see the 7a!k of it in the Looking-glass; had got the fa!e of a little
old #an5 and grinned at her8

-The( don.t keep this roo# so tid( as the other5. $li!e thought to herself5 as
she noti!ed several of the !hess#en down in the hearth a#ong the !inders:
7ut in another #o#ent5 with a little -Oh@. of surprise5 she was down on her
hands and knees wat!hing the#8 The !hess#en were walking a7out5 two and
two@

-Here are the Aed Cing and the Aed
1ueen5. $li!e said :in a whisper5 for
fear of frightening the#;5 -and there
are the &hite Cing and the &hite
1ueen sitting on the edge of the
shovel--and here are two !astles
walking ar# in ar#-- don.t think
the( !an hear #e5. she went on5 as she
put her head !loser down5 -and .#
nearl( sure the( !an.t see #e8 feel
so#ehow as if were invisi7le--.

Here so#ething 7egan s9ueaking on the ta7le 7ehind $li!e5 and #ade her
turn her head >ust in ti#e to see one of the &hite Hawns roll over and 7egin
ki!king: she wat!hed it with great !uriosit( to see what would happen neDt8

-t is the voi!e of #( !hild@. the &hite 1ueen !ried out as she rushed past the
Cing5 so violentl( that she kno!ked hi# over a#ong the !inders8 -/(
pre!ious Lil(@ /( i#perial kitten@. and she 7egan s!ra#7ling wildl( up the
side of the fender8

-#perial fiddlesti!k@. said the Cing5 ru77ing his nose5 whi!h had 7een hurt
7( the fall8 He had a right to 7e a LTTL6 anno(ed with the 1ueen5 for he
was !overed with ashes fro# head to foot8

$li!e was ver( anDious to 7e of use5 and5 as the poor little Lil( was nearl(
s!rea#ing herself into a fit5 she hastil( pi!ked up the 1ueen and set her on the
ta7le 7( the side of her nois( little daughter8

The 1ueen gasped5 and sat down: the rapid >ourne( through the air had 9uite
taken awa( her 7reath and for a #inute or two she !ould do nothing 7ut hug
the little Lil( in silen!e8 $s soon as she had re!overed her 7reath a little5 she
!alled out to the &hite Cing5 who was sitting sulkil( a#ong the ashes5 -/ind
the vol!ano@.

-&hat vol!ano4. said the Cing5 looking up anDiousl( into the fire5 as if he
thought that was the #ost likel( pla!e to find one8

-?lew--#e--up5. panted the 1ueen5 who was still a little out of 7reath8 -/ind
(ou !o#e up--the regular wa(--don.t get 7lown up@.

$li!e wat!hed the &hite Cing as he slowl( struggled up fro# 7ar to 7ar5 till
at last she said5 -&h(5 (ou.ll 7e hours and hours getting to the ta7le5 at that
rate8 .d far 7etter help (ou5 hadn.t 4. ?ut the Cing took no noti!e of the
9uestion: it was 9uite !lear that he !ould neither hear her nor see her8

3o $li!e pi!ked hi# up ver( gentl(5 and lifted hi# a!ross #ore slowl( than
she had lifted the 1ueen5 that she #ightn.t take his 7reath awa(: 7ut5 7efore
she put hi# on the ta7le5 she thought she #ight as well dust hi# a little5 he
was so !overed with ashes8

3he said afterwards that she had never
seen in all her life su!h a fa!e as the
Cing #ade5 when he found hi#self
held in the air 7( an invisi7le hand5 and
7eing dusted: he was far too #u!h
astonished to !r( out5 7ut his e(es and
his #outh went on getting larger and
larger5 and rounder and rounder5 till her
hand shook so with laughing that she
nearl( let hi# drop upon the floor8

-Oh@ HL6$36 don.t #ake su!h fa!es5
#( dear@. she !ried out5 9uite forgetting that the Cing !ouldn.t hear her8 -Bou
#ake #e laugh so that !an hardl( hold (ou@ $nd don.t keep (our #outh so
wide open@ $ll the ashes will get into it--there5 now think (ou.re tid(
enough@. she added5 as she s#oothed his hair5 and set hi# upon the ta7le near
the 1ueen8

The Cing i##ediatel( fell flat on his 7a!k5 and la( perfe!tl( still: and $li!e
was a little alar#ed at what she had done5 and went round the roo# to see if
she !ould find an( water to throw over hi#8 However5 she !ould find nothing
7ut a 7ottle of ink5 and when she got 7a!k with it she found he had re!overed5
and he and the 1ueen were talking together in a frightened whisper--so low5
that $li!e !ould hardl( hear what the( said8

The Cing was sa(ing5 - assure5 (ou #( dear5 turned !old to the ver( ends
of #( whiskers@.

To whi!h the 1ueen replied5 -Bou haven.t got an( whiskers8.

-The horror of that #o#ent5. the Cing went on5 - shall never5 =6F6A
forget@.

-Bou will5 though5. the 1ueen said5 -if (ou don.t #ake a #e#orandu# of it8.

$li!e looked on with great interest as the Cing took an enor#ous
#e#orandu#-7ook out of his po!ket5 and 7egan writing8 $ sudden thought
stru!k her5 and she took hold of the end of the pen!il5 whi!h !a#e so#e wa(
over his shoulder5 and 7egan writing for hi#8

The poor Cing look puIIled and unhapp(5 and struggled with the pen!il for
so#e ti#e without sa(ing an(thing< 7ut $li!e
was too strong for hi#5 and at last he panted
out5 -/( dear@ reall( /+3T get a thinner
pen!il8 !an.t #anage this one a 7it< it writes
all #anner of things that don.t intend--.

-&hat #anner of things4. said the 1ueen5
looking over the 7ook :in whi!h $li!e had
put -TH6 &HT6 C=GHT 3 3L)=G
)O&= TH6 HOC6A8 H6 ?$L$=C63
F6AB ?$)LB.; -That.s not a #e#orandu#
of BO+A feelings@.

There was a 7ook l(ing near $li!e on the ta7le5 and while she sat wat!hing
the &hite Cing :for she was still a little anDious a7out hi#5 and had the ink all
read( to throw over hi#5 in !ase he fainted again;5 she turned over the leaves5
to find so#e part that she !ould read5 ---for it.s all in so#e language don.t
know5. she said to herself8

t was like this8

BCCO&A6??$E

sevot (htils eht dna 5gillir7 sawT-
e7aw eht ni el7#ig dna er(g di)
5sevogoro7 eht erew (s#i# ll$
8e7argtuo shtar e#o# eht dn$


3he puIIled over this for so#e ti#e5 7ut at last a 7right thought stru!k her8
-&h(5 it.s a Looking-glass 7ook5 of !ourse@ $nd if hold it up to a glass5 the
words will all go the right wa( again8.

This was the poe# that $li!e read8

E$??6A&OCCB

.Twas 7rillig5 and the slith( toves
)id g(re and gi#7le in the wa7e<
$ll #i#s( were the 7orogoves5
$nd the #o#e raths outgra7e8

-?eware the Ea77erwo!k5 #( son@
The >aws that 7ite5 the !laws that
!at!h@
?eware the Eu7>u7 7ird5 and shun
The fru#ious ?andersnat!h@.

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long ti#e the #anDo#e foe he
sought--
3o rested he 7( the Tu#tu# tree5
$nd stood awhile in thought8

$nd as in uffish thought he stood5
The Ea77erwo!k5 with e(es of
fla#e5
Ca#e whiffling through the tulge( wood5
$nd 7ur7led as it !a#e@

One5 two@ One5 two@ $nd through and through
The vorpal 7lade went sni!ker-sna!k@
He left it dead5 and with its head
He went galu#phing 7a!k8

-$nd has thou slain the Ea77erwo!k4
Co#e to #( ar#s5 #( 7ea#ish 7o(@
O fra7>ous da(@ Callooh@ Calla(@.
He !hortled in his >o(8

.Twas 7rillig5 and the slith( toves
)id g(re and gi#7le in the wa7e<
$ll #i#s( were the 7orogoves5
$nd the #o#e raths outgra7e8

-t see#s ver( prett(5. she said when she had finished it5 -7ut it.s A$TH6A
hard to understand@. :Bou see she didn.t like to !onfess5 ever to herself5 that
she !ouldn.t #ake it out at all8; -3o#ehow it see#s to fill #( head with
ideas--onl( don.t eDa!tl( know what the( are@ However5 3O/6?O)B
killed 3O/6TH=G: that.s !lear5 at an( rate--.

-?ut oh@. thought $li!e5 suddenl( >u#ping up5 -if don.t #ake haste shall
have to go 7a!k through the Looking-glass5 7efore .ve seen what the rest of
the house is like@ Let.s have a look at the garden first@. 3he was out of the
roo# in a #o#ent5 and ran down stairs--or5 at least5 it wasn.t eDa!tl( running5
7ut a new invention of hers for getting down stairs 9ui!kl( and easil(5 as $li!e
said to herself8 3he >ust kept the tips of her fingers on the hand-rail5 and
floated gentl( down without even tou!hing the stairs with her feet< then she
floated on through the hall5 and would have gone straight out at the door in the
sa#e wa(5 if she hadn.t !aught hold of the door-post8 3he was getting a little
gidd( with so #u!h floating in the air5 and was rather glad to find herself
walking again in the natural wa(8

Chapter 2: The Garden of Live lowers
- should see the garden far 7etter5. said $li!e to herself5 -if !ould get to the
top of that hill: and here.s a path that leads straight to it--at least5 no5 it doesn.t
do that--. :after going a few (ards along the path5 and turning several sharp
!orners;5 -7ut suppose it will at last8 ?ut how !uriousl( it twists@ t.s #ore
like a !orks!rew than a path@ &ell5 TH3 turn goes to the hill5 suppose--no5 it
doesn.t@ This goes straight 7a!k to the house@ &ell then5 .ll tr( it the other
wa(8.

$nd so she did: wandering up and down5 and tr(ing turn after turn5 7ut
alwa(s !o#ing 7a!k to the house5 do what she would8 ndeed5 on!e5 when she
turned a !orner rather #ore 9ui!kl( than usual5 she ran against it 7efore she
!ould stop herself8

-t.s no use talking a7out it5. $li!e said5 looking up at the house and
pretending it was arguing with her8 -.# =OT going in again (et8 know
should have to get through the Looking-glass again--7a!k into the old roo#--
and there.d 7e an end of all #( adventures@.

3o5 resolutel( turning her 7a!k upon the house5 she set out on!e #ore down
the path5 deter#ined to keep straight on till she got to the hill8 For a few
#inutes all went on well5 and she was >ust sa(ing5 - reall( 3H$LL do it this
ti#e--. when the path gave a sudden twist and shook itself :as she des!ri7ed it
afterwards;5 and the neDt #o#ent she found herself a!tuall( walking in at the
door8

.Oh5 it.s too 7ad@. she !ried8 - never saw su!h a house for getting in the wa(@
=ever@.

However5 there was the hill full in sight5 so there was nothing to 7e done 7ut
start again8 This ti#e she !a#e upon a large flower-7ed5 with a 7order of
daisies5 and a willow-tree growing in the #iddle8

-O Tiger-lil(5. said $li!e5 addressing herself to one that was waving
gra!efull( a7out in the wind5 - &3H
(ou !ould talk@.
-&e C$= talk5. said the Tiger-lil(:
-when there.s an(7od( worth talking
to8.

$li!e was so astonished that she
!ould not speak for a #inute: it 9uite
see#ed to take her 7reath awa(8 $t
length5 as the Tiger-lil( onl( went on
waving a7out5 she spoke again5 in a
ti#id voi!e--al#ost in a whisper8
-$nd !an $LL the flowers talk4.

-$s well as BO+ !an5. said the Tiger-
lil(8 -$nd a great deal louder8.

-t isn.t #anners for us to 7egin5 (ou know5. said the Aose5 -and reall( was
wondering when (ou.d speak@ 3aid to #(self5 GHer fa!e has got 3O/6
sense in it5 thought it.s not a !lever one@G 3till5 (ou.re the right !olour5 and that
goes a long wa(8.

- don.t !are a7out the !olour5. the Tiger-lil( re#arked8 -f onl( her petals
!urled up a little #ore5 she.d 7e all right8.

$li!e didn.t like 7eing !riti!ised5 so she 7egan asking 9uestions8 -$ren.t (ou
so#eti#es frightened at 7eing planted out here5 with no7od( to take !are of
(ou4.

-There.s the tree in the #iddle5. said the Aose: -what else is it good for4.

-?ut what !ould it do5 if an( danger !a#e4. $li!e asked8

-t sa(s G?ough-wough@G !ried a )ais(: -that.s wh( its 7ran!hes are !alled
7oughs@.

-)idn.t (ou know TH$T4. !ried another )ais(5 and here the( all 7egan
shouting together5 till the air see#ed 9uite full of little shrill voi!es8 -3ilen!e5
ever( one of (ou@. !ried the Tiger- lil(5 waving itself passionatel( fro# side to
side5 and tre#7ling with eD!ite#ent8 -The( know !an.t get at the#@. it
panted5 7ending its 9uivering head towards $li!e5 -or the( wouldn.t dare to do
it@.

-=ever #ind@. $li!e said in a soothing tone5 and stooping down to the
daisies5 who were >ust 7eginning again5 she whispered5 -f (ou don.t hold (our
tongues5 .ll pi!k (ou@.

There was silen!e in a #o#ent5 and several of the pink daisies turned white8

-That.s right@. said the Tiger-lil(8 -The daisies are worst of all8 &hen one
speaks5 the( all 7egin together5 and it.s enough to #ake one wither to hear the
wa( the( go on@.

-How is it (ou !an all talk so ni!el(4. $li!e said5 hoping to get it into a 7etter
te#per 7( a !o#pli#ent8 -.ve 7een in #an( gardens 7efore5 7ut none of the
flowers !ould talk8.

-Hut (our hand down5 and feel the ground5. said the Tiger-lil(8 -Then (ou.ll
know wh(8

$li!e did so8 -t.s ver( hard5. she said5 -7ut don.t see what that has to do
with it8.

-n #ost gardens5. the Tiger-lil( said5 -the( #ake the 7eds too soft--so that
the flowers are alwa(s asleep8.

This sounded a ver( good reason5 and $li!e was 9uite pleased to know it8 -
never thought of that 7efore@. she said8

-t.s /B opinion that (ou never think $T $LL5. the Aose said in a rather
severe tone8

- never saw an(7od( that looked stupider5. a Fiolet said5 so suddenl(5 that
$li!e 9uite >u#ped< for it hadn.t spoken 7efore8

-Hold BO+A tongue@. !ried the Tiger-lil(8 -$s if BO+ ever saw an(7od(@
Bou keep (our head under the leaves5 and snore awa( there5 till (ou know no
#ore what.s going on in the world5 than if (ou were a 7ud@.

-$re there an( #ore people in the garden 7esides #e4. $li!e said5 not
!hoosing to noti!e the Aose.s last re#ark8

-There.s one other flower in the garden that !an #ove a7out like (ou5. said
the Aose8 - wonder how (ou do it--. :-Bou.re alwa(s wondering5. said the
Tiger-lil(;5 -7ut she.s #ore 7ush( than (ou are8.

-s she like #e4. $li!e asked eagerl(5 for the thought !rossed her #ind5
-There.s another little girl in the garden5 so#ewhere@.

-&ell5 she has the sa#e awkward shape as (ou5. the Aose said5 -7ut she.s
redder--and her petals are shorter5 think8.

-Her petals are done up !lose5 al#ost like a dahlia5. the Tiger-lil( interrupted:
-not tu#7led a7out an(how5 like (ours8.

-?ut that.s not BO+A fault5. the Aose added kindl(: -(ou.re 7eginning to
fade5 (ou know--and then one !an.t help one.s petals getting a little untid(8.

$li!e didn.t like this idea at all: so5 to !hange the su7>e!t5 she asked -)oes
she ever !o#e out here4.

- daresa( (ou.ll see her soon5. said the Aose8 -3he.s one of the thorn( kind8.

-&here does she wear the thorns4. $li!e asked with so#e !uriosit(8

-&h( all round her head5 of !ourse5. the Aose replied8 - was wondering
BO+ hadn.t got so#e too8 thought it was the regular rule8.

-3he.s !o#ing@. !ried the Larkspur8 - hear her footstep5 thu#p5 thu#p5
thu#p5 along the gravel-walk@.

$li!e looked round eagerl(5 and found that it was the Aed 1ueen8 -3he.s
grown a good deal@. was her first re#ark8 3he had indeed: when $li!e first
found her in the ashes5 she had 7een onl( three in!hes high--and here she was5
half a head taller than $li!e herself@

-t.s the fresh air that does it5. said the Aose: -wonderfull( fine air it is5 out
here8.

- think .ll go and #eet her5. said $li!e5 for5 though the flowers were
interesting enough5 she felt that it would 7e far grander to have a talk with a
real 1ueen8

-Bou !an.t possi7l( do that5. said the Aose: -JJ should advise (ou to walk
the other wa(8.

This sounded nonsense to $li!e5 so she said nothing5 7ut set off at on!e
towards the Aed 1ueen8 To her surprise5 she lost sight of her in a #o#ent5
and found herself walking in at the front-door again8

$ little provoked5 she drew 7a!k5 and after looking ever(where for the 9ueen
:who# she spied out at last5 a long wa( off;5 she thought she would tr( the
plan5 this ti#e5 of walking in the opposite dire!tion8

t su!!eeded 7eautifull(8 3he had not 7een
walking a #inute 7efore she found herself
fa!e to fa!e with the Aed 1ueen5 and full in
sight of the hill she had 7een so long ai#ing
at8

-&here do (ou !o#e fro#4. said the Aed
1ueen8 -$nd where are (ou going4 Look up5
speak ni!el(5 and don.t twiddle (our fingers
all the ti#e8.

$li!e attended to all these dire!tions5 and
eDplained5 as well as she !ould5 that she had
lost her wa(8

- don.t know what (ou #ean 7( BO+A wa(5. said the 1ueen: -all the wa(s
a7out here 7elong to /6--7ut wh( did (ou !o#e out here at all4. she added in
a kinder tone8 -Curtse( while (ou.re thinking what to sa(5 it saves ti#e8.

$li!e wondered a little at this5 7ut she was too #u!h in awe of the 1ueen to
dis7elieve it8 -.ll tr( it when go ho#e5. she thought to herself8 -the neDt ti#e
.# a little late for dinner8.

-t.s ti#e for (ou to answer now5. the 1ueen said5 looking at her wat!h:
-open (our #outh a LTTL6 wider when (ou speak5 and alwa(s sa( G(our
/a>est(8G.

- onl( wanted to see what the garden was like5 (our /a>est(--.

-That.s right5. said the 1ueen5 patting her on the head5 whi!h $li!e didn.t like
at all5 -though5 when (ou sa( Ggarden5G--.F6 seen gardens5 !o#pared with
whi!h this would 7e a wilderness8.

$li!e didn.t dare to argue the point5 7ut went on: ---and thought .d tr( and
find #( wa( to the top of that hill--.

-&hen (ou sa( Ghill5G. the 1ueen interrupted5 -JJ !ould show (ou hills5 in
!o#parison with whi!h (ou.d !all that a valle(8.

-=o5 shouldn.t5. said $li!e5 surprised into !ontradi!ting her at last: -a hill
C$=.T 7e a valle(5 (ou know8 That would 7e nonsense--.

The Aed 1ueen shook her head5 -Bou #a( !all it GnonsenseG if (ou like5. she
said5 -7ut .F6 heard nonsense5 !o#pared with whi!h that would 7e as
sensi7le as a di!tionar(@.

$li!e !urtse(ed again5 as she was afraid fro# the 1ueen.s tone that she was a
LTTL6 offended: and the( walked on in silen!e till the( got to the top of the
little hill8

For so#e #inutes $li!e stood without speaking5 looking out in all dire!tions
over the !ountr(--and a #ost !urious !ountr( it was8 There were a nu#7er of
tin( little 7rooks running straight a!ross it fro# side to side5 and the ground
7etween was divided up into s9uares 7( a nu#7er of little green hedges5 that
rea!hed fro# 7rook to 7rook8

- de!lare it.s #arked out >ust like a
large !hess7oard@. $li!e said at last8
-There ought to 7e so#e #en #oving
a7out so#ewhere --and so there are@.
3he added in a tone of delight5 and her
heart 7egan to 7eat 9ui!k with
eD!ite#ent as she went on8 -t.s a great
huge ga#e of !hess that.s 7eing
pla(ed--all over the world--if this 3
the world at all5 (ou know8 Oh5 what fun it is@ How &3H was one of
the#@ wouldn.t #ind 7eing a Hawn5 if onl( #ight >oin--though of !ourse
should LC6 to 7e a 1ueen5 7est8.

3he glan!ed rather sh(l( at the real 1ueen as she said this5 7ut her
!o#panion onl( s#iled pleasantl(5 and said5 -That.s easil( #anaged8 Bou !an
7e the &hite 1ueen.s Hawn5 if (ou like5 as Lil(.s too (oung to pla(< and (ou.re
in the 3e!ond 39uare to 7egan with: when (ou get to the 6ighth 39uare (ou.ll
7e a 1ueen --. Eust at this #o#ent5 so#ehow or other5 the( 7egan to run8

$li!e never !ould 9uite #ake out5 in thinking it over afterwards5 how it was
that the( 7egan: all she re#e#7ers is5 that the( were running hand in hand5
and the 1ueen went so fast that it was all she !ould do to keep up with her:
and still the 1ueen kept !r(ing -Faster@ Faster@. 7ut $li!e felt she CO+L)
=OT go faster5 though she had not 7reath left to sa( so8

The #ost !urious part of the thing was5 that the trees and the other things
round the# never !hanged their pla!es at all: however fast the( went5 the(
never see#ed to pass an(thing8 - wonder if all the things #ove along with
us4. thought poor puIIled $li!e8 $nd the 1ueen see#ed to guess her
thoughts5 for she !ried5 -Faster@ )on.t tr( to talk@.

=ot that $li!e had an( idea of doing TH$T8 3he felt as if she would never
7e a7le to talk again5 she was getting so #u!h out of 7reath: and still the
1ueen !ried -Faster@ Faster@. and dragged her along8 -$re we nearl( there4.
$li!e #anaged to pant out at last8

-=earl( there@. the 1ueen repeated8 -&h(5 we passed it ten #inutes ago@
Faster@. $nd the( ran on for a ti#e in silen!e5 with the wind whistling in
$li!e.s ears5 and al#ost 7lowing her hair off her head5 she fan!ied8

-=ow@ =ow@. !ried the 1ueen8
-Faster@ Faster@. $nd the( went so
fast that at last the( see#ed to ski#
through the air5 hardl( tou!hing the
ground with their feet5 till suddenl(5
>ust as $li!e was getting 9uite
eDhausted5 the( stopped5 and she
found herself sitting on the ground5
7reathless and gidd(8

The 1ueen propped her up against a tree5 and said kindl(5 -Bou #a( rest a
little now8.

$li!e looked round her in great surprise8 -&h(5 do 7elieve we.ve 7een
under this tree the whole ti#e@ 6ver(thing.s >ust as it was@.

-Of !ourse it is5. said the 1ueen5 -what would (ou have it4.

-&ell5 in O+A !ountr(5. said $li!e5 still panting a little5 -(ou.d generall( get
to so#ewhere else--if (ou ran ver( fast for a long ti#e5 as we.ve 7een doing8.

-$ slow sort of !ountr(@. said the 1ueen8 -=ow5 H6A65 (ou see5 it takes all
the running BO+ !an do5 to keep in the sa#e pla!e8 f (ou want to get
so#ewhere else5 (ou #ust run at least twi!e as fast as that@.

-.d rather not tr(5 please@. said $li!e8 -.# 9uite !ontent to sta( here--onl(
$/ so hot and thirst(@.

- know what BO+.) like@. the 1ueen said good-naturedl(5 taking a little 7oD
out of her po!ket8 -Have a 7is!uit4.

$li!e thought it would not 7e !ivil to sa( -=o5. though it wasn.t at all what
she wanted8 3o she took it5 and ate it as well as she !ould: and it was F6AB
dr(< and she thought she had never 7een so nearl( !hoked in all her life8

-&hile (ou.re refreshing (ourself5. said the 1ueen5 -.ll >ust take the
#easure#ents8. $nd she took a ri77on out of her po!ket5 #arked in in!hes5
and 7egan #easuring the ground5 and sti!king little pegs in here and there8

-$t the end of two (ards5. she said5 putting in a peg to #ark the distan!e5 -
shall give (ou (our dire!tions--have another 7is!uit4.

-=o5 thank (ou5. said $li!e5: -one.s 1+T6 enough@.

-Thirst 9uen!hed5 hope4. said the 1ueen8

$li!e did not know what to sa( to this5 7ut lu!kil( the 1ueen did not wait for
an answer5 7ut went on8 -$t the end of THA66 (ards shall repeat the#--for
fear of (our forgetting the#8 $t then end of FO+A5 shall sa( good-7(e8 $nd
at then end of FF65 shall go@.

3he had got all the pegs put in 7( this ti#e5 and $li!e looked on with great
interest as she returned to the tree5 and then 7egan slowl( walking down the
row8

$t the two-(ard peg she fa!ed round5 and said5 -$ pawn goes two s9uares in
its first #ove5 (ou know8 3o (ou.ll go F6AB 9ui!kl( through the Third
39uare--7( railwa(5 should think--and (ou.ll find (ourself in the Fourth
39uare in no ti#e8 &ell5 TH$T s9uare 7elongs to Tweedledu# and
Tweedledee--the Fifth is #ostl( water--the 3iDth 7elongs to Hu#pt(
)u#pt(--?ut (ou #ake no re#ark4.

--- didn.t know had to #ake one-->ust then5. $li!e faltered out8

-Bou 3HO+L) have said5. -Gt.s eDtre#el( kind of (ou to tell #e all thisG--
however5 we.ll suppose it said--the 3eventh 39uare is all forest--however5 one
of the Cnights will show (ou the wa(--and in the 6ighth 39uare we shall 7e
1ueens together5 and it.s all feasting and fun@. $li!e got up and !urtse(ed5 and
sat down again8

$t the neDt peg the 1ueen turned again5 and this ti#e she said5 -3peak in
Fren!h when (ou !an.t think of the 6nglish for a thing --turn out (our toes as
(ou walk--and re#e#7er who (ou are@. 3he did not wait for $li!e to !urtse(
this ti#e5 7ut walked on 9ui!kl( to the neDt peg5 where she turned for a
#o#ent to sa( -good-7(e5. and then hurried on to the last8

How it happened5 $li!e never knew5 7ut eDa!tl( as she !a#e to the last peg5
she was gone8 &hether she vanished into the air5 or whether she ran 9ui!kl(
into the wood :-and she C$= run ver( fast@. thought $li!e;5 there was no wa(
of guessing5 7ut she was gone5 and $li!e 7egan to re#e#7er that she was a
Hawn5 and that it would soon 7e ti#e for her to #ove8
Chapter !: Looking-Glass "nse#ts
Of !ourse the first thing to do was to #ake a grand surve( of the !ountr( she
was going to travel through8 -t.s so#ething ver( like learning geograph(5.
thought $li!e5 as she stood on tiptoe in hopes of 7eing a7le to see a little
further8 -Hrin!ipal rivers--there $A6 none8 Hrin!ipal #ountains--.# on the
onl( one5 7ut don.t think it.s got an( na#e8 Hrin!ipal towns--wh(5 what $A6
those !reatures5 #aking hone( down there4 The( !an.t 7e 7ees--no7od( ever
saw 7ees a #ile off5 (ou know--. and for so#e ti#e she stood silent5 wat!hing
one of the# that was 7ustling a7out a#ong the flowers5 poking its pro7os!is
into the#5 ->ust as if it was a regular 7ee5. thought $li!e8

However5 this was an(thing 7ut a regular 7ee: in fa!t it was an elephant--as
$li!e soon found out5 though the idea 9uite took her 7reath awa( at first8
-$nd what enor#ous flowers the( #ust 7e@. was her neDt idea8 -3o#ething
like !ottages with the roofs taken off5 and stalks put to the#--and what
9uantities of hone( the( #ust #ake@ think .ll go down and--no5 won.t
E+3T (et5 . she went on5 !he!king herself >ust as she was 7eginning to run
down the hill5 and tr(ing to find so#e eD!use for turning sh( so suddenl(8
-t.ll never do to go down a#ong the# without a good long 7ran!h to 7rush
the# awa(--and what fun it.ll 7e when the( ask #e how like #( walk8
shall sa(-- GOh5 like it well enough--G. :here !a#e the favourite little toss of
the head;5 -Gonl( it was so dust( and hot5 and the elephants did tease so@G.

- think .ll go down the other wa(5. she said after a pause: -and perhaps
#a( visit the elephants later on8 ?esides5 do so want to get into the Third
39uare@.

3o with this eD!use she ran down the hill and >u#ped over the first of the siD
little 7rooks8

K K K K K K K

K K K K K K

K K K K K K K

-Ti!kets5 please@. said the Guard5 putting his head in at the window8 n a
#o#ent ever(7od( was holding out a ti!ket: the( were a7out the sa#e siIe as
the people5 and 9uite see#ed to fill the !arriage8

-=ow then@ 3how (our ti!ket5 !hild@. the Guard went on5 looking angril( at
$li!e8 $nd a great #an( voi!es all said together :-like the !horus of a song5.
thought $li!e;5 -)on.t keep hi# waiting5 !hild@ &h(5 his ti#e is worth a
thousand pounds a #inute@.

-.# afraid haven.t got one5. $li!e said in a frightened tone: -there wasn.t a
ti!ket-offi!e where !a#e fro#8. $nd again the !horus of voi!es went on8
-There wasn.t roo# for one where she !a#e fro#8 The land there is worth a
thousand pounds an in!h@.

-)on.t #ake eD!uses5. said the Guard: -(ou should have 7ought one fro# the
engine-driver8. $nd on!e #ore the !horus of voi!es went on with -The #an
that drives the engine8 &h(5 the s#oke alone is worth a thousand pounds a
puff@.

$li!e thought to herself5 -Then there.s no use in speaking8. The voi!es didn.t
>oin in this ti#e5 as she hadn.t spoken5 7ut to her great surprise5 the( all
THO+GHT in !horus : hope (ou understand what TH=C=G = CHOA+3
#eans--for #ust !onfess that JJ don.t;5 -?etter sa( nothing at all8 Language
is worth a thousand pounds a word@.

- shall drea# a7out a thousand pounds tonight5 know shall@. thought
$li!e8

$ll this ti#e the Guard was looking at her5 first through a teles!ope5 then
through a #i!ros!ope5 and then through an opera- glass8 $t last he said5
-Bou.re travelling the wrong wa(5. and shut up the window and went awa(8

-3o (oung a !hild5. said the
gentle#an sitting opposite to her :he
was dressed in white paper;5 -ought to
know whi!h wa( she.s going5 even if
she doesn.t know her own na#e@.

$ Goat5 that was sitting neDt to the
gentle#an in white5 shut his e(es and
said in a loud voi!e5 -3he ought to know her wa( to the ti!ket-offi!e5 even if
she doesn.t know her alpha7et@.

There was a ?eetle sitting neDt to the Goat :it was a ver( 9ueer !arriage-full
of passengers altogether;5 and5 as the rule see#ed to 7e that the( should all
speak in turn5 H6 went on with -3he.ll have to go 7a!k fro# here as luggage@.

$li!e !ouldn.t see who was sitting 7e(ond the ?eetle5 7ut a hoarse voi!e
spoke neDt8 -Change engines--. it said5 and was o7liged to leave off8

-t sounds like a horse5. $li!e thought to herself8 $nd an eDtre#el( s#all
voi!e5 !lose to her ear5 said5 -Bou #ight #ake a >oke on that--so#ething a7out
GhorseG and Ghoarse5G (ou know8.

Then a ver( gentle voi!e in the distan!e said5 -3he #ust 7e la7elled GLass5
with !are5G (ou know--.

$nd after that other voi!es went on :&hat a nu#7er of people there are in
the !arriage@. thought $li!e;5 sa(ing5 -3he #ust go 7( post5 as she.s got a head
on her--. -3he #ust 7e sent as a #essage 7( the telegraph--. -3he #ust draw
the train herself the rest of the wa(--. and so on8

?ut the gentle#an dressed in white paper leaned forwards and whispered in
her ear5 -=ever #ind what the( all sa(5 #( dear5 7ut take a return-ti!ket ever(
ti#e the train stops8.

-ndeed shan.t@. $li!e said rather i#patientl(8 - don.t 7elong to this railwa(
>ourne( at all-- was in a wood >ust now --and wish !ould get 7a!k there8.

-Bou #ight #ake a >oke on TH$T5. said the little voi!e !lose to her ear:
-so#ething a7out G(ou &O+L) if (ou !ould5G (ou know8.

-)on.t tease so5. said $li!e5 looking a7out in vain to see where the voi!e
!a#e fro#< -if (ou.re so anDious to have a >oke #ade5 wh( don.t (ou #ake
one (ourself4.

The little voi!e sighed deepl(: it was F6AB unhapp(5 evidentl(5 and $li!e
would have said so#ething pit(ing to !o#fort it5 -f it would onl( sigh like
other people@. she thought8 ?ut this was su!h a wonderfull( s#all sigh5 that
she wouldn.t have heard it at all5 if it hadn.t !o#e 1+T6 !lose to her ear8 The
!onse9uen!e of this was that it ti!kled her ear ver( #u!h5 and 9uite took off
her thoughts fro# the unhappiness of the poor little !reature8

- know (ou are a friend5 the little voi!e went on< -a dear friend5 and an old
friend8 $nd (ou won.t hurt #e5 though $/ an inse!t8.

-&hat kind of inse!t4. $li!e in9uired a little anDiousl(8 &hat she reall(
wanted to know was5 whether it !ould sting or not5 7ut she thought this
wouldn.t 7e 9uite a !ivil 9uestion to ask8

-&hat5 then (ou don.t--. the little voi!e 7egan5 when it was drowned 7( a
shrill s!rea# fro# the engine5 and ever(7od( >u#ped up in alar#5 $li!e
a#ong the rest8

The Horse5 who had put his head out of the window5 9uietl( drew it in and
said5 -t.s onl( a 7rook we have to >u#p over8. 6ver(7od( see#ed satisfied
with this5 though $li!e felt a little nervous at the idea of trains >u#ping at all8
-However5 it.ll take us into the Fourth 39uare5 that.s so#e !o#fort@. she said to
herself8 n another #o#ent she felt the !arriage rise straight up into the air5
and in her fright she !aught at the thing nearest to her hand8 whi!h happened
to 7e the Goat.s 7eard8

K K K K K K K

K K K K K K

K K K K K K K

?ut the 7eard see#ed to #elt awa( as she tou!hed it5 and she found herself
sitting 9uietl( under a tree--while the Gnat :for that was the inse!t she had
7een talking to; was 7alan!ing itself on a twig >ust over her head5 and fanning
her with its wings8

t !ertainl( was a F6AB large Gnat: -a7out the siIe of a !hi!ken5. $li!e
thought8 3till5 she !ouldn.t feel nervous with it5 after the( had 7een talking
together so long8

---then (ou don.t like all inse!ts4. the Gnat went on5 as 9uietl( as if nothing
had happened8

- like the# when the( !an talk5. $li!e said8 -=one of the# ever talk5 where
JJ !o#e fro#8.

-&hat sort of inse!ts do (ou re>oi!e in5 where BO+ !o#e fro#4. the Gnat
in9uired8

- don.t A6EOC6 in inse!ts at all5. $li!e eDplained5 -7e!ause .# rather afraid
of the#--at least the large kinds8 ?ut !an tell (ou the na#es of so#e of
the#8.

-Of !ourse the( answer to their na#es4. the Gnat re#arked !arelessl(8

- never knew the# do it8.

-&hat.s the use of their having na#es the Gnat said5 -if the( won.t answer to
the#4.

-=o use to TH6/5. said $li!e< -7ut it.s useful to the people who na#e the#5
suppose8 f not5 wh( do things have na#es at all4.

- !an.t sa(5. the Gnat replied8 -Further on5 in the wood down there5 the(.ve
got no na#es--however5 go on with (our list of inse!ts: (ou.re wasting ti#e8.

-&ell5 there.s the Horse-fl(5. $li!e 7egan5 !ounting off the na#es on her
fingers8

-$ll right5. said the Gnat: -half wa(
up that 7ush5 (ou.ll see a Ao!king-
horse-fl(5 if (ou look8 t.s #ade
entirel( of wood5 and gets a7out 7(
swinging itself fro# 7ran!h to
7ran!h8.

-&hat does it live on4. $li!e asked5
with great !uriosit(8

-3ap and sawdust5. said the Gnat8 -Go on with the list8.

$li!e looked up at the Ao!king-horse-fl( with great interest5 and #ade up her
#ind that it #ust have 7een >ust repainted5 it looked so 7right and sti!k(< and
then she went on8

-$nd there.s the )ragon-fl(8.

-Look on the 7ran!h a7ove (our
head5. said the Gnat5 -and there (ou.ll
find a snap-dragon-fl(8 ts 7od( is
#ade of plu#-pudding5 its wings of
holl(-leaves5 and its head is a raisin
7urning in 7rand(8.

-$nd what does it live on4.

-Fru#ent( and #in!e pie5. the Gnat replied< -and it #akes its nest in a
Christ#as 7oD8.

-$nd then there.s the ?utterfl(5. $li!e went on5 after she had taken a good
look at the inse!t with its head on fire5 and had thought to herself5 - wonder if
that.s the reason inse!ts are so fond of fl(ing into !andles--7e!ause the( want
to turn into 3nap-dragon-flies@.

-Crawling at (our feet5. said the Gnat
:$li!e drew her feet 7a!k in so#e
alar#;5 -(ou #a( o7serve a ?read-and-
?utterfl(8 ts wings are thin sli!es of
?read-and-7utter5 its 7od( is a !rust5
and its head is a lu#p of sugar8.

-$nd what does T live on4.

-&eak tea with !rea# in it8.

$ new diffi!ult( !a#e into $li!e.s head8 -3upposing it !ouldn.t find an(4.
she suggested8

-Then it would die5 of !ourse8.

-?ut that #ust happen ver( often5. $li!e re#arked thoughtfull(8

-t alwa(s happens5. said the Gnat8

$fter this5 $li!e was silent for a #inute or two5 pondering8 The Gnat a#used
itself #eanwhile 7( hu##ing round and round her head: at last it settled
again and re#arked5 - suppose (ou don.t want to lose (our na#e4.

-=o5 indeed5. $li!e said5 a little anDiousl(8

-$nd (et don.t know5. the Gnat went on in a !areless tone: -onl( think how
!onvenient it would 7e if (ou !ould #anage to go ho#e without it@ For
instan!e5 if the governess wanted to !all (ou to (our lessons5 she would !all
out G!o#e here--5G and there she would have to leave off5 7e!ause there
wouldn.t 7e an( na#e for her to !all5 and of !ourse (ou wouldn.t have to go5
(ou know8.

-That would never do5 .# sure5. said $li!e: -the governess would never
think of eD!using #e lessons for that8 f she !ouldn.t re#e#7er #( na#e5
she.d !all #e G/iss@G as the servants do8.

-&ell8 if she said G/iss5G and didn.t sa( an(thing #ore5. the Gnat re#arked5
-of !ourse (ou.d #iss (our lessons8 That.s a >oke8 wish BO+ had #ade it8.

-&h( do (ou wish JJ had #ade it4. $li!e asked8 -t.s a ver( 7ad one8.

?ut the Gnat onl( sighed deepl(5 while two large tears !a#e rolling down its
!heeks8

-Bou shouldn.t #ake >okes5. $li!e said5 -if it #akes (ou so unhapp(8.

Then !a#e another of those #elan!hol( little sighs5 and this ti#e the poor
Gnat reall( see#ed to have sighed itself awa(5 for5 when $li!e looked up5
there was nothing whatever to 7e seen on the twig5 and5 as she was getting
9uite !hill( with sitting still so long5 she got up and walked on8

3he ver( soon !a#e to an open field5 with a wood on the other side of it: it
looked #u!h darker than the last wood5 and $li!e felt a LTTL6 ti#id a7out
going into it8 However5 on se!ond thoughts5 she #ade up her #ind to go on:
-for !ertainl( won.t go ?$CC5. she thought to herself5 and this was the onl(
wa( to the 6ighth 39uare8

-This #ust 7e the wood5 she said thoughtfull( to herself5 -where things have
no na#es8 wonder what.ll 7e!o#e of /B na#e when go in4 shouldn.t
like to lose it at all--7e!ause the(.d have to give #e another5 and it would 7e
al#ost !ertain to 7e an ugl( one8 ?ut then the fun would 7e tr(ing to find the
!reature that had got #( old na#e@ That.s >ust like the advertise#ents5 (ou
know5 when people lose dogs--G$=3&6A3 TO TH6 =$/6 OF -)$3H:.
H$) O= $ ?A$33 COLL$AG-->ust fan!( !alling ever(thing (ou #et
G$li!e5G till one of the# answered@ Onl( the( wouldn.t answer at all5 if the(
were wise8.

3he was ra#7ling on in this wa( when she rea!hed the wood: it looked ver(
!ool and shad(8 -&ell5 at an( rate it.s a great !o#fort5. she said as she stepped
under the trees5 -after 7eing so hot5 to get into the--into &H$T4. she went on5
rather surprised at not 7eing a7le to think of the word8 - #ean to get under
the--under the--under TH35 (ou know@. putting her hand on the trunk of the
tree8 -&hat )O63 it !all itself5 wonder4 do 7elieve it.s got no na#e--wh(5
to 7e sure it hasn.t@.

3he stood silent for a #inute5 thinking: then she suddenl( 7egan again8
-Then it reall( H$3 happened5 after all@ $nd now5 who a# 4 &LL
re#e#7er5 if !an@ .# deter#ined to do it@. ?ut 7eing deter#ined didn.t help
#u!h5 and all she !ould sa(5 after a great deal of puIIling5 was5 -L5 C=O& it
7egins with L@.

Eust then a Fawn !a#e wandering 7(: it looked at $li!e with its large gentle
e(es5 7ut didn.t see# at all frightened8 -Here then@ Here then@. $li!e said5 as
she held out her hand and tried to stroke it< 7ut it onl( started 7a!k a little5 and
then stood looking at her again8

-&hat do (ou !all (ourself4. the Fawn said at last8 3u!h a soft sweet voi!e it
had@

- wish knew@. thought poor $li!e8 3he answered5 rather sadl(5 -=othing5
>ust now8.

-Think again5. it said: -that won.t do8.

$li!e thought5 7ut nothing !a#e of it8 -Hlease5 would (ou tell #e what BO+
!all (ourself4. she said ti#idl(8 - think that #ight help a little8.

-.ll tell (ou5 if (ou.ll #ove a little further
on5. the Fawn said8 - !an.t re#e#7er here8.
3o the( walked on together though the wood5
$li!e with her ar#s !lasped lovingl( round
the soft ne!k of the Fawn5 till the( !a#e out
into another open field5 and here the Fawn
gave a sudden 7ound into the air5 and shook
itself free fro# $li!e.s ar#s8 -.# a Fawn@. it
!ried out in a voi!e of delight5 -and5 dear #e@
(ou.re a hu#an !hild@. $ sudden look of
alar# !a#e into its 7eautiful 7rown e(es5 and
in another #o#ent it had darted awa( at full
speed8

$li!e stood looking after it5 al#ost read( to !r( with veDation at having lost
her dear little fellow-traveller so suddenl(8 -However5 know #( na#e now8.
she said5 -that.s 3O/6 !o#fort8 $li!e--$li!e-- won.t forget it again8 $nd
now5 whi!h of these finger-posts ought to follow5 wonder4.
t was not a ver( diffi!ult 9uestion to answer5 as there was onl( one road
through the wood5 and the two finger-posts 7oth pointed along it8 -.ll settle
it5. $li!e said to herself5 -when the road divides and the( point different wa(s8.

?ut this did not see# likel( to happen8 3he went on and on5 a long wa(5 7ut
wherever the road divided there were sure to 7e two finger-posts pointing the
sa#e wa(5 one #arked -TO T&66)L6)+/.3 HO+36. and the other -TO
TH6 HO+36 OF T&66)L6)668.

- do 7elieve5. said $li!e at last5 -that the( live in the sa#e house@ wonder
never thought of that 7efore--?ut !an.t sta( there long8 .ll >ust !all and sa(
Ghow d.(ou do4G and ask the# the wa( out of the wood8 f !ould onl( get to
the 6ighth 39uare 7efore it gets dark@. 3o she wandered on5 talking to herself
as she went5 till5 on turning a sharp !orner5 she !a#e upon two fat little #en5
so suddenl( that she !ould not help starting 7a!k5 7ut in another #o#ent she
re!overed herself5 feeling sure that the( #ust 7e ---
Chapter $: Tweedledu% and Tweedledee

The( were standing under a
tree5 ea!h with an ar# round the
other.s ne!k5 and $li!e knew whi!h
was whi!h in a #o#ent5 7e!ause one
of the# had -)+/. e#7roidered on
his !ollar5 and the other -)668. -
suppose the(.ve ea!h got
GT&66)L6G round at the 7a!k of
the !ollar5. she said to herself8

The( stood so still that she 9uite
forgot the( were alive5 and she was >ust looking round to see if the word
GT&66)L6G was written at the 7a!k of ea!h !ollar5 when she was startled 7(
a voi!e !o#ing fro# the one #arked -)+/8.

-f (ou think we.re waD-works5. he said5 -(ou ought to pa(5 (ou know8 &aD-
works weren.t #ade to 7e looked at for nothing5 nohow@.

-Contrariwise5. added the one #arked -)665. -if (ou think we.re alive5 (ou
ought to speak8.

-.# sure .# ver( sorr(5. was all $li!e !ould sa(< for the words of the old
song kept ringing through her head like the ti!king of a !lo!k5 and she !ould
hardl( help sa(ing the# out loud:--

-Tweedledu# and Tweedledee
$greed to have a 7attle<
For Tweedledu# said Tweedledee
Had spoiled his ni!e new rattle8

Eust then flew down a #onstrous !row5
$s 7la!k as a tar-7arrel<
&hi!h frightened 7oth the heroes so5
The( 9uite forgot their 9uarrel8.

- know what (ou.re thinking a7out5. said Tweedledu#: -7ut it isn.t so5
nohow8.

-Contrariwise5. !ontinued Tweedledee5 -if it was so5 it #ight 7e< and if it were
so5 it would 7e< 7ut as it isn.t5 it ain.t8 That.s logi!8.

- was thinking5. $li!e said ver( politel(5 -whi!h is the 7est wa( out of this
wood: it.s getting so dark8 &ould (ou tell #e5 please4.

?ut the little #en onl( looked at ea!h other and grinned8

The( looked so eDa!tl( like a !ouple of great s!hool7o(s5 that $li!e !ouldn.t
help pointing her finger at Tweedledu#5 and sa(ing -First ?o(@.

-=ohow@. Tweedledu# !ried out 7riskl(5 and shut his #outh up again with a
snap8

-=eDt ?o(@. said $li!e5 passing on to Tweedledee5 though she felt 9uite
!ertain he would onl( shout out -Contrariwise@. and so he did8

-Bou.ve 7een wrong@. !ried Tweedledu#8 -The first thing in a visit is to sa(
GHow d.(e do4G and shake hands@. $nd here the two 7rothers gave ea!h other
a hug5 and then the( held out the two hands that were free5 to shake hands
with her8

$li!e did not like shaking hands with either of the# first5 for fear of hurting
the other one.s feelings< so5 as the 7est wa( out of the diffi!ult(5 she took hold
of 7oth hands at on!e: the neDt #o#ent the( were dan!ing round in a ring8
This see#ed 9uite natural :she re#e#7ered afterwards;5 and she was not even
surprised to hear #usi! pla(ing: it see#ed to !o#e fro# the tree under whi!h
the( were dan!ing5 and it was done :as well as she !ould #ake it out; 7( the
7ran!hes ru77ing one a!ross the other5 like fiddles and fiddle-sti!ks8

-?ut it !ertainl( &$3 funn(5. :$li!e said afterwards5 when she was telling
her sister the histor( of all this5; -to find #(self singing GH6A6 &6 GO
AO+=) TH6 /+L?6AAB ?+3H8G don.t know when 7egan it5 7ut
so#ehow felt as if .d 7een singing it a long long ti#e@.

The other two dan!ers were fat5 and ver( soon out of 7reath8 -Four ti#es
round is enough for one dan!e5. Tweedledu# panted out5 and the( left off
dan!ing as suddenl( as the( had 7egun: the #usi! stopped at the sa#e
#o#ent8

Then the( let go of $li!e.s hands5 and stood looking at her for a #inute:
there was a rather awkward pause5 as $li!e didn.t know how to 7egin a
!onversation with people she had >ust 7een dan!ing with8 -t would never do
to sa( GHow d.(e do4G =O&5. she said to herself: -we see# to have got
7e(ond that5 so#ehow@.

- hope (ou.re not #u!h tired4. she said at last8

-=ohow8 $nd thank (ou F6AB #u!h for asking5. said Tweedledu#8

-3o #u!h o7liged@. added Tweedledee8 -Bou like poetr(4.

-Be-es8 prett( well--3O/6 poetr(5. $li!e said dou7tfull(8 -&ould (ou tell #e
whi!h road leads out of the wood4.

-&hat shall repeat to her4. said Tweedledee5 looking round at Tweedledu#
with great sole#n e(es5 and not noti!ing $li!e.s 9uestion8

-GTH6 &$LA+3 $=) TH6 C$AH6=T6AG is the longest5. Tweedledu#
replied5 giving his 7rother an affe!tionate hug8

Tweedledee 7egan instantl(:

-The sun was shining--.

Here $li!e ventured to interrupt hi#8 -f it.s F6AB long5. she said5 as
politel( as she !ould5 -would (ou please tell #e first whi!h road--.

Tweedledee s#iled gentl(5 and 7egan again:

-The sun was shining on the sea5
3hining with all his #ight:
He did his ver( 7est to #ake
The 7illows s#ooth and 7right--
$nd this was odd5 7e!ause it was
The #iddle of the night8

The #oon was shining sulkil(5
?e!ause she thought the sun
Had got no 7usiness to 7e there
$fter the da( was done--
Gt.s ver( rude of hi#5G she said5
GTo !o#e and spoil the fun@G

The sea was wet as wet !ould 7e5
The sands were dr( as dr(8
Bou !ould not see a !loud5 7e!ause
=o !loud was in the sk(:
=o 7irds were fl(ing over head--
There were no 7irds to fl(8

The &alrus and the Carpenter
&ere walking !lose at hand<
The( wept like an(thing to see
3u!h 9uantities of sand:
Gf this were onl( !leared awa(5G
The( said5 Git &O+L) 7e grand@G

Gf seven #aids with seven
#ops
3wept it for half a (ear5
)o (ou suppose5G the &alrus said5
GThat the( !ould get it !lear4G
G dou7t it5G said the Carpenter5
$nd shed a 7itter tear8

GO O(sters5 !o#e and walk
with us@G
The &alrus did 7esee!h8
G$ pleasant walk5 a pleasant talk5
$long the 7rin( 7ea!h:
&e !annot do with #ore than four5
To give a hand to ea!h8G

The eldest O(ster looked at hi#8
?ut never a word he said:
The eldest O(ster winked his e(e5
$nd shook his heav( head--
/eaning to sa( he did not !hoose
To leave the o(ster-7ed8

?ut four (oung o(sters hurried up5
$ll eager for the treat:
Their !oats were 7rushed5 their fa!es washed5
Their shoes were !lean and neat--
$nd this was odd5 7e!ause5 (ou know5
The( hadn.t an( feet8

Four other O(sters followed the#5
$nd (et another four<
$nd thi!k and fast the( !a#e at last5
$nd #ore5 and #ore5 and #ore--
$ll hopping through the froth(
waves5
$nd s!ra#7ling to the shore8

The &alrus and the Carpenter
&alked on a #ile or so5
$nd then the( rested on a ro!k
Convenientl( low:
$nd all the little O(sters stood
$nd waited in a row8

GThe ti#e has !o#e5G the &alrus said5
GTo talk of #an( things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-waD--
Of !a77ages--and kings--
$nd wh( the sea is 7oiling hot--
$nd whether pigs have wings8G

G?ut wait a 7it5G the O(sters !ried5
G?efore we have our !hat<
For so#e of us are out of 7reath5
$nd all of us are fat@G
G=o hurr(@G said the Carpenter8
The( thanked hi# #u!h for that8

G$ loaf of 7read5G the &alrus said5
Gs what we !hiefl( need:
Hepper and vinegar 7esides
$re ver( good indeed--
=ow if (ou.re read( O(sters dear5
&e !an 7egin to feed8G


G?ut not on us@G the O(sters !ried5
Turning a little 7lue5
G$fter su!h kindness5 that would 7e
$ dis#al thing to do@G
GThe night is fine5G the &alrus said
G)o (ou ad#ire the view4
Gt was so kind of (ou to
!o#e@
$nd (ou are ver( ni!e@G
The Carpenter said nothing
7ut
GCut us another sli!e:
wish (ou were not 9uite so
deaf--
.ve had to ask (ou twi!e@G

Gt see#s a sha#e5G the &alrus said5
GTo pla( the# su!h a tri!k5
$fter we.ve 7rought the# out so far5
$nd #ade the# trot so 9ui!k@G
The Carpenter said nothing 7ut
GThe 7utter.s spread too thi!k@G

G weep for (ou5G the &alrus said8
G deepl( s(#pathiIe8G
&ith so7s and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest siIe8
Holding his po!ket handker!hief
?efore his strea#ing e(es8

GO O(sters5G said the Carpenter8
GBou.ve had a pleasant run@
3hall we 7e trotting ho#e again4G
?ut answer !a#e there none--
$nd that was s!ar!el( odd5 7e!ause
The(.d eaten ever( one8.

- like the &alrus 7est5. said $li!e: -7e!ause (ou see he was a LTTL6 sorr(
for the poor o(sters8.

-He ate #ore than the Carpenter5 though5. said Tweedledee8 -Bou see he held
his handker!hief in front5 so that the Carpenter !ouldn.t !ount how #an( he
took: !ontrariwise8.

-That was #ean@. $li!e said indignantl(8 -Then like the Carpenter 7est--if
he didn.t eat so #an( as the &alrus8.

-?ut he ate as #an( as he !ould get5. said Tweedledu#8

This was a puIIler8 $fter a pause5 $li!e 7egan5 -&ell@ The( were ?OTH
ver( unpleasant !hara!ters--. Here she !he!ked herself in so#e alar#5 at
hearing so#ething that sounded to her like the puffing of a large stea#-engine
in the wood near the#5 though she feared it was #ore likel( to 7e a wild 7east8
-$re there an( lions or tigers a7out here4. she asked ti#idl(8

-t.s onl( the Aed Cing snoring5. said Tweedledee8

-Co#e and look at hi#@. the 7rothers !ried5 and the( ea!h took one of $li!e.s
hands5 and led her up to where the Cing was sleeping8

-sn.t he a LOF6LB sight4.
said Tweedledu#8

$li!e !ouldn.t sa( honestl( that he
was8 He had a tall red night-!ap on5
with a tassel5 and he was l(ing
!ru#pled up into a sort of untid( heap5
and snoring loud---fit to snore his
head off@. as Tweedledu# re#arked8

-.# afraid he.ll !at!h !old with l(ing on the da#p grass5. said $li!e5 who was
a ver( thoughtful little girl8

-He.s drea#ing now5. said Tweedledee: -and what do (ou think he.s
drea#ing a7out4.

$li!e said -=o7od( !an guess that8.

-&h(5 a7out BO+@. Tweedledee eD!lai#ed5 !lapping his hands triu#phantl(8
-$nd if he left off drea#ing a7out (ou5 where do (ou suppose (ou.d 7e4.

-&here a# now5 of !ourse5. said $li!e8

-=ot (ou@. Tweedledee retorted !onte#ptuousl(8 -Bou.d 7e nowhere8 &h(5
(ou.re onl( a sort of thing in his drea#@.

-f that there Cing was to wake5. added Tweedledu#5 -(ou.d go out--7ang@--
>ust like a !andle@.

- shouldn.t@. $li!e eD!lai#ed indignantl(8 -?esides5 if ./ onl( a sort of
thing in his drea#5 what are BO+5 should like to know4.

-)itto. said Tweedledu#8

-)itto5 ditto. !ried Tweedledee8

He shouted this so loud that $li!e !ouldn.t help sa(ing5 -Hush@ Bou.ll 7e
waking hi#5 .# afraid5 if (ou #ake so #u!h noise8.

-&ell5 it no use BO+A talking a7out waking hi#5. said Tweedledu#5 -when
(ou.re onl( one of the things in his drea#8 Bou know ver( well (ou.re not
real8.

- $/ real@. said $li!e and 7egan to !r(8

-Bou won.t #ake (ourself a 7it realler 7( !r(ing5. Tweedledee re#arked:
-there.s nothing to !r( a7out8.

-f wasn.t real5. $li!e said--half-laughing though her tears5 it all see#ed so
ridi!ulous--- shouldn.t 7e a7le to !r(8.

- hope (ou don.t suppose those are real tears4. Tweedledu# interrupted in a
tone of great !onte#pt8

- know the(.re talking nonsense5. $li!e thought to herself: -and it.s foolish to
!r( a7out it8. 3o she 7rushed awa( her tears5 and went on as !heerfull( as she
!ould8 -$t an( rate .d 7etter 7e getting out of the wood5 for reall( it.s !o#ing
on ver( dark8 )o (ou think it.s going to rain4.

Tweedledu# spread a large u#7rella over hi#self and his 7rother5 and
looked up into it8 -=o5 don.t think it is5. he said: -at least--not under H6A68
=ohow8.

-?ut it #a( rain O+T3)64.

-t #a(--if it !hooses5. said Tweedledee: -we.ve no o7>e!tion8 Contrariwise8.

-3elfish things@. thought $li!e5 and she was >ust going to sa( -Good-night.
and leave the#5 when Tweedledu# sprang out fro# under the u#7rella and
seiIed her 7( the wrist8

-)o (ou see TH$T4. he said5 in a voi!e !hoking with passion5 and his e(es
grew large and (ellow all in a #o#ent5 as he pointed with a tre#7ling finger
at a s#all white thing l(ing under the tree8

-t.s onl( a rattle5. $li!e said5 after a !areful eDa#ination of the little white
thing8 -=ot a rattle3=$C65 (ou know5. she added hastil(5 thinking that he was
frightened: onl( an old rattle--9uite old and 7roken8.

- knew it was@. !ried Tweedledu#5 7eginning to sta#p a7out wildl( and tear
his hair8 -t.s spoilt5 of !ourse@. Here he looked at Tweedledee5 who
i##ediatel( sat down on the ground5 and tried to hide hi#self under the
u#7rella8

$li!e laid her hand upon his ar#5
and said in a soothing tone5 -Bou
needn.t 7e so angr( a7out an old
rattle8.

-?ut it isn.t old@. Tweedledu# !ried5 in a greater fur( than ever8 -t.s new5
tell (ou-- 7ought it (esterda(--#( ni!e =ew A$TTL6@. and his voi!e rose to
a perfe!t s!rea#8

$ll this ti#e Tweedledee was tr(ing his 7est to fold up the u#7rella5 with
hi#self in it: whi!h was su!h an eDtraordinar( thing to do5 that it 9uite took
off $li!e.s attention fro# the angr( 7rother8 ?ut he !ouldn.t 9uite su!!eed5
and it ended in his rolling over5 7undled up in the u#7rella5 with onl( his head
out: and there he la(5 opening and shutting his #outh and his large
e(es--.looking #ore like a fish than an(thing else5. $li!e thought8

-Of !ourse (ou agree to have a 7attle4. Tweedledu# said in a !al#er tone8

- suppose so5. the other sulkil( replied5 as he !rawled out of the u#7rella:
-onl( 3H6 #ust help us to dress up5 (ou know8.

3o the two 7rothers went off hand-in-hand into the wood5 and returned in a
#inute with their ar#s full of things--su!h as 7olsters5 7lankets5 hearth-rugs5
ta7le-!loths5 dish-!overs and !oal-s!uttles8 - hope (ou.re a good hand at
pinning and t(ing strings4. Tweedledu# re#arked8 -6ver( one of these things
has got to go on5 so#ehow or other8.

$li!e said afterwards she had
never seen su!h a fuss #ade a7out
an(thing in all her life--the wa( those
two 7ustled a7out-- and the 9uantit(
of things the( put on--and the trou7le
the( gave her in t(ing strings and
fastening 7uttons---Aeall( the(.ll 7e
#ore like 7undles of old !lothes that
an(thing else5 7( the ti#e the(.re
read(@. she said to herself5 as she
arranged a 7olster round the ne!k of
Tweedledee5 -to keep his head fro# 7eing !ut off5. as he said8
-Bou know5. he added ver( gravel(5 -it.s one of the #ost serious things that
!an possi7l( happen to one in a 7attle--to get one.s head !ut off8.

$li!e laughed aloud: 7ut she #anaged to turn it into a !ough5 for fear of
hurting his feelings8

-)o look ver( pale4. said Tweedledu#5 !o#ing up to have his hel#et tied
on8 :He C$LL6) it a hel#et5 though it !ertainl( looked #u!h #ore like a
sau!epan8;

-&ell--(es--a LTTL65. $li!e replied gentl(8

-.# ver( 7rave generall(5. he went on in a low voi!e: -onl( to-da( happen
to have a heada!he8.

-$nd .F6 got a tootha!he@. said Tweedledee5 who had overheard the re#ark8
-.# far worse off than (ou@.

-Then (ou.d 7etter not fight to-da(5. said $li!e5 thinking it a good opportunit(
to #ake pea!e8

-&e /+3T have a 7it of a fight5 7ut don.t !are a7out going on long5. said
Tweedledu#8 -&hat.s the ti#e now4.

Tweedledee looked at his wat!h5 and said -Half-past four8.

-Let.s fight till siD5 and then have dinner5. said Tweedledu#8

-Fer( well5. the other said5 rather sadl(: -and 3H6 !an wat!h us--onl( (ou.d
7etter not !o#e F6AB !lose5. he added: - generall( hit ever(thing !an see--
when get reall( eD!ited8.

-$nd JJ hit ever(thing within rea!h5. !ried Tweedledu#5 -whether !an see
it or not@.

$li!e laughed8 -Bou #ust hit the TA663 prett( often5 should think5. she
said8

Tweedledu# looked round hi# with a satisfied s#ile8 - don.t suppose5. he
said5 -there.ll 7e a tree left standing5 for ever so far round5 7( the ti#e we.ve
finished@.

-$nd all a7out a rattle@. said $li!e5 still hoping to #ake the# a LTTL6
asha#ed of fighting for su!h a trifle8

- shouldn.t have #inded it so #u!h5. said Tweedledu#5 -if it hadn.t 7een a
new one8.

- wish the #onstrous !row would !o#e@. though $li!e8

-There.s onl( one sword5 (ou know5. Tweedledu# said to his 7rother: -7ut
(ou !an have the u#7rella--it.s 9uite as sharp8 Onl( we #ust 7egin 9ui!k8 t.s
getting as dark as it !an8.

-$nd darker8. said Tweedledee8

t was getting dark so suddenl( that $li!e thought there #ust 7e a
thunderstor# !o#ing on8 -&hat a thi!k 7la!k !loud that is@. she said8 -$nd
how fast it !o#es@ &h(5 do 7elieve it.s got wings@.

-t.s the !row@. Tweedledu# !ried out in a shrill voi!e of alar#: and the two
7rothers took to their heels and were out of sight in a #o#ent8

$li!e ran a little wa( into the wood5 and stopped under a large tree8 -t !an
never get at #e H6A65. she thought: -it.s far too large to s9ueeIe itself in
a#ong the trees8 ?ut wish it wouldn.t flap its wings so--it #akes 9uite a
hurri!ane in the wood-- here.s so#e7od(.s shawl 7eing 7lown awa(@.
Chapter &: 'ool and 'ater
3he !aught the shawl as she spoke5 and looked a7out for the owner: in
another #o#ent the &hite 1ueen !a#e running wildl( through the wood5
with 7oth ar#s stret!hed out wide5 as if she were fl(ing5 and $li!e ver( !ivill(
went to #eet her with the shawl8

-.# ver( glad happened to 7e in the wa(5. $li!e said5 as she helped her to
put on her shawl again8

The &hite 1ueen onl( looked at her in a helpless frightened sort of wa(5 and
kept repeating so#ething in a whisper to herself that sounded like -7read-and-
7utter5 7read-and-7utter5. and $li!e felt that if there was to 7e an( !onversation
at all5 she #ust #anage it herself8 3o she 7egan rather ti#idl(: -$#
addressing the &hite 1ueen4.

-&ell5 (es5 if (ou !all that a-dressing5. The 1ueen said8 -t isn.t /B notion of
the thing5 at all8.

$li!e thought it would never do to have an argu#ent at the ver( 7eginning
of their !onversation5 so she s#iled and said5
-f (our /a>est( will onl( tell #e the right
wa( to 7egin5 .ll do it as well as !an8.

-?ut don.t want it done at all@. groaned the poor 1ueen8 -.ve 7een a-
dressing #(self for the last two hours8.

t would have 7een all the 7etter5 as it see#ed to $li!e5 if she had got so#e
one else to dress her5 she was so dreadfull( untid(8 -6ver( single thing.s
!rooked5. $li!e thought to herself5 -and she.s all over pins@--#a( put (our
shawl straight for (ou4. she added aloud8

- don.t know what.s the #atter with it@. the 1ueen said5 in a #elan!hol(
voi!e8 -t.s out of te#per5 think8 .ve pinned it here5 and .ve pinned it there5
7ut there.s no pleasing it@.

-t C$=.T go straight5 (ou know5 if (ou pin it all on one side5. $li!e said5 as
she gentl( put it right for her< -and5 dear #e5 what a state (our hair is in@.

-The 7rush has got entangled in it@. the 1ueen said with a sigh8 -$nd lost
the !o#7 (esterda(8.

$li!e !arefull( released the 7rush5 and did her 7est to get the hair into order8
-Co#e5 (ou look rather 7etter now@. she said5 after altering #ost of the pins8
-?ut reall( (ou should have a lad(.s #aid@.

-.# sure .ll take (ou with pleasure@. the 1ueen said8 -Twopen!e a week5 and
>a# ever( other da(8.

$li!e !ouldn.t help laughing5 as she said5 - don.t want (ou to hire /6--and
don.t !are for >a#8.

-t.s ver( good >a#5. said the 1ueen8

-&ell5 don.t want an( TO-)$B5 at an( rate8.

-Bou !ouldn.t have it if (ou )) want it5. the 1ueen said8 -The rule is5 >a#
to-#orrow and >a# (esterda(--7ut never >a# to-da(8.

-t /+3T !o#e so#eti#es to G>a# to-da(5G. $li!e o7>e!ted8

-=o5 it !an.t5. said the 1ueen8 -t.s >a# ever( OTH6A da(: to-da( isn.t an(
OTH6A da(5 (ou know8.

- don.t understand (ou5. said $li!e8 -t.s dreadfull( !onfusing@.

-That.s the effe!t of living 7a!kwards5. the 1ueen said kindl(: -it alwa(s
#akes one a little gidd( at first--.

-Living 7a!kwards@. $li!e repeated in great astonish#ent8 - never heard of
su!h a thing@.

---7ut there.s one great advantage in it5 that one.s #e#or( works 7oth wa(s8.

-.# sure /=6 onl( works one wa(8. $li!e re#arked8 - !an.t re#e#7er
things 7efore the( happen8.

-t.s a poor sort of #e#or( that onl( works 7a!kwards5. the 1ueen re#arked8

-&hat sort of things do BO+ re#e#7er 7est4. $li!e ventured to ask8

-Oh5 things that happened the week after neDt5. the 1ueen replied in a
!areless tone8 -For instan!e5 now5. she went on5 sti!king a large pie!e of
plaster L7and-aidM on her finger as she spoke5 -there.s the Cing.s /essenger8
He.s in prison now5 7eing punished: and the trial doesn.t even 7egin till neDt
&ednesda(: and of !ourse the !ri#e !o#es last of all8.

-3uppose he never !o##its the !ri#e4. said
$li!e8

-That would 7e all the 7etter5 wouldn.t it4. the
1ueen said5 as she 7ound the plaster round her
finger with a 7it of ri77on8

$li!e felt there was no den(ing TH$T8 -Of
!ourse it would 7e all the 7etter5. she said: -7ut
it wouldn.t 7e all the 7etter his 7eing punished8.

-Bou.re wrong TH6A65 at an( rate5. said the
1ueen: -were BO+ ever punished4.

-Onl( for faults5. said $li!e8

-$nd (ou were all the 7etter for it5 know@. the 1ueen said triu#phantl(8

-Bes5 7ut then H$) done the things was punished for5. said $li!e: -that
#akes all the differen!e8.

-?ut if (ou H$)=.T done the#5. the 1ueen said5 -that would have 7een
7etter still< 7etter5 and 7etter5 and 7etter@. Her voi!e went higher with ea!h
-7etter5. till it got 9uite to a s9ueak at last8

$li!e was >ust 7eginning to sa( -There.s a #istake so#ewhere--5. when the
1ueen 7egan s!rea#ing so loud that she had to leave the senten!e unfinished8
-Oh5 oh5 oh@. shouted the 1ueen5 shaking her hand a7out as if she wanted to
shake it off8 -/( finger.s 7leeding@ Oh5 oh5 oh5 oh@.

Her s!rea#s were so eDa!tl( like the whistle of a stea#-engine5 that $li!e
had to hold 7oth her hands over her ears8

-&hat 3 the #atter4. she said5 as soon as there was a !han!e of #aking
herself heard8 -Have (ou pri!ked (our finger4.

- haven.t pri!ked it B6T5. the 1ueen said5 -7ut soon shall-- oh5 oh5 oh@.

-&hen do (ou eDpe!t to do it4. $li!e asked5 feeling ver( #u!h in!lined to
laugh8

-&hen fasten #( shawl again5. the poor 1ueen groaned out: -the 7roo!h
will !o#e undone dire!tl(8 Oh5 oh@. $s she said the words the 7roo!h flew
open5 and the 1ueen !lut!hed wildl( at it5 and tried to !lasp it again8

-Take !are@. !ried $li!e8 -Bou.re holding it all !rooked@. $nd she !aught at
the 7roo!h< 7ut it was too late: the pin had slipped5 and the 1ueen had pri!ked
her finger8

-That a!!ounts for the 7leeding5 (ou see5. she said to $li!e with a s#ile8
-=ow (ou understand the wa( things happen here8.

-?ut wh( don.t (ou s!rea# now4. $li!e asked5 holding her hands read( to
put over her ears again8

-&h(5 .ve done all the s!rea#ing alread(5. said the 1ueen8 -&hat would 7e
the good of having it all over again4.

?( this ti#e it was getting light8 -The !row #ust have flown awa(5 think5.
said $li!e: -.# so glad it.s gone8 thought it was the night !o#ing on8.

- wish JJ !ould #anage to 7e glad@. the 1ueen said8 -Onl( never !an
re#e#7er the rule8 Bou #ust 7e ver( happ(5 living in this wood5 and 7eing
glad whenever (ou like@.

-Onl( it is so F6AB lonel( here@. $li!e said in a #elan!hol( voi!e< and at the
thought of her loneliness two large tears !a#e rolling down her !heeks8

-Oh5 don.t go on like that@. !ried the poor 1ueen5 wringing her hands in
despair8 -Consider what a great girl (ou are8 Consider what a long wa(
(ou.ve !o#e to-da(8 Consider what o.!lo!k it is8 Consider an(thing5 onl( don.t
!r(@.

$li!e !ould not help laughing at this5 even in the #idst of her tears8 -Can
BO+ keep fro# !r(ing 7( !onsidering things4. she asked8

-That.s the wa( it.s done5. the 1ueen said with great de!ision: -no7od( !an do
two things at on!e5 (ou know8 Let.s !onsider (our age to 7egin with--how old
are (ou4.

-.# seven and a half eDa!tl(8.

-Bou needn.t sa( GeDa!tuall(5G. the 1ueen re#arked: - !an 7elieve it without
that8 =ow .ll give BO+ so#ething to 7elieve8 .# >ust one hundred and one5
five #onths and a da(8.

- !an.t 7elieve TH$T@. said $li!e8

-Can.t (ou4. the 1ueen said in a pit(ing tone8 -Tr( again: draw a long 7reath5
and shut (our e(es8.

$li!e laughed8 -There.s no use tr(ing5. she said: -one C$=.T 7elieve
i#possi7le things8.

- daresa( (ou haven.t had #u!h pra!ti!e5. said the 1ueen8 -&hen was (our
age5 alwa(s did it for half-an-hour a da(8 &h(5 so#eti#es .ve 7elieved as
#an( as siD i#possi7le things 7efore 7reakfast8 There goes the shawl again@.

The 7roo!h had !o#e undone as she spoke5 and a sudden gust of wind 7lew
the 1ueen.s shawl a!ross a little 7rook8 The 1ueen spread out her ar#s again5
and went fl(ing after it5 and this ti#e she su!!eeded in !at!hing it for herself8
-.ve got it@. she !ried in a triu#phant tone8 -=ow (ou shall see #e pin it on
again5 all 7( #(self@.

-Then hope (our finger is 7etter now4. $li!e said ver( politel(5 as she
!rossed the little 7rook after the 1ueen8

K K K K K K K

K K K K K K

K K K K K K K

-Oh5 #u!h 7etter@. !ried the 1ueen5 her voi!e rising to a s9ueak as she went
on8 -/u!h 7e-etter@ ?e-etter@ ?e-e-e-etter@ ?e-e-ehh@. The last word ended
in a long 7leat5 so like a sheep that $li!e 9uite started8

3he looked at the 1ueen5 who see#ed to have suddenl( wrapped herself up
in wool8 $li!e ru77ed her e(es5 and looked again8 3he !ouldn.t #ake out what
had happened at all8 &as she in a shop4 $nd was that reall(--was it reall( a
3H66H that was sitting on the other side of the !ounter4 Au7 as she !ould5
she !ould #ake nothing #ore of it: she was in a little dark shop5 leaning with
her el7ows on the !ounter5 and opposite to her was an old 3heep5 sitting in an
ar#-!hair knitting5 and ever( now and then leaving off to look at her through a
great pair of spe!ta!les8

-&hat is it (ou want to 7u(4. the 3heep said at last5 looking up for a #o#ent
fro# her knitting8

- don.t 1+T6 know (et5. $li!e said5 ver( gentl(8 - should like to look all
round #e first5 if #ight8.

-Bou #a( look in front of (ou5 and on 7oth sides5 if (ou like5. said the 3heep:
-7ut (ou !an.t look $LL round (ou--unless (ou.ve got e(es at the 7a!k of (our
head8.

?ut these5 as it happened5 $li!e had =OT got: so she !ontented herself with
turning round5 looking at the shelves as she !a#e to the#8

The shop see#ed to 7e full of all #anner of !urious things-- 7ut the oddest
part of it all was5 that whenever she looked hard at an( shelf5 to #ake out
eDa!tl( what it had on it5 that parti!ular shelf was alwa(s 9uite e#pt(: though
the others round it were !rowded as full as the( !ould hold8

-Things flow a7out so here@. she said at last in a plaintive tone5 after she had
spent a #inute or so in vainl( pursuing a large 7right thing5 that looked
so#eti#es like a doll and so#eti#es like a work-7oD5 and was alwa(s in the
shelf neDt a7ove the one she was looking at8 -$nd this one is the #ost
provoking of all--7ut .ll tell (ou what--. she added5 as a sudden thought stru!k
her5 -.ll follow it up to the
ver( top shelf of all8 t.ll
puIIle it to go through the
!eiling5 eDpe!t@.

?ut even this plan failed: the -thing. went through the !eiling as 9uietl( as
possi7le5 as if it were 9uite used to it8

-$re (ou a !hild or a teetotu#4. the 3heep said5 as she took up another pair
of needles8 -Bou.ll #ake #e gidd( soon5 if (ou go on turning round like that8.
3he was now working with fourteen pairs at on!e5 and $li!e !ouldn.t help
looking at her in great astonish#ent8

-How C$= she knit with so #an(4. the puIIled !hild thought to herself8
-3he gets #ore and #ore like a por!upine ever( #inute@.

-Can (ou row4. the 3heep asked5 handing her a pair of knitting- needles as
she spoke8

-Bes5 a little--7ut not on land--and not with needles--. $li!e was 7eginning to
sa(5 when suddenl( the needles turned into oars in her hands5 and she found
the( were in a little 7oat5 gliding along 7etween 7anks: so there was nothing
for it 7ut to do her 7est8

-Feather@. !ried the 3heep5 as she took up another pair of needles8

This didn.t sound like a re#ark that needed an( answer5 so $li!e said
nothing5 7ut pulled awa(8 There was so#ething ver( 9ueer a7out the water5
she thought5 as ever( now and then the oars got fast in it5 and would hardl(
!o#e out again8

-Feather@ Feather@. the 3heep !ried again5 taking #ore needles8 -Bou.ll 7e
!at!hing a !ra7 dire!tl(8.

-$ dear little !ra7@. thought $li!e8 - should like that8.

-)idn.t (ou hear #e sa( GFeatherG4. the 3heep !ried angril(5 taking up 9uite a
7un!h of needles8

-ndeed did5. said $li!e: -(ou.ve said it ver( often--and ver( loud8 Hlease5
where $A6 the !ra7s4.

-n the water5 of !ourse@. said the 3heep5 sti!king so#e of the needles into her
hair5 as her hands were full8 -Feather5 sa(@.

-&HB do (ou sa( GfeatherG so often4. $li!e asked at last5 rather veDed8 ..#
not a 7ird@.

-Bou are5. said the 3heet: -(ou.re a little goose8.

This offended $li!e a little5 so there was no #ore !onversation for a #inute
or two5 while the 7oat glided gentl( on5 so#eti#es a#ong 7eds of weeds
:whi!h #ade the oars sti!k fast in the water5 worse then ever;5 and so#eti#es
under trees5 7ut alwa(s with the sa#e tall river-7anks frowning over their
heads8

-Oh5 please@ There are so#e s!ented rushes@. $li!e !ried in a sudden
transport of delight8 -There reall( are--and 3+CH 7eauties@.

-Bou needn.t sa( GpleaseG to /6 a7out -e#. the 3heep said5 without looking
up fro# her knitting: - didn.t put -e# there5 and .# not going to take -e#
awa(8.

-=o5 7ut #eant--please5 #a( we wait and pi!k so#e4. $li!e pleaded8 -f
(ou don.t #ind stopping the 7oat for a #inute8.

-How a# JJ to stop it4. said the 3heep8 -f (ou leave off rowing5 it.ll stop of
itself8.

3o the 7oat was left to drift down the strea# as it would5 till it glided gentl(
in a#ong the waving rushes8 $nd then the little sleeves were !arefull( rolled
up5 and the little ar#s were plunged in el7ow-deep to get the rushes a good
long wa( down 7efore 7reaking the# off--and for a while $li!e forgot all
a7out the 3heep and the knitting5 as she 7ent over the side of the 7oat5 with
>ust the ends of her tangled hair dipping into the water--while with 7right
eager e(es she !aught at one 7un!h after another of the darling s!ented rushes8

- onl( hope the 7oat won.t tipple over@. she said to herself8 Oh5 &H$T a
lovel( one@ Onl( !ouldn.t 9uite rea!h it8. -$nd it !ertainl( )) see# a little
provoking :-al#ost as if it happened on purpose5. she thought; that5 though she
#anaged to pi!k plent( of 7eautiful rushes as the 7oat glided 7(5 there was
alwa(s a #ore lovel( one that she !ouldn.t rea!h8

-The prettiest are alwa(s further@. she said at last5 with a sigh at the o7stina!(
of the rushes in growing so far off5 as5 with flushed !heeks and dripping hair
and hands5 she s!ra#7led 7a!k into her pla!e5 and 7egan to arrange her new-
found treasures8

&hat #attered it to her >ust than that the rushes had 7egun to fade5 and to
lose all their s!ent and 7eaut(5 fro# the ver( #o#ent that she pi!ked the#4
6ven real s!ented rushes5 (ou know5 last onl( a ver( little while--and these5
7eing drea#-rushes5 #elted awa( al#ost like snow5 as the( la( in heaps at her
feet-- 7ut $li!e hardl( noti!ed this5 there were so #an( other !urious things to
think a7out8

The( hadn.t gone #u!h farther 7efore the 7lade of one of the oars got fast in
the water and &O+L)=.T !o#e out again :so $li!e eDplained it afterwards;5
and the !onse9uen!e was that the handle of it !aught her under the !hin5 and5
in spite of a series of little shrieks of -Oh5 oh5 oh@. fro# poor $li!e5 it swept
her straight off the seat5 and down a#ong the heap of rushes8

However5 she wasn.t hurt5 and was soon up again: the 3heep went on with
her knitting all the while5 >ust as if nothing had happened8 -That was a ni!e
!ra7 (ou !aught@. she re#arked5 as $li!e got 7a!k into her pla!e5 ver( #u!h
relieved to find herself still in the 7oat8

-&as it4
didn.t see it5. 3aid
$li!e5 peeping
!autiousl( over
the side of the
7oat into the dark
water8 - wish it
hadn.t let go--
should so like to
see a little !ra7 to
take ho#e with
#e@. ?ut the
3heep onl(
laughed
s!ornfull(5 and
went on with her
knitting8

-$re there #an(
!ra7s here4. said
$li!e8

-Cra7s5 and all
sorts of things5.
said the 3heep:
-plent( of !hoi!e5
onl( #ake up (our #ind8 =ow5 what )O (ou want to 7u(4.

-To 7u(@. $li!e e!hoed in a tone that was half astonished and half
frightened--for the oars5 and the 7oat5 and the river5 had vanished all in a
#o#ent5 and she was 7a!k again in the little dark shop8

- should like to 7u( an egg5 please5. she said ti#idl(8 -How do (ou sell
the#4.

-Fivepen!e farthing for one--Twopen!e for two5. the 3heep replied8

-Then two are !heaper than one4. $li!e said in a surprised tone5 taking out
her purse8

-Onl( (ou /+3T eat the# 7oth5 if (ou 7u( two5. said the 3heep8

-Then .ll have O=65 please5. said $li!e5 as she put the #one( down on the
!ounter8 For she thought to herself5 -The( #ightn.t 7e at all ni!e5 (ou know8.

The 3heep took the #one(5 and put it awa( in a 7oD: then she said - never
put things into people.s hands--that would never do--(ou #ust get it for
(ourself8. $nd so sa(ing5 she went off to the other end of the shop5 and set the
egg upright on a shelf8

- wonder &HB it wouldn.t do4. thought $li!e5 as she groped her wa( a#ong
the ta7les and !hairs5 for the shop was ver( dark towards the end8 -The egg
see#s to get further awa( the #ore walk towards it8 Let #e see5 is this a
!hair4 &h(5 it.s got 7ran!hes5 de!lare@ How ver( odd to find trees growing
here@ $nd a!tuall( here.s a little 7rook@ &ell5 this is the ver( 9ueerest shop
ever saw@.

K K K K K K K

K K K K K K

K K K K K K K

3o she went on5 wondering #ore and #ore at ever( step5 as ever(thing
turned into a tree the #o#ent she !a#e up to it5 and she 9uite eDpe!ted the
egg to do the sa#e8
Chapter (: Hu%pty )u%pty
However5 the egg onl( got larger and larger5 and #ore and #ore hu#an:
when she had !o#e within a few (ards of it5 she saw that it had e(es and a
nose and #outh< and when she had !o#e !lose to it5 she saw !learl( that it
was H+/HTB )+/HTB hi#self8 -t !an.t 7e an(7od( else@. she said to
herself8 -.# as !ertain of it5 as if his na#e were written all over his fa!e8.

t #ight have 7een written a hundred ti#es5 easil(5 on that enor#ous fa!e8
Hu#pt( )u#pt( was sitting with his legs !rossed5 like a Turk5 on the top of a
high wall--su!h a narrow one that $li!e 9uite wondered how he !ould keep his
7alan!e--and5 as his e(es were steadil( fiDed in the opposite dire!tion5 and he
didn.t take the least noti!e of her5 she thought he #ust 7e a stuffed figure after
all8
-$nd how eDa!tl( like an egg he is@. she said aloud5 standing with her hands
read( to !at!h hi#5 for she was ever( #o#ent eDpe!ting hi# to fall8
-t.s F6AB provoking5. Hu#pt( )u#pt( said after a long silen!e5 looking
awa( fro# $li!e as he spoke5 -to 7e !alled an egg-- F6AB@.
- said (ou LOOC6) like an egg5 3ir5. $li!e gentl( eDplained8 -$nd so#e
eggs are ver( prett(5 (ou know. she added5 hoping to turn her re#ark into a
sort of a !o#pli#ent8

-3o#e people5. said Hu#pt( )u#pt(5 looking awa( fro# her as usual5
-have no #ore sense than a 7a7(@.

$li!e didn.t know what to sa( to this: it wasn.t at all like !onversation5 she
thought5 as he never said an(thing to H6A< in fa!t5 his last re#ark was
evidentl( addressed to a tree--so she stood and softl( repeated to herself: --

-Hu#pt( )u#pt( sat on a wall:
Hu#pt( )u#pt( had a great fall8
$ll the Cing.s horses and all the Cing.s #en
Couldn.t put Hu#pt( )u#pt( in his pla!e again8.

-That last line is #u!h too long for the poetr(5. she added5 al#ost out loud5
forgetting that Hu#pt( )u#pt( would hear her8

-)on.t stand there !hattering to (ourself like that5. Hu#pt( )u#pt( said5
looking at her for the first ti#e5 -7ut tell #e (our na#e and (our 7usiness8.

-/( =$/6 is $li!e5 7ut--.

-t.s a stupid enough na#e@. Hu#pt( )u#pt( interrupted i#patientl(8 -&hat
does it #ean4.

-/+3T a na#e #ean so#ething4. $li!e asked dou7tfull(8

-Of !ourse it #ust5. Hu#pt( )u#pt( said with a short laugh: -/B na#e
#eans the shape a#--and a good handso#e shape it is5 too8 &ith a na#e
like (ours5 (ou #ight 7e an( shape5 al#ost8.

-&h( do (ou sit out here all alone4. said $li!e5 not wishing to 7egin an
argu#ent8

-&h(5 7e!ause there.s no7od( with #e@. !ried Hu#pt( )u#pt(8 -)id (ou
think didn.t know the answer to TH$T4 $sk another8.

-)on.t (ou think (ou.d 7e safer down on the ground4. $li!e went on5 not with
an( idea of #aking another riddle5 7ut si#pl( in her good-natured anDiet( for
the 9ueer !reature8 -That wall is so F6AB narrow@.

-&hat tre#endousl( eas( riddles (ou ask@. Hu#pt( )u#pt( growled out8
-Of !ourse don.t think so@ &h(5 if ever )) fall off-- whi!h there.s no
!han!e of--7ut F did--. Here he pursed his lips and looked so sole#n and
grand that $li!e !ould hardl( help laughing8 -F did fall5. he went on5 -TH6
C=G H$3 HAO/36) /6--&TH H3 F6AB O&= /O+TH--to--to--.

-To send all his horses and all his #en5. $li!e interrupted5 rather unwisel(8

-=ow de!lare that.s too 7ad@. Hu#pt( )u#pt( !ried5 7reaking into a sudden
passion8 -Bou.ve 7een listening at doors--and 7ehind trees-- and down
!hi#ne(s--or (ou !ouldn.t have known it@.

- haven.t5 indeed@. $li!e said ver( gentl(8 -t.s in a 7ook8.

-$h5 well@ The( #a( write su!h things in a ?OOC5. Hu#pt( )u#pt( said in
a !al#er tone8 -That.s what (ou !all a Histor( of 6ngland5 that is8 =ow5 take
a good look at #e@ .# one that has spoken to a Cing5 JJ a#: #a(hap (ou.ll
never see su!h another: and to show (ou .# not proud5 (ou #a( shake hands
with #e@. $nd he grinned al#ost fro# ear to ear5 as he leant forwards :and as
nearl( as possi7le fell of the wall in doing so; and offered $li!e his hand8 3he
wat!hed hi# a little anDiousl( as she took it8 -f he s#iled #u!h #ore5 the
ends of his #outh #ight #eet 7ehind5. she thought: -and then don.t know
what would happen to his head@ .# afraid it would !o#e off@.

-Bes5 all his horses and all his #en5. Hu#pt( )u#pt( went on8 -The(.d pi!k
#e up again in a #inute5 TH6B would@ However5 this !onversation is going
on a little too fast: let.s go 7a!k to the last re#ark 7ut one8.

-.# afraid !an.t 9uite re#e#7er it5. $li!e said ver( politel(8

-n that !ase we start fresh5. said Hu#pt( )u#pt(5 -and it.s #( turn to !hoose
a su7>e!t--. :-He talks a7out it >ust as if it was a ga#e@. thought $li!e8; -3o
here.s a 9uestion for (ou8 How old did (ou sa( (ou were4.

$li!e #ade a short !al!ulation5 and said -3even (ears and siD #onths8.

-&rong@. Hu#pt( )u#pt( eD!lai#ed triu#phantl(8 -Bou never said a word
like it@.

- though (ou #eant GHow old $A6 (ou4G. $li!e eDplained8

-f .d #eant that5 .d have said it5. said Hu#pt( )u#pt(8

$li!e didn.t want to 7egin another argu#ent5 so she said nothing8

-3even (ears and siD #onths@. Hu#pt( )u#pt( repeated thoughtfull(8 -$n
un!o#forta7le sort of age8 =ow if (ou.d asked /B advi!e5 .d have said
GLeave off at sevenG--7ut it.s too late now8.

- never ask advi!e a7out growing5. $li!e said indignantl(8

-Too proud4. the other in9uired8

$li!e felt even #ore indignant at this suggestion8 - #ean5. she said5 -that
one !an.t help growing older8.

-O=6 !an.t5 perhaps5. said Hu#pt( )u#pt(5 -7ut T&O !an8 &ith proper
assistan!e5 (ou #ight have left off at seven8.

-&hat a 7eautiful 7elt (ou.ve got on@. $li!e suddenl( re#arked8

:The( had had 9uite enough of the su7>e!t of age5 she thought: and if the(
reall( were to take turns in !hoosing su7>e!ts5 it was her turn now8; -$t least5.
she !orre!ted herself on se!ond thoughts5 -a 7eautiful !ravat5 should have
said--no5 a 7elt5 #ean-- 7eg (our pardon@. she added in dis#a(5 for Hu#pt(
)u#pt( looked thoroughl( offended5 and she 7egan to wish she hadn.t !hosen
that su7>e!t8 -f onl( knew5. the thought to herself5 .whi!h was ne!k and
whi!h was waist@.

6videntl( Hu#pt( )u#pt( was ver( angr(5 though he said nothing for a
#inute or two8 &hen he )) speak again5 it was in a deep growl8

-t is a--/O3T--HAOFOC=G--thing5. he said at last5 -when a person doesn.t
know a !ravat fro# a 7elt@.

- know it.s ver( ignorant of #e5. $li!e said5 in so hu#7le a tone that Hu#pt(
)u#pt( relented8

-t.s a !ravat5 !hild5 and a 7eautiful one5 as (ou sa(8 t.s a present fro# the
&hite Cing and 1ueen8 There now@.

-s it reall(4. said $li!e5 9uite pleased to find that she H$) !hosen a good
su7>e!t5 after all8

-The( gave it #e5. Hu#pt( )u#pt( !ontinued thoughtfull(5 as he !rossed
one knee over the other and !lasped his hands round it5 -the( gave it #e--for
an un-7irthda( present8.

- 7eg (our pardon4. $li!e said with a puIIled air8

-.# not offended5. said Hu#pt( )u#pt(8

- #ean5 what 3 an un-7irthda( present4.

-$ present given when it isn.t (our 7irthda(5 of !ourse8.

$li!e !onsidered a little8 - like 7irthda( presents 7est5. she said at last8

-Bou don.t know what (ou.re talking a7out@. !ried Hu#pt( )u#pt(8 -How
#an( da(s are there in a (ear4.

-Three hundred and siDt(-five5. said $li!e8

-$nd how #an( 7irthda(s have (ou4.

-One8.

-$nd if (ou take one fro# three hundred and siDt(-five5 what re#ains4.

-Three hundred and siDt(-four5 of !ourse8.

Hu#pt( )u#pt( looked dou7tful8 -.d rather see that done on paper5. he said8

$li!e !ouldn.t help s#iling as she took out her #e#orandu#- 7ook5 and
worked the su# for hi#:

365
- 1
----
364

Hu#pt( )u#pt( took the 7ook5 and looked at it !arefull(8 -That see#s to 7e
done right--. he 7egan8

-Bou.re holding it upside down@. $li!e interrupted8

-To 7e sure was@. Hu#pt( )u#pt( said gail(5 as she turned it round for
hi#8 - thought it looked a little 9ueer8 $s was sa(ing5 that 366/3 to 7e
done right--though haven.t ti#e to look it over thoroughl( >ust now--and that
shows that there are three hundred and siDt(-four da(s when (ou #ight get
un-7irthda( presents--.

-Certainl(5. said $li!e8

-$nd onl( O=6 for 7irthda( presents5 (ou know8 There.s glor( for (ou@.

- don.t know what (ou #ean 7( Gglor(5G. $li!e said8

Hu#pt( )u#pt( s#iled !onte#ptuousl(8 -Of !ourse (ou don.t-- till tell
(ou8 #eant Gthere.s a ni!e kno!k-down argu#ent for (ou@G.

-?ut Gglor(G doesn.t #ean Ga ni!e kno!k-down argu#ent5G. $li!e o7>e!ted8

-&hen JJ use a word5. Hu#pt( )u#pt( said in rather a s!ornful tone5 -it
#eans >ust what !hoose it to #ean--neither #ore nor less8.

-The 9uestion is5. said $li!e5 -whether (ou C$= #ake words #ean so #an(
different things8.

-The 9uestion is5. said Hu#pt( )u#pt(5 -whi!h is to 7e #aster-- that.s all8.

$li!e was too #u!h puIIled to sa( an(thing5 so after a #inute Hu#pt(
)u#pt( 7egan again8 -The(.ve a te#per5 so#e of the#-- parti!ularl( ver7s5
the(.re the proudest--ad>e!tives (ou !an do an(thing with5 7ut not ver7s--
however5 JJ !an #anage the whole lot of the#@ #penetra7ilit(@ That.s what
JJ sa(@.

-&ould (ou tell #e5 please5. said $li!e -what that #eans4.

-=ow (ou talk like a reasona7le !hild5. said Hu#pt( )u#pt(5 looking ver(
#u!h pleased8 - #eant 7( Gi#penetra7ilit(G that we.ve had enough of that
su7>e!t5 and it would 7e >ust as well if (ou.d #ention what (ou #ean to do
neDt5 as suppose (ou don.t #ean to stop here all the rest of (our life8.

-That.s a great deal to #ake one word #ean5. $li!e said in a thoughtful tone8

-&hen #ake a word do a lot of work like that5. said Hu#pt( )u#pt(5 -
alwa(s pa( it eDtra8.

-Oh@. said $li!e8 3he was too #u!h puIIled to #ake an( other re#ark8

-$h5 (ou should see .e# !o#e round #e of a 3aturda( night5. Hu#pt(
)u#pt( went on5 wagging his head gravel( fro# side to side: -for to get their
wages5 (ou know8.

:$li!e didn.t venture to ask what he paid the# with< and so (ou see !an.t
tell BO+8;

-Bou see# ver( !lever at eDplaining words5 3ir5. said $li!e8 -&ould (ou
kindl( tell #e the #eaning of the poe# !alled GEa77erwo!k(G4.

-Let.s hear it5. said Hu#pt( )u#pt(8 - !an eDplain all the poe#s that were
ever invented--and a good #an( that haven.t 7een invented >ust (et8.

This sounded ver( hopeful5 so $li!e repeated the first verse:

.Twas 7rillig5 and the slith( toves
)id g(re and gi#7le in the wa7e<
$ll #i#s( were the 7orogoves5
$nd the #o#e raths outgra7e8

-That.s enough to 7egin with5. Hu#pt( )u#pt( interrupted: -there are plent(
of hard words there8 G?ALLGG #eans four o.!lo!k in the afternoon--the
ti#e when (ou 7egin ?AOL=G things for dinner8.

-That.ll do ver( well5. said $li!e: and G3LTHBG4.

-&ell5 G3LTHBG #eans Glithe and sli#(8G GLitheG is the sa#e as Ga!tive8G
Bou see it.s like a port#anteau--there are two #eanings pa!ked up into one
word8.

- see it now5. $li!e re#arked thoughtfull(: -and what are GTOF63G4.

-&ell5 GTOF63G are so#ething like 7adgers--the(.re so#ething like liIards--
and the(.re so#ething like !orks!rews8.

-The( #ust 7e ver( !urious looking !reatures8.

-The( are that5. said Hu#pt( )u#pt(: -also the( #ake their nests under sun-
dials--also the( live on !heese8.


-$nd what.s the
GGBA6G and to
GG/?L6G4.

-To GGBA6G is
to go round and
round like a
g(ros!ope8 To
GG/?L6G is to
#ake holes like a
gi#let8.

-$nd GTH6
&$?6G is the
grass-plot round a
sun-dial5
suppose4. said
$li!e5 surprised at
her own
ingenuit(8

-Of !ourse it is8
t.s !alled
G&$?65G (ou
know5 7e!ause it
goes a long wa(
7efore it5 and a long wa( 7ehind it--.

-$nd a long wa( 7e(ond it on ea!h side5. $li!e added8
-6Da!tl( so8 &ell5 then5 G//3BG is Gfli#s( and #isera7leG :there.s another
port#anteau for (ou;8 $nd a G?OAOGOF6G is a thin sha77(-looking 7ird
with its feathers sti!king out all round-- so#ething like a live #op8.

-$nd then G/O/6 A$TH3G4. said $li!e8 -.# afraid .# giving (ou a great
deal of trou7le8.

-&ell5 a GA$THG is a sort of green pig: 7ut G/O/6G .# not !ertain a7out8
think it.s short for Gfro# ho#eG--#eaning that the(.d lost their wa(5 (ou
know8.
-$nd what does GO+TGA$?6G #ean4.

-&ell5 GO+TGA$?=GG is so#ething 7etween 7ellowing and whistling5
with a kind of sneeIe in the #iddle: however5 (ou.ll hear it done5 #a(7e--
down in the wood (onder--and when (ou.ve on!e heard it (ou.ll 7e 1+T6
!ontent8 &ho.s 7een repeating all that hard stuff to (ou4.

- read it in a 7ook5. said $li!e8 -?ut had so#e poetr( repeated to #e5 #u!h
easier than that5 7(--Tweedledee5 think it was8.

-$s to poetr(5 (ou know5. said Hu#pt( )u#pt(5 stret!hing out one of his
great hands5 - !an repeat poetr( as well as other folk5 if it !o#es to that--.

-Oh5 it needn.t !o#e to that@. $li!e hastil( said5 hoping to keep hi# fro#
7eginning8

-The pie!e .# going to repeat5. he went on without noti!ing her re#ark5. was
written entirel( for (our a#use#ent8.

$li!e felt that in that !ase she reall( O+GHT to listen to it5 so she sat down5
and said -Thank (ou. rather sadl(8

-n winter5 when the fields are white5
sing this song for (our delight--

onl( don.t sing it5. he added5 as an eDplanation8

- see (ou don.t5. said $li!e8

-f (ou !an 366 whether .# singing or not5 (ou.ve sharper e(es than #ost8.
Hu#pt( )u#pt( re#arked severel(8 $li!e was silent8

-n spring5 when woods are getting green5
.ll tr( and tell (ou what #ean8.

-Thank (ou ver( #u!h5. said $li!e8

-n su##er5 when the da(s are long5
Herhaps (ou.ll understand the song:
n autu#n5 when the leaves are 7rown5
Take pen and ink5 and write it down8.

- will5 if !an re#e#7er it so long5. said $li!e8

-Bou needn.t go on #aking re#arks like that5. Hu#pt( )u#pt( said: -the(.re
not sensi7le5 and the( put #e out8.

- sent a #essage to the fish:
told the# GThis is what wish8G

The little fishes of the sea5
The( sent an answer 7a!k to #e8

The little fishes. answer was
G&e !annot do it5 3ir5 7e!ause--G.

-.# afraid don.t 9uite understand5. said $li!e8

-t gets easier further on5. Hu#pt( )u#pt( replied8

- sent to the# again to sa(
Gt will 7e 7etter to o7e(8G

The fishes answered with a grin5
G&h(5 what a te#per (ou are in@G

told the# on!e5 told the# twi!e:
The( would not listen to advi!e8

took a kettle large and new5
Fit for the deed had to do8

/( heart went hop5 #( heart went thu#p<
filled the kettle at the pu#p8

Then so#e one !a#e to #e and said5
GThe little fishes are in 7ed8G

said to hi#5 said it plain5
GThen (ou #ust wake the# up again8G

said it ver( loud and !lear<
went and shouted in his ear8.

Hu#pt( )u#pt( raised his voi!e al#ost to a
s!rea# as he repeated this verse5 and $li!e thought
with a shudder5 - wouldn.t have 7een the
#essenger for $=BTH=G@.

-?ut he was ver( stiff and proud<
He said GBou needn.t shout so loud@G

$nd he was ver( proud and stiff<
He said G.d go and wake the#5 if--G

took a !orks!rew fro# the shelf:
went to wake the# up #(self8

$nd when found the door was lo!ked5
pulled and pushed and ki!ked and
kno!ked8

$nd when found the door was shut5
tried to turn the handle5 7ut--.

There was a long pause8

-s that all4. $li!e ti#idl( asked8

-That.s all5. said Hu#pt( )u#pt(8 -Good-7(e8.

This was rather sudden5 $li!e thought: 7ut5 after su!h a F6AB strong hint
that she ought to 7e going5 she felt that it would hardl( 7e !ivil to sta(8 3o she
got up5 and held out her hand8 -Good-7(e5 till we #eet again@. she said as
!heerfull( as she !ould8
- shouldn.t know (ou again if we )) #eet5. Hu#pt( )u#pt( replied in a
dis!ontented tone5 giving her one of his fingers to shake< -(ou.re so eDa!tl(
like other people8.

-The fa!e is what one goes 7(5 generall(5. $li!e re#arked in a thoughtful
tone8

-That.s >ust what !o#plain of5. said Hu#pt( )u#pt(8 -Bour fa!e is the
sa#e as ever(7od( has--the two e(es5 so--. :#arking their pla!es in the air
with this thu#7; -nose in the #iddle5 #outh under8 t.s alwa(s the sa#e8
=ow if (ou had the two e(es on the sa#e side of the nose5 for instan!e--or the
#outh at the top--that would 7e 3O/6 help8.

-t wouldn.t look ni!e5. $li!e o7>e!ted8 ?ut Hu#pt( )u#pt( onl( shut his
e(es and said -&ait till (ou.ve tried8.

$li!e waited a #inute to see if he would speak again5 7ut as he never opened
his e(es or took an( further noti!e of her5 she said -Good-7(e@. on!e #ore5
and5 getting no answer to this5 she 9uietl( walked awa(: 7ut she !ouldn.t help
sa(ing to herself as she went5 -Of all the unsatisfa!tor(--. :she repeated this
aloud5 as it was a great !o#fort to have su!h a long word to sa(; -of all the
unsatisfa!tor( people 6F6A #et--. 3he never finished the senten!e5 for at
this #o#ent a heav( !rash shook the forest fro# end to end8

Chapter *:
The Lion and
the +ni#orn

The neDt #o#ent
soldiers !a#e running
through the wood5 at
first in twos and threes5
then ten or twent(
together5 and at last in
su!h !rowds that the(
see#ed to fill the whole
forest8 $li!e got 7ehind
a tree5 for fear of 7eing
run over5 and wat!hed
the# go 7(8
3he thought that in all
her life she had never
seen soldiers so
un!ertain on their feet:
the( were alwa(s
tripping over so#ething
or other5 and whenever
one went down5 several
#ore alwa(s fell over
hi#5 so that the ground
was soon !overed with
little heaps of #en8

Then !a#e the horses8 Having four feet5 these #anaged rather 7etter than the foot-
soldiers: 7ut even TH6B stu#7led now and then< and it see#ed to 7e a regular rule that5
whenever a horse stu#7led the rider fell off instantl(8 The !onfusion got worse ever(
#o#ent5 and $li!e was ver( glad to get out of the wood into an open pla!e5 where she
found the &hite Cing seated on the ground5 7usil( writing in his #e#orandu#-7ook8

-.ve sent the# all@. the Cing !ried in a tone of delight5 on seeing $li!e8 -)id (ou
happen to #eet an( soldiers5 #( dear5 as (ou !a#e through the wood4.

-Bes5 did5. said $li!e: -several thousand5 should think8.

-Four thousand two hundred and seven5 that.s the eDa!t nu#7er5. the Cing said5
referring to his 7ook8 - !ouldn.t send all the horses5 (ou know5 7e!ause two of the# are
wanted in the ga#e8 $nd haven.t sent the two /essengers5 either8 The(.re 7oth gone to
the town8 Eust look along the road5 and tell #e if (ou !an see either of the#8.

- see no7od( on the road5. said $li!e8

- onl( wish had su!h e(es5. the Cing re#arked in a fretful tone8 -To 7e a7le to see
=o7od(@ $nd at that distan!e5 too@ &h(5 it.s as #u!h as JJ !an do to see real people5
7( this light@.

$ll this was lost on $li!e5 who was still looking intentl( along the road5 shading her
e(es with one hand8 - see so#e7od( now@. she eD!lai#ed at last8 -?ut he.s !o#ing
ver( slowl(--and what !urious attitudes he goes into@. :For the #essenger kept skipping
up and down5 and wriggling like an eel5 as he !a#e along5 with his great hands spread
out like fans on ea!h side8;

-=ot at all5. said the Cing8 -He.s an $nglo-3aDon /essenger-- and those are $nglo-
3aDon attitudes8 He onl( does the# when he.s happ(8 His na#e is Haigha8. :He
pronoun!ed it so as to rh(#e with -#a(or8.;

- love #( love with an H5. $li!e !ouldn.t help 7eginning5 -7e!ause he is Happ(8 hate
hi# with an H5 7e!ause he is Hideous8 fed hi# with--with--with Ha#-sandwi!hes and
Ha(8 His na#e is Haigha5 and he lives--.

-He lives on the Hill5. the Cing re#arked si#pl(5 without the least idea that he was
>oining in the ga#e5 while $li!e was still hesitating for the na#e of a town 7eginning
with H8 -The other /essenger.s !alled Hatta8 #ust have T&O5 (ou know--to !o#e
and go8 On!e to !o#e5 and one to go8.

- 7eg (our pardon4. said $li!e8

-t isn.t respe!ta7le to 7eg5. said the Cing8

- onl( #eant that didn.t understand5. said $li!e8 -&h( one to !o#e and one to go4.

-)idn.t tell (ou4. the Cing repeated i#patientl(8 - #ust have Two--to fet!h and !arr(8
One to fet!h5 and one to !arr(8.

$t this #o#ent the /essenger arrived: he was far too #u!h out of 7reath to sa( a
word5 and !ould onl( wave his hands a7out5 and #ake the #ost fearful fa!es at the poor
Cing8

-This (oung lad( loves (ou with an H5. the Cing said5 introdu!ing $li!e in the hope of
turning off the /essenger.s attention fro# hi#self--7ut it was no use--the $nglo-3aDon
attitudes onl( got #ore eDtraordinar( ever( #o#ent5 while the great e(es rolled wildl(
fro# side to side8

-Bou alar# #e@. said
the Cing8 - feel faint--
Give #e a ha#
sandwi!h@.

On whi!h the
/essenger5 to $li!e.s
great a#use#ent5 opened
a 7ag that hung round his
ne!k5 and handed a
sandwi!h to the Cing5
who devoured it greedil(8

-$nother sandwi!h@.
said the Cing8

-There.s nothing 7ut ha(
left now5. the /essenger
said5 peeping into the
7ag8

-Ha(5 then5. the Cing #ur#ured in a faint whisper8

$li!e was glad to see that it revived hi# a good deal8 -There.s nothing like eating ha(
when (ou.re faint5. he re#arked to her5 as he #un!hed awa(8

- should think throwing !old water over (ou would 7e 7etter5. $li!e suggested: -or
so#e sal-volatile8.

- didn.t sa( there was nothing ?6TT6A5. the Cing replied8 - said there was nothing
LC6 it8. &hi!h $li!e did not venture to den(8

-&ho did (ou pass on the road4. the Cing went on5 holding out his hand to the
/essenger for so#e #ore ha(8

-=o7od(5. said the /essenger8

-1uite right5. said the Cing: -this (oung lad( saw hi# too8 3o of !ourse =o7od( walks
slower than (ou8.

- do #( 7est5. the /essenger said in a sulk( tone8 -.# sure no7od( walks #u!h faster
than do@.

-He !an.t do that5. said the Cing5 -or else he.d have 7een here first8 However5 now
(ou.ve got (our 7reath5 (ou #a( tell us what.s happened in the town8.

-.ll whisper it5. said the /essenger5 putting his hands to his #outh in the shape of a
tru#pet5 and stooping so as to get !lose to the Cing.s ear8 $li!e was sorr( for this5 as she
wanted to hear the news too8 However5 instead of whispering5 he si#pl( shouted at the
top of his voi!e -The(.re at it again@.

-)o (ou !all TH$T a whisper4. !ried the poor Cing5 >u#ping up and shaking hi#self8
-f (ou do su!h a thing again5 .ll have (ou 7uttered@ t went through and through #(
head like an earth9uake@.

-t would have to 7e a ver( tin( earth9uake@. thought $li!e8 -&ho are at it again4. she
ventured to ask8

-&h( the Lion and the +ni!orn5 of !ourse5. said the Cing8

-Fighting for the !rown4.

-Bes5 to 7e sure5. said the Cing: -and the 7est of the >oke is5 that it.s /B !rown all the
while@ Let.s run and see the#8. $nd the( trotted off5 $li!e repeating to herself5 as she
ran5 the words of the old song:--

-The Lion and the +ni!orn were fighting for the !rown:
The Lion 7eat the +ni!orn all round the town8
3o#e gave the# white 7read5 so#e gave the# 7rown<
3o#e gave the# plu#-!ake and dru##ed the# out of town8.

-)oes--the one--that wins--get the !rown4. she asked5 as well as she !ould5 for the run
was putting her 9uite out of 7reath8

-)ear #e5 no@. said the Cing8 -&hat an idea@.

-&ould (ou--7e good enough5. $li!e panted out5 after running a little further5 -to stop a
#inute-->ust to get--one.s 7reath again4.

-.# GOO) enough5. the Cing said5 -onl( .# not strong enough8 Bou see5 a #inute
goes 7( so fearfull( 9ui!k8 Bou #ight as well tr( to stop a ?andersnat!h@.

$li!e had no #ore
7reath for talking5 so
the( trotted on in
silen!e5 till the( !a#e
in sight of a great
!rowd5 in the #iddle of
whi!h the Lion and
+ni!orn were fighting8
The( were in su!h a
!loud of dust5 that at
first $li!e !ould not
#ake out whi!h was
whi!h: 7ut she soon
#anaged to distinguish
the +ni!orn 7( his
horn8

The( pla!ed the#selves !lose to where Hatta5 the other #essenger5 was standing
wat!hing the fight5 with a !up of tea in one hand and a pie!e of 7read-and-7utter in the
other8

-He.s onl( >ust out of prison5 and he hadn.t finished his tea when he was sent in5.
Haigha whispered to $li!e: -and the( onl( give the# o(ster-shells in there--so (ou see
he.s ver( hungr( and thirst(8 How are (ou5 dear !hild4. he went on5 putting his ar#
affe!tionatel( round Hatta.s ne!k8

Hatta looked round and nodded5 and went on with his 7read and 7utter8

-&ere (ou happ( in prison5 dear !hild4. said Haigha8

Hatta looked round on!e #ore5 and this ti#e a tear or two tri!kled down his !heek: 7ut
not a word would he sa(8

-3peak5 !an.t (ou@. Haigha !ried i#patientl(8 ?ut Hatta onl( #un!hed awa(5 and drank
so#e #ore tea8

-3peak5 won.t (ou@. !ried the Cing8 .How are the( getting on with the fight4.

Hatta #ade a desperate effort5 and swallowed a large pie!e of 7read-and-7utter8
-The(.re getting on ver( well5. he said in a !hoking voi!e: -ea!h of the# has 7een down
a7out eight(-seven ti#es8.

-Then suppose the(.ll soon 7ring the white 7read and the 7rown4. $li!e ventured to
re#ark8

-t.s waiting for .e# now5. said Hatta: -this is a 7it of it as .# eating8.

There was a pause in the fight >ust then5 and the Lion and the +ni!orn sat down5
panting5 while the Cing !alled out -Ten #inutes allowed for refresh#ents@. Haigha and
Hatta set to work at on!e5 !arr(ing rough tra(s of white and 7rown 7read8 $li!e took a
pie!e to taste5 7ut it was F6AB dr(8

- don.t think the(.ll fight an( #ore to-da(5. the Cing said to Hatta: -go and order the
dru#s to 7egin8. $nd Hatta went 7ounding awa( like a grasshopper8

For a #inute or two $li!e stood silent5 wat!hing hi#8 3uddenl( she 7rightened up8
-Look5 look@. she !ried5 pointing eagerl(8 -There.s the &hite 1ueen running a!ross the
!ountr(@ 3he !a#e fl(ing out of the wood over (onder--How fast those 1ueens C$=
run@.

-There.s so#e ene#( after her5 no dou7t5. the Cing said5 without even looking round8
-That wood.s full of the#8.

-?ut aren.t (ou going to run and help her4. $li!e asked5 ver( #u!h surprised at his
taking it so 9uietl(8

-=o use5 no use@. said the Cing8 -3he runs so fearfull( 9ui!k8 Bou #ight as well tr( to
!at!h a ?andersnat!h@ ?ut .ll #ake a #e#orandu# a7out her5 if (ou like--3he.s a dear
good !reature5. he repeated softl( to hi#self5 as he opened his #e#orandu#-7ook8 -)o
(ou spell G!reatureG with a dou7le GeG4.

$t this #o#ent the +ni!orn sauntered 7( the#5 with his hands in his po!kets8 - had
the 7est of it this ti#e4. he said to the Cing5 >ust glan!ing at hi# as he passed8

-$ little--a little5. the Cing replied5 rather nervousl(8 -Bou shouldn.t have run hi#
through with (our horn5 (ou know8.

-t didn.t hurt hi#5. the +ni!orn said !arelessl(5 and he was going on5 when his e(e
happened to fall upon $li!e: he turned round rather instantl(5 and stood for so#e ti#e
looking at her with an air of the deepest disgust8

-&hat--is--this4. he said at last8

-This is a !hild@. Haigha replied eagerl(5 !o#ing in front of $li!e to introdu!e her5 and
spreading out 7oth his hands towards her in an $nglo-3aDon attitude8 -&e onl( found it
to-da(8 t.s as large as life5 and twi!e as natural@.

- alwa(s thought the( were fa7ulous #onsters@. said the +ni!orn8 -s it alive4.

-t !an talk5. said Haigha5 sole#nl(8

The +ni!orn looked drea#il( at $li!e5 and said -Talk5 !hild8.

$li!e !ould not help her lips !urling up into a s#ile as she 7egan: -)o (ou know5
alwa(s thought +ni!orns were fa7ulous #onsters5 too@ never saw one alive 7efore@.

-&ell5 now that we H$F6 seen ea!h other5. said the +ni!orn5 -if (ou.ll 7elieve in #e5
.ll 7elieve in (ou8 s that a 7argain4.

-Bes5 if (ou like5. said $li!e8

-Co#e5 fet!h out the plu#-!ake5 old #an@. the +ni!orn went on5 turning fro# her to the
Cing8 -=one of (our 7rown 7read for #e@.

-Certainl(--!ertainl(@. the Cing #uttered5 and 7e!koned to Haigha8 -Open the 7ag@. he
whispered8 -1ui!k@ =ot that one-- that.s full of ha(@.

Haigha took a large !ake out of the 7ag5 and gave it to $li!e to hold5 while he got out a
dish and !arving-knife8 How the( all !a#e out of it $li!e !ouldn.t guess8 t was >ust
like a !on>uring-tri!k5 she thought8

The Lion had >oined
the# while this was
going on: he looked
ver( tired and sleep(5
and his e(es were half
shut8 -&hat.s this@. he
said5 7linking laIil( at
$li!e5 and speaking in a
deep hollow tone that
sounded like the tolling
of a great 7ell8
-$h5 what 3 it5 now4.
the +ni!orn !ried
eagerl(8 -Bou.ll never
guess@ JJ !ouldn.t8.
The Lion looked at $li!e wearil(8 -$re (ou ani#al--vegeta7le --or #ineral4. he said5
(awning at ever( other word8

-t.s a fa7ulous #onster@. the +ni!orn !ried out5 7efore $li!e !ould repl(8

-Then hand round the plu#-!ake5 /onster5. the Lion said5 l(ing down and putting his
!hin on this paws8 -$nd sit down5 7oth of (ou5. :to the Cing and the +ni!orn;: -fair
pla( with the !ake5 (ou know@.

The Cing was evidentl( ver( un!o#forta7le at having to sit down 7etween the two
great !reatures< 7ut there was no other pla!e for hi#8

-&hat a fight we #ight have for the !rown5 =O&@. the +ni!orn said5 looking sl(l( up
at the !rown5 whi!h the poor Cing was nearl( shaking off his head5 he tre#7led so
#u!h8

- should win eas(5. said the Lion8

-.# not so sure of that5. said the +ni!orn8

-&h(5 7eat (ou all round the town5 (ou !hi!ken@. the Lion replied angril(5 half getting
up as he spoke8

Here the Cing interrupted5 to prevent the 9uarrel going on: he was ver( nervous5 and
his voi!e 9uite 9uivered8 -$ll round the town4. he said8 -That.s a good long wa(8 )id
(ou go 7( the old 7ridge5 or the #arket-pla!e4 Bou get the 7est view 7( the old 7ridge8.

-.# sure don.t know5. the Lion growled out as he la( down again8 -There was too
#u!h dust to see an(thing8 &hat a ti#e the /onster is5 !utting up that !ake@.

$li!e had seated herself on the 7ank of a little 7rook5 with the great dish on her knees5
and was sawing awa( diligentl( with the knife8 -t.s ver( provoking@. she said5 in repl(
to the Lion :she was getting 9uite used to 7eing !alled -the /onster.;8 -.ve !ut several
sli!es alread(5 7ut the( alwa(s >oin on again@.

-Bou don.t know how to #anage Looking-glass !akes5. the +ni!orn re#arked8 -Hand it
round first5 and !ut it afterwards8.

This sounded nonsense5 7ut $li!e ver( o7edientl( got up5 and !arried the dish round5
and the !ake divided itself into three pie!es as she did so8 -=O& !ut it up5. said the
Lion5 as she returned to her pla!e with the e#pt( dish8

- sa(5 this isn.t fair@. !ried the +ni!orn5 as $li!e sat with the knife in her hand5 ver(
#u!h puIIled how to 7egin8 -The /onster has given the Lion twi!e as #u!h as #e@.

-3he.s kept none for herself5 an(how5. said the Lion8 -)o (ou like plu#-!ake5
/onster4.

?ut 7efore $li!e !ould answer hi#5 the dru#s 7egan8

&here the noise !a#e fro#5 she !ouldn.t
#ake out: the air see#ed full of it5 and it
rang through and through her head till she
felt 9uite deafened8 3he started to her feet
and sprang a!ross the little 7rook in her
terror5

K K K K K K K

K K K K K K

K K K K K K K
and had >ust ti#e to see the Lion and the
+ni!orn rise to their feet5 with angr( looks
at 7eing interrupted in their feast5 7efore she
dropped to her knees5 and put her hands
over her ears5 vainl( tr(ing to shut out the
dreadful uproar8

-f TH$T doesn.t Gdru# the# out of town5G. she thought to herself5 .nothing ever will@.


Chapter ,: "t-s .y /wn "nvention
$fter a while the noise see#ed graduall( to die awa(5 till all was dead silen!e5 and
$li!e lifted up her head in so#e alar#8 There was no one to 7e seen5 and her first
thought was that she #ust have 7een drea#ing a7out the Lion and the +ni!orn and those
still l(ing at her feet5 on whi!h she had tried to !ut the plu#- !ake5 -3o wasn.t
drea#ing5 after all5. she said to herself5 -unless--unless we.re all part of the sa#e drea#8
Onl( do hope it.s /B drea#5 and not the Aed Cing.s@ don.t like 7elonging to another
person.s drea#5. she went on in a rather !o#plaining tone: -.ve a great #ind to go and
wake hi#5 and see what happens@.

$t this #o#ent her thoughts were interrupted 7( a loud shouting of -$ho(@ $ho(@
Che!k@. and a Cnight dressed in !ri#son ar#our !a#e galloping down upon her5
7randishing a great !lu78 Eust as he rea!hed her5 the horse stopped suddenl(: -Bou.re
#( prisoner@. the Cnight !ried5 as he tu#7led off his horse8

3tartled as she was5 $li!e was #ore frightened for hi# than for herself at the #o#ent5
and wat!hed hi# with so#e anDiet( as he #ounted again8 $s soon as he was
!o#forta7l( in the saddle5 he 7egan on!e #ore -Bou.re #(--. 7ut here another voi!e
7roke in -$ho(@ $ho(@ Che!k@. and $li!e looked round in so#e surprise for the new
ene#(8

This ti#e it was a &hite Cnight8 He drew up at $li!e.s side5 and tu#7led off his horse
>ust as the Aed Cnight had done: then he got on again5 and the two Cnights sat and
looked at ea!h other for so#e ti#e without speaking8 $li!e looked fro# one to the other
in so#e 7ewilder#ent8

-3he.s /B prisoner5 (ou know@. the Aed Cnight said at last8

-Bes5 7ut then !a#e and res!ued her@. the &hite Cnight replied8

-&ell5 we #ust fight for her5 then5. said the Aed Cnight5 as he took up his hel#et
:whi!h hung fro# the saddle5 and was so#ething the shape of a horse.s head;5 and put it
on8

-Bou will o7serve the Aules of ?attle5 of !ourse4. the &hite Cnight re#arked5 putting
on his hel#et too8

- alwa(s do5. said the Aed Cnight5 and the( 7egan 7anging awa( at ea!h other with
su!h fur( that $li!e got 7ehind a tree to 7e out of the wa( of the 7lows8

- wonder5 now5 what the
Aules of ?attle are5. she
said to herself5 as she
wat!hed the fight5 ti#idl(
peeping out fro# her
hiding-pla!e: -one Aule
see#s to 7e5 that if one
Cnight hits the other5 he
kno!ks hi# off his horse5
and if he #isses5 he
tu#7les off hi#self--and
another Aule see#s to 7e
that the( hold their !lu7s
with their ar#s5 as if the(
were Hun!h and Eud(--
&hat a noise the( #ake
when the( tu#7le@ Eust
like a whole set of fire-
irons falling into the
fender@ $nd how 9uiet the
horses are@ The( let the#
get on and off the# >ust as
if the( were ta7les@.

$nother Aule of ?attle5 that $li!e had not noti!ed5 see#ed to 7e that the( alwa(s fell
on their heads5 and the 7attle ended with their 7oth falling off in this wa(5 side 7( side:
when the( got up again5 the( shook hands5 and then the Aed Cnight #ounted and
galloped off8

-t was a glorious vi!tor(5 wasn.t it4. said the &hite Cnight5 as he !a#e up panting8

- don.t know5. $li!e said dou7tfull(8 - don.t want to 7e an(7od(.s prisoner8 want to
7e a 1ueen8.

-3o (ou will5 when (ou.ve !rossed the neDt 7rook5. said the &hite Cnight8 -.ll see (ou
safe to the end of the wood--and then #ust go 7a!k5 (ou know8 That.s the end of #(
#ove8.

-Thank (ou ver( #u!h5. said $li!e8 -/a( help (ou off with (our hel#et4. t was
evidentl( #ore than he !ould #anage 7( hi#self< however5 she #anaged to shake hi#
out of it at last8

-=ow one !an 7reathe #ore easil(5. said the Cnight5 putting 7a!k his shagg( hair with
7oth hands5 and turning his gentle fa!e and large #ild e(es to $li!e8 3he thought she
had never seen su!h a strange-looking soldier in all her life8

He was dressed in tin ar#our5 whi!h see#ed to fit hi# ver( 7adl(5 and he had a 9ueer-
shaped little deal 7oD fastened a!ross his shoulder5 upside-down5 and with the lid
hanging open8 $li!e looked at it with great !uriosit(8

- see (ou.re ad#iring #( little 7oD8. the Cnight said in a friendl( tone8 -t.s #( own
invention--to keep !lothes and sandwi!hes in8 Bou see !arr( it upside-down5 so that
the rain !an.t get in8.

-?ut the things !an get O+T5. $li!e gentl( re#arked8 -)o (ou know the lid.s open4.

- didn.t know it5. the Cnight said5 a shade of veDation passing over his fa!e8 -Then all
the things #u!h have fallen out@ $nd the 7oD is no use without the#8. He unfastened it
as he spoke5 and was >ust going to throw it into the 7ushes5 when a sudden thought
see#ed to strike hi#5 and he hung it !arefull( on a tree8 -Can (ou guess wh( did that4.
he said to $li!e8

$li!e shook her head8

-n hopes so#e 7ees #a( #ake a nest in it--then should get the hone(8.

-?ut (ou.ve got a 7ee-hive--or so#ething like one--fastened to the saddle5. said $li!e8

-Bes5 it.s a ver( good 7ee-hive5. the Cnight said in a dis!ontented tone5 -one of the 7est
kind8 ?ut not a single 7ee has !o#e near it (et8 $nd the other thing is a #ouse-trap8
suppose the #i!e keep the 7ees out--or the 7ees keep the #i!e out5 don.t know whi!h8.

- was wondering what the #ouse-trap was for5. said $li!e8 -t isn.t ver( likel( there
would 7e an( #i!e on the horse.s 7a!k8.

-=ot ver( likel(5 perhaps5. said the Cnight: -7ut if the( )O !o#e5 don.t !hoose to
have the# running all a7out8.

-Bou see5. he went on after a pause5 -it.s as well to 7e provided for 6F6ABTH=G8
That.s the reason the horse has all those anklets round his feet8.

-?ut what are the( for4. $li!e asked in a tone of great !uriosit(8

-To guard against the 7ites of sharks5. the Cnight replied8 -t.s an invention of #( own8
$nd now help #e on8 .ll go with (ou to the end of the wood--&hat.s the dish for4.

-t.s #eant for plu#-!ake5. said $li!e8

-&e.d 7etter take it with us5. the Cnight said8 -t.ll !o#e in hand( if we find an( plu#-
!ake8 Help #e to get it into this 7ag8.

This took a ver( long ti#e to #anage5 though $li!e held the 7ag open ver( !arefull(5
7e!ause the Cnight was so F6AB awkward in putting in the dish: the first two or three
ti#es that he tried he fell in hi#self instead8 -t.s rather a tight fit5 (ou see5. he said5 as
the( got it in a last< -There are so #an( !andlesti!ks in the 7ag8. $nd he hung it to the
saddle5 whi!h was alread( loaded with 7un!hes of !arrots5 and fire-irons5 and #an(
other things8

- hope (ou.ve got (our hair well fastened on4. he !ontinued5 as the( set off8

-Onl( in the usual wa(5. $li!e said5 s#iling8

-That.s hardl( enough5. he said5 anDiousl(8 -Bou see the wind is so F6AB strong here8
t.s as strong as soup8.

-Have (ou invented a plan for keeping the hair fro# 7eing 7lown off4. $li!e en9uired8

-=ot (et5. said the Cnight8 -?ut .ve got a plan for keeping it fro# F$LL=G off8.

- should like to hear it5 ver( #u!h8.

-First (ou take an upright sti!k5. said the Cnight8 -Then (ou #ake (our hair !reep up it5
like a fruit-tree8 =ow the reason hair falls off is 7e!ause it hangs )O&=--things never
fall +H&$A)35 (ou know8 t.s
a plan of #( own invention8
Bou #a( tr( it if (ou like8.

t didn.t sound a !o#forta7le
plan5 $li!e thought5 and for a few
#inutes she walked on in silen!e5
puIIling over the idea5 and ever(
now and then stopping to help the
poor Cnight5 who !ertainl( was
=OT a good rider8

&henever the horse stopped
:whi!h it did ver( often;5 he fell
off in front< and whenever it went
on again :whi!h it generall( did
rather suddenl(;5 he fell off
7ehind8 Otherwise he kept on
prett( well5 eD!ept that he had a
ha7it of now and then falling off
sidewa(s< and as he generall( did
this on the side on whi!h $li!e
was walking5 she soon found that
it was the 7est plan not to walk
1+T6 !lose to the horse8

-.# afraid (ou.ve not had #u!h pra!ti!e in riding5. she ventured to sa(5 as she was
helping hi# up fro# his fifth tu#7le8

The Cnight looked ver( #u!h surprised5 and a little offended at the re#ark8 -&hat
#akes (ou sa( that4. he asked5 as he s!ra#7led 7a!k into the saddle5 keeping hold of
$li!e.s hair with one hand5 to save hi#self fro# falling over on the other side8

-?e!ause people don.t fall off 9uite so often5 when the(.ve had #u!h pra!ti!e8.

-.ve had plent( of pra!ti!e5. the Cnight said ver( gravel(: -plent( of pra!ti!e@.

$li!e !ould think of nothing 7etter to sa( than -ndeed4. 7ut she said it as heartil( as
she !ould8 The( went on a little wa( in silen!e after this5 the Cnight with his e(es shut5
#uttering to hi#self5 and $li!e wat!hing anDiousl( for the neDt tu#7le8

-The great art of riding5. the Cnight suddenl( 7egan in a loud voi!e5 waving his right
ar# as he spoke5 -is to keep--. Here the senten!e ended as suddenl( as it had 7egun5 as
the Cnight fell heavil( on the top of his head eDa!tl( in the path where $li!e was
walking8 3he was 9uite frightened this ti#e5 and said in an anDious tone5 as she pi!ked
hi# up5 - hope no 7ones are 7roken4.

-=one to speak of5. the Cnight said5 as if he didn.t #ind 7reaking two or three of the#8
-The great art of riding5 as was sa(ing5 is--to keep (our 7alan!e properl(8 Like this5
(ou know--.

He let go the 7ridle5 and stret!hed out 7oth his ar#s to show $li!e what he #eant5 and
this ti#e he fell flat on his 7a!k5 right under the horse.s feet8

-Hlent( of pra!ti!e@. he went on repeating5 all the ti#e that $li!e was getting hi# on his
feet again8 -Hlent( of pra!ti!e@.

-t.s too ridi!ulous@. !ried $li!e5 losing all her patien!e this ti#e8 -Bou ought to have a
wooden horse on wheels5 that (ou ought@.

-)oes that kind go s#oothl(4. the Cnight asked in a tone of great interest5 !lasping his
ar#s round the horse.s ne!k as he spoke5 >ust in ti#e to save hi#self fro# tu#7ling off
again8

-/u!h #ore s#oothl( than a live horse5. $li!e said5 with a little s!rea# of laughter5 in
spite of all she !ould do to prevent it8

-.ll get one5. the Cnight said thoughtfull( to hi#self8 -One or two--several8.

There was a short silen!e after this5 and then the Cnight went on again8 -.# a great
hand at inventing things8 =ow5 daresa( (ou noti!ed5 that last ti#e (ou pi!ked #e up5
that was looking rather thoughtful4.

-Bou &6A6 a little grave5. said $li!e8

-&ell5 >ust then was inventing a new wa( of getting over a gate--would (ou like to
hear it4.

-Fer( #u!h indeed5. $li!e said politel(8

-.ll tell (ou how !a#e to think of it5. said the Cnight8 -Bou see5 said to #(self5 GThe
onl( diffi!ult( is with the feet: the H6$) is high enough alread(8G =ow5 first put #(
head on the top of the gate--then stand on #( head--then the feet are high enough5 (ou
see--then .# over5 (ou see8.

-Bes5 suppose (ou.d 7e over when that was done5. $li!e said thoughtfull(: -7ut don.t
(ou think it would 7e rather hard4.

- haven.t tried it (et5. the Cnight said5 gravel(: -so !an.t tell for !ertain--7ut .#
afraid it &O+L) 7e a little hard8.

He looked so veDed at the idea5 that $li!e !hanged the su7>e!t hastil(8 -&hat a !urious
hel#et (ou.ve got@. she said !heerfull(8 -s that (our invention too4.

The Cnight looked down proudl( at his hel#et5 whi!h hung fro# the saddle8 -Bes5. he
said5 -7ut .ve invented a 7etter one than that--like a sugar loaf8 &hen used to wear it5
if fell off the horse5 it alwa(s tou!hed the ground dire!tl(8 3o had a F6AB little wa(
to fall5 (ou see--?ut there &$3 the danger of falling =TO it5 to 7e sure8 That happened
to #e on!e--and the worst of it was5 7efore !ould get out again5 the other &hite Cnight
!a#e and put it on8 He thought it was his own hel#et8.

The knight looked so sole#n a7out it that $li!e did not dare to laugh8 -.# afraid (ou
#ust have hurt hi#5. she said in a tre#7ling voi!e5 -7eing on the top of his head8.

- had to ki!k hi#5 of !ourse5. the Cnight said5 ver( seriousl(8 -$nd then he took the
hel#et off again--7ut it took hours and hours to get #e out8 was as fast as--as
lightning5 (ou know8.

-?ut that.s a different kind of fastness5. $li!e o7>e!ted8

The Cnight shook his head8 -t was all kinds of fastness with #e5 !an assure (ou@. he
said8 He raised his hands in so#e eD!ite#ent as he said this5 and instantl( rolled out of
the saddle5 and fell headlong into a deep dit!h8

$li!e ran to the side of the
dit!h to look for hi#8 3he
was rather startled 7( the
fall5 as for so#e ti#e he
had kept on ver( well5 and
she was afraid that he reall(
&$3 hurt this ti#e8
However5 though she !ould
see nothing 7ut the soles of
his feet5 she was #u!h
relieved to hear that he was
talking on in his usual tone8
-$ll kinds of fastness5. he
repeated: -7ut it was
!areless of hi# to put
another #an.s hel#et on--
with the #an in it5 too8.
-How C$= (ou go on talking so 9uietl(5 head downwards4. $li!e asked5 as she
dragged hi# out 7( the feet5 and laid hi# in a heap on the 7ank8

The Cnight looked surprised at the 9uestion8 -&hat does it #atter where #( 7od(
happens to 7e4. he said8 -/( #ind goes on working all the sa#e8 n fa!t5 the #ore head
downwards a#5 the #ore keep inventing new things8.

-=ow the !leverest thing of the sort that ever did5. he went on after a pause5 -was
inventing a new pudding during the #eat- !ourse8.

-n ti#e to have it !ooked for the neDt !ourse4. said $li!e8 -&ell5 not the =6NT !ourse5.
the Cnight said in a slow thoughtful tone: -no5 !ertainl( not the neDt CO+A368.

-Then it would have to 7e the neDt da(8 suppose (ou wouldn.t have two pudding-
!ourses in one dinner4.

-&ell5 not the =6NT da(5. the Cnight repeated as 7efore: -not the neDt )$B8 n fa!t5.
he went on5 holding his head down5 and his voi!e getting lower and lower5 - don.t
7elieve that pudding ever &$3 !ooked@ n fa!t5 don.t 7elieve that pudding ever &LL
7e !ooked@ $nd (et it was a ver( !lever pudding to invent8.

-&hat did (ou #ean it to 7e #ade of4. $li!e asked5 hoping to !heer hi# up5 for the
poor Cnight see#ed 9uite low-spirited a7out it8

-t 7egan with 7lotting paper5. the Cnight answered with a groan8

-That wouldn.t 7e ver( ni!e5 .# afraid--.

-=ot ver( ni!e $LO=65. he interrupted5 9uite eagerl(: -7ut (ou.ve no idea what a
differen!e it #akes #iDing it with other things--su!h as gunpowder and sealing-waD8
$nd here #ust leave (ou8. The( had >ust !o#e to the end of the wood8

$li!e !ould onl( look puIIled: she was thinking of the pudding8

-Bou are sad5. the Cnight said in an anDious tone: -let #e sing (ou a song to !o#fort
(ou8.

-s it ver( long4. $li!e asked5 for she had heard a good deal of poetr( that da(8

-t.s long5. said the Cnight5 -7ut ver(5 F6AB 7eautiful8 6ver(7od( that hears #e sing
it--either it 7rings the T6$A3 into their e(es5 or else--.

-Or else what4. said $li!e5 for the Cnight had #ade a sudden pause8

-Or else it doesn.t5 (ou know8 The na#e of the song is !alled GH$))OCC3. 6B638G.

-Oh5 that.s the na#e of the song5 is it4. $li!e said5 tr(ing to feel interested8

-=o5 (ou don.t understand5. the Cnight said5 looking a little veDed8 -That.s what the
na#e is C$LL6)8 The na#e reall( 3 GTH6 $G6) $G6) /$=8G.

-Then ought to have said GThat.s what the 3O=G is !alledG4. $li!e !orre!ted herself8

-=o5 (ou oughtn.t: that.s 9uite another thing@ The 3O=G is !alled G&$B3 $=)
/6$=3G: 7ut that.s onl( what it.s C$LL6)5 (ou know@.

-&ell5 what 3 the song5 then4. said $li!e5 who was 7( this ti#e !o#pletel(
7ewildered8

- was !o#ing to that5. the Cnight said8 -The song reall( 3 G$-3TT=G O= $
G$T6G: and the tune.s #( own invention8.

3o sa(ing5 he stopped his horse and let the reins fall on its ne!k: then5 slowl( 7eating
ti#e with one hand5 and with a faint s#ile lighting up his gentle foolish fa!e5 as if he
en>o(ed the #usi! of his song5 he 7egan8

Of all the strange things that $li!e saw in her >ourne( Through The Looking-Glass5 this
was the one that she alwa(s re#e#7ered #ost !learl(8 Bears afterwards she !ould 7ring
the whole s!ene 7a!k again5 as if it had 7een onl( (esterda(--the #ild 7lue e(es and
kindl( s#ile of the Cnight--the setting sun glea#ing through his hair5 and shining on his
ar#our in a 7laIe of light that 9uite daIIled her--the horse 9uietl( #oving a7out5 with
the reins hanging loose on his ne!k5 !ropping the grass at her feet--and the 7la!k
shadows of the forest 7ehind--all this she took in like a pi!ture5 as5 with one hand
shading her e(es5 she leant against a tree5 wat!hing the strange pair5 and listening5 in a
half drea#5 to the #elan!hol( #usi! of the song8

-?ut the tune 3=.T his own invention5. she said to herself: -it.s G GF6 TH66 $LL5
C$= =O /OA68G. 3he stood and listened ver( attentivel(5 7ut no tears !a#e into her
e(es8

-.ll tell thee ever(thing !an<
There.s little to relate8
saw an aged aged #an5
$-sitting on a gate8
G&ho are (ou5 aged #an4G said5
Gand how is it (ou live4G
$nd his answer tri!kled through #( head
Like water through a sieve8

He said G look for 7utterflies
That sleep a#ong the wheat:
#ake the# into #utton-pies5
$nd sell the# in the street8
sell the# unto #en5G he said5
G&ho sail on stor#( seas<
$nd that.s the wa( get #( 7read--
$ trifle5 if (ou please8G

?ut was thinking of a plan
To d(e one.s whiskers green5
$nd alwa(s use so large a fan
That the( !ould not 7e seen8
3o5 having no repl( to give
To what the old #an said5
!ried5 GCo#e5 tell #e how (ou live@G
$nd thu#ped hi# on the head8

His a!!ents #ild took up the tale:
He said G go #( wa(s5
$nd when find a #ountain-rill5
set it in a 7laIe<
$nd then!e the( #ake a stuff the( !all
Aolands. /a!assar Oil--
Bet twopen!e-halfpenn( is all
The( give #e for #( toil8G

?ut was thinking of a wa(
To feed oneself on 7atter5
$nd so go on fro# da( to da(
Getting a little fatter8
shook hi# well fro# side to side5
+ntil his fa!e was 7lue:
GCo#e5 tell #e how (ou live5G !ried5
G$nd what it is (ou do@G

He said G hunt for haddo!ks. e(es
$#ong the heather 7right5
$nd work the# into waist!oat-7uttons
n the silent night8
$nd these do not sell for gold
Or !oin of silver( shine
?ut for a !opper halfpenn(5
$nd that will pur!hase nine8

G so#eti#es dig for 7uttered rolls5
Or set li#ed twigs for !ra7s<
so#eti#es sear!h the grass( knolls
For wheels of Hanso#-!a7s8
$nd that.s the wa(G :he gave a wink;
G?( whi!h get #( wealth--
$nd ver( gladl( will drink
Bour Honour.s no7le health8G

heard hi# then5 for had >ust
Co#pleted #( design
To keep the /enai 7ridge fro# rust
?( 7oiling it in wine8
thanked #u!h for telling #e
The wa( he got his wealth5
?ut !hiefl( for his wish that he
/ight drink #( no7le health8

$nd now5 if e.er 7( !han!e put
/( fingers into glue
Or #adl( s9ueeIe a right-hand foot
nto a left-hand shoe5
Or if drop upon #( toe
$ ver( heav( weight5
weep5 for it re#inds #e so5
Of that old #an used to know--


&hose look was #ild5 whose spee!h was
slow5
&hose hair was whiter than the snow5
&hose fa!e was ver( like a !row5
&ith e(es5 like !inders5 all aglow5
&ho see#ed distra!ted with his woe5
&ho ro!ked his 7od( to and fro5
$nd #uttered #u#7lingl( and low5
$s if his #outh were full of dough5
&ho snorted like a 7uffaloO
That su##er evening5 long ago5
$-sitting on a gate8.
$s the Cnight sang the last words of the 7allad5 he gathered up the reins5 and turned his
horse.s head along the road 7( whi!h the( had !o#e8 -Bou.ve onl( a few (ards to go5.
he said5. down the hill and over that little 7rook5 and then (ou.ll 7e a 1ueen-- ?ut (ou.ll
sta( and see #e off first4. he added as $li!e turned with an eager look in the dire!tion to
whi!h he pointed8 - shan.t 7e long8 Bou.ll wait and wave (our handker!hief when get
to that turn in the road4 think it.ll en!ourage #e5 (ou see8.

-Of !ourse .ll wait5. said $li!e: -and thank (ou ver( #u!h for !o#ing so far--and for
the song-- liked it ver( #u!h8.

- hope so5. the Cnight said dou7tfull(: -7ut (ou didn.t !r( so #u!h as thought (ou
would8.

3o the( shook hands5 and then the Cnight rode slowl( awa( into the forest8 -t won.t
take long to see hi# OFF5 eDpe!t5. $li!e said to herself5 as she stood wat!hing hi#8
-There he goes@ Aight on his head as usual@ However5 he gets on again prett( easil(--
that !o#es of having so #an( things hung round the horse--. 3o she went on talking to
herself5 as she wat!hed the horse walking leisurel( along the road5 and the Cnight
tu#7ling off5 first on one side and then on the other8 $fter the fourth or fifth tu#7le he
rea!hed the turn5 and then she waved her handker!hief to hi#5 and waited till he was out
of sight8

- hope it en!ouraged hi#5. she said5 as she turned to run down the hill: -and now for
the last 7rook5 and to 7e a 1ueen@ How grand it sounds@. $ ver( few steps 7rought her
to the edge of the 7rook8 -The 6ighth 39uare at last@. she !ried as she 7ounded a!ross5

K K K K K K K

K K K K K K

K K K K K K K

and threw herself down to rest on a lawn as soft as
#oss5 with little flower-7eds dotted a7out it here
and there8 -Oh5 how glad a# to get here@ $nd
what 3 this on #( head4. she eD!lai#ed in a tone
of dis#a(5 as she put her hands up to so#ething
ver( heav(5 and fitted tight all round her head8

-?ut how C$= it have got there without #(
knowing it4. she said to herself5 as she lifted it off5
and set it on her lap to #ake out what it !ould
possi7l( 7e8

t was a golden !rown8
Chapter 0: 1ueen 2li#e

-&ell5 this 3 grand@. said $li!e8 - never
eDpe!ted should 7e a 1ueen so soon--and .ll
tell (ou what it is5 (our #a>est(5. she went on in
a severe tone :she was alwa(s rather fond of
s!olding herself;5 -it.ll never do for (ou to 7e
lolling a7out on the grass like that@ 1ueens
have to 7e dignified5 (ou know@.

3o she got up and walked a7out--rather stiffl(
>ust at first5 as she was afraid that the !rown
#ight !o#e off: 7ut she !o#forted herself with
the thought that there was no7od( to see her5
-and if reall( a# a 1ueen5. she said as she sat
down again5 - shall 7e a7le to #anage it 9uite
well in ti#e8.

6ver(thing was happening so oddl( that she didn.t feel a 7it surprised at finding the
Aed 1ueen and the &hite 1ueen sitting !lose to her5 one on ea!h side: she would have
liked ver( #u!h to ask the# how the( !a#e there5 7ut she feared it would not 7e 9uite
!ivil8 However5 there would 7e no har#5 she thought5 in asking if the ga#e was over8
-Hlease5 would (ou tell #e--. she 7egan5 looking ti#idl( at the Aed 1ueen8

-3peak when (ou.re spoken to@. The 1ueen sharpl( interrupted her8

-?ut if ever(7od( o7e(ed that rule5. said $li!e5 who was alwa(s read( for a little
argu#ent5 -and if (ou onl( spoke when (ou were spoken to5 and the other person alwa(s
waited for BO+ to 7egin5 (ou see no7od( would ever sa( an(thing5 so that--.

-Aidi!ulous@. !ried the 1ueen8 -&h(5 don.t (ou see5 !hild--. here she 7roke off with a
frown5 and5 after thinking for a #inute5 suddenl( !hanged the su7>e!t of the
!onversation8 -&hat do (ou #ean 7( Gf (ou reall( are a 1ueenG4 &hat right have (ou
to !all (ourself so4 Bou !an.t 7e a 1ueen5 (ou know5 till (ou.ve passed the proper
eDa#ination8 $nd the sooner we 7egin it5 the 7etter8.

- onl( said GifG@. poor $li!e pleaded in a piteous tone8

The two 1ueens looked at ea!h other5 and the Aed 1ueen re#arked5 with a little
shudder5 -3he 3$B3 she onl( said GifG--.

-?ut she said a great deal #ore than that@. the &hite 1ueen #oaned5 wringing her
hands8 -Oh5 ever so #u!h #ore than that@.

-3o (ou did5 (ou know5. the Aed 1ueen said to $li!e8 -$lwa(s speak the truth--think
7efore (ou speak--and write it down afterwards8.

-.# sure didn.t #ean--. $li!e was 7eginning5 7ut the Aed 1ueen interrupted her
i#patientl(8

-That.s >ust what !o#plain of@ Bou 3HO+L) have #eant@ &hat do (ou suppose is
the use of !hild without an( #eaning4 6ven a >oke should have so#e #eaning--and a
!hild.s #ore i#portant than a >oke5 hope8 Bou !ouldn.t den( that5 even if (ou tried with
7oth hands8.

- don.t den( things with #( H$=)35. $li!e o7>e!ted8

-=o7od( said (ou did5. said the Aed 1ueen8 - said (ou !ouldn.t if (ou tried8.

-3he.s in that state of #ind5. said the &hite 1ueen5 -that she wants to den(
3O/6TH=G--onl( she doesn.t know what to den(@.

-$ nast(5 vi!ious te#per5. the Aed 1ueen re#arked< and then there was an
un!o#forta7le silen!e for a #inute or two8

The Aed 1ueen 7roke the silen!e 7( sa(ing to the &hite 1ueen5 - invite (ou to $li!e.s
dinner-part( this afternoon8.

The &hite 1ueen s#iled fee7l(5 and said -$nd invite BO+8.

- didn.t know was to have a part( at all5. said $li!e< -7ut if there is to 7e one5 think
JJ ought to invite the guests8.

-&e gave (ou the opportunit( of doing it5. the Aed 1ueen re#arked: -7ut daresa(
(ou.ve not had #an( lessons in #anners (et4.

-/anners are not taught in lessons5. said $li!e8 -Lessons tea!h (ou to do su#s5 and
things of that sort8.

-$nd (ou do $ddition4. the &hite 1ueen asked8 -&hat.s one and one and one and one
and one and one and one and one and one and one4.

- don.t know5. said $li!e8 - lost !ount8.

-3he !an.t do $ddition5. the Aed 1ueen interrupted8 -Can (ou do 3u7tra!tion4 Take
nine fro# eight8.

-=ine fro# eight !an.t5 (ou know5. $li!e replied ver( readil(: -7ut--.

-3he !an.t do
3u7tra!tion5. said the
&hite 1ueen8 -Can (ou
do )ivision4 )ivide a
loaf 7( a knife--what.s the
answer to that4.

- suppose--. $li!e was
7eginning5 7ut the Aed
1ueen answered for her8
-?read-and-7utter5 of
!ourse8 Tr( another
3u7tra!tion su#8 Take a
7one fro# a dog: what
re#ains4.

$li!e !onsidered8 -The
7one wouldn.t re#ain5 of
!ourse5 if took it--and the
dog wouldn.t re#ain< it
would !o#e to 7ite #e
--and .# sure shouldn.t
re#ain@.

-Then (ou think nothing
would re#ain4. said the Aed
1ueen8

- think that.s the answer8.
-&rong5 as usual5. said the Aed 1ueen: -the dog.s te#per would re#ain8.

-?ut don.t see how--.

-&h(5 look here@. the Aed 1ueen !ried8 -The dog would lose its te#per5 wouldn.t it4.

-Herhaps it would5. $li!e replied !autiousl(8

-Then if the dog went awa(5 its te#per would re#ain@. the 1ueen eD!lai#ed
triu#phantl(8

$li!e said5 as gravel( as she !ould5 -The( #ight go different wa(s8. ?ut she !ouldn.t
help thinking to herself5 -&hat dreadful nonsense we $A6 talking@.

-3he !an.t do su#s a ?T@. the 1ueens said together5 with great e#phasis8

-Can BO+ do su#s4. $li!e said5 turning suddenl( on the &hite 1ueen5 for she didn.t
like 7eing found fault with so #u!h8

The 1ueen gasped and shut her e(es8 - !an do $ddition5. -if (ou give #e ti#e--7ut
!an do 3u7tra!tion5 under $=B !ir!u#stan!es@.

-Of !ourse (ou know (our $ ? C4. said the Aed 1ueen8

-To 7e sure do8. said $li!e8

-3o do 5. the &hite 1ueen whispered: -we.ll often sa( it over together5 dear8 $nd .ll
tell (ou a se!ret-- !an read words of one letter@ sn.t TH$T grand@ However5 don.t 7e
dis!ouraged8 Bou.ll !o#e to it in ti#e8.

Here the Aed 1ueen 7egan again8 -Can (ou answer useful 9uestions4. she said8 -How
is 7read #ade4.

- know TH$T@. $li!e !ried eagerl(8 -Bou take so#e flour--.

-&here do (ou pi!k the flower4. the &hite 1ueen asked8 -n a garden5 or in the
hedges4.

-&ell5 it isn.t HCC6) at all5. $li!e eDplained: -it.s GAO+=) --.

-How #an( a!res of ground4. said the &hite 1ueen8 -Bou #ustn.t leave out so #an(
things8.

-Fan her head@. the Aed 1ueen anDiousl( interrupted8 -3he.ll 7e feverish after so #u!h
thinking8. 3o the( set to work and fanned her with 7un!hes of leaves5 till she had to 7eg
the# to leave off5 it 7lew her hair a7out so8

-3he.s all right again now5. said the Aed 1ueen8 -)o (ou know Languages4 &hat.s the
Fren!h for fiddle-de-dee4.

-Fiddle-de-dee.s not 6nglish5. $li!e replied gravel(8

-&ho ever said it was4. said the Aed 1ueen8

$li!e thought she saw a wa( out of the diffi!ult( this ti#e8 -f (ou.ll tell #e what
language Gfiddle-de-deeG is5 .ll tell (ou the Fren!h for it@. she eD!lai#ed triu#phantl(8

?ut the Aed 1ueen drew herself up rather stiffl(5 and said -1ueens never #ake
7argains8.

- wish 1ueens never asked 9uestions5. $li!e thought to herself8

-)on.t let us 9uarrel5. the &hite 1ueen said in an anDious tone8 -&hat is the !ause of
lightning4.

-The !ause of lightning5. $li!e said ver( de!idedl(5 for she felt 9uite !ertain a7out this5
-is the thunder--no5 no@. she hastil( !orre!ted herself8 - #eant the other wa(8.

-t.s too late to !orre!t it5. said the Aed 1ueen: -when (ou.ve on!e said a thing5 that
fiDes it5 and (ou #ust take the !onse9uen!es8.

-&hi!h re#inds #e--. the &hite 1ueen said5 looking down and nervousl( !lasping and
un!lasping her hands5 -we had 3+CH a thunderstor# last Tuesda(-- #ean one of the
last set of Tuesda(s5 (ou know8.

$li!e was puIIled8 -n O+A !ountr(5. she re#arked5 -there.s onl( one da( at a ti#e8.

The Aed 1ueen said5 -That.s a poor thin wa( of doing things8 =ow H6A65 we #ostl(
have da(s and nights two or three at a ti#e5 and so#eti#es in the winter we take as
#an( as five nights together--for war#th5 (ou know8.

-$re five nights war#er than one night5 then4. $li!e ventured to ask8

-Five ti#es as war#5 of !ourse8.

-?ut the( should 7e five ti#es as COL)5 7( the sa#e rule--.

-Eust so@. !ried the Aed 1ueen8 -Five ti#es as war#5 $=) five ti#es as !old-->ust as
.# five ti#es as ri!h as (ou are5 $=) five ti#es as !lever@.

$li!e sighed and gave it up8 -t.s eDa!tl( like a riddle with no answer@. she thought8

-Hu#pt( )u#pt( saw it too5. the &hite 1ueen went on in a low voi!e5 #ore as if she
were talking to herself8 -He !a#e to the door with a !orks!rew in his hand--.

-&hat did he want4. said the Aed 1ueen8

-He said he &O+L) !o#e in5. the &hite 1ueen went on5 -7e!ause he was looking for
a hippopota#us8 =ow5 as it happened5 there wasn.t su!h a thing in the house5 that
#orning8.

-s there generall(4. $li!e asked in an astonished tone8

-&ell5 onl( on Thursda(s5. said the 1ueen8

- know what he !a#e for5. said $li!e: -he wanted to punish the fish5 7e!ause--.

Here the &hite 1ueen 7egan again8 -t was 3+CH a thunderstor#5 (ou !an.t think@.
:3he =6F6A !ould5 (ou know5. said the Aed 1ueen8; -$nd part of the roof !a#e off5
and ever so #u!h thunder got in--and it went rolling round the roo# in great lu#ps--
and kno!king over the ta7les and things--till was so frightened5 !ouldn.t re#e#7er
#( own na#e@.

$li!e thought to herself5 - never should TAB to re#e#7er #( na#e in the #iddle of
an a!!ident@ &here would 7e the use of it4. 7ut she did not sa( this aloud5 for fear of
hurting the poor 1ueen.s feeling8

-Bour /a>est( #ust eD!use her5. the Aed 1ueen said to $li!e5 taking one of the &hite
1ueen.s hands in her own5 and gentl( stroking it: -she #eans well5 7ut she !an.t help
sa(ing foolish things5 as a general rule8.

The &hite 1ueen looked ti#idl( at $li!e5 who felt she O+GHT to sa( so#ething kind5
7ut reall( !ouldn.t think of an(thing at the #o#ent8

-3he never was reall( well 7rought up5. the Aed 1ueen went on: -7ut it.s a#aIing how
good-te#pered she is@ Hat her on the head5 and see how pleased she.ll 7e@. ?ut this was
#ore than $li!e had !ourage to do8

-$ little kindness--and putting her hair in papers--would do wonders with her--.

The &hite 1ueen gave a deep sigh5 and laid her head on $li!e.s shoulder8 - $/ so
sleep(4. she #oaned8

-3he.s tired5 poor thing@. said the Aed 1ueen8 -3#ooth her hair--lend her (our
night!ap--and sing her a soothing lulla7(8.

- haven.t got a night!ap with #e5. said $li!e5 as she tried to o7e( the first dire!tion:
-and don.t know an( soothing lulla7ies8.

- #ust do it #(self5 then5. said the Aed 1ueen5 and she 7egan:

-Hush-a-7( lad(5 in $li!e.s lap@
Till the feast.s read(5 we.ve ti#e for a nap:
&hen the feast.s over5 we.ll go to the 7all--
Aed 1ueen5 and &hite 1ueen5 and $li!e5 and all@

-$nd now (ou know the words5. she added5 as she put her head down on $li!e.s other
shoulder5 ->ust sing it through to /68 .# getting sleep(5 too8. n another #o#ent 7oth
1ueens were fast asleep5 and snoring loud8

-&hat $/ to do4. eD!lai#ed
$li!e5 looking a7out in great
perpleDit(5 as first one round
head5 and then the other5 rolled
down fro# her shoulder5 and la(
like a heav( lu#p in her lap8 -
don.t think it 6F6A happened
7efore5 that an( one had to take
!are of two 1ueens asleep at
on!e@ =o5 not in all the Histor(
of 6ngland--it !ouldn.t5 (ou
know5 7e!ause there never was
#ore than one 1ueen at a ti#e8
-)o wake up5 (ou heav( things@.
she went on in an i#patient tone<
7ut there was no answer 7ut a
gentle snoring8

The snoring got #ore distin!t ever( #inute5 and sounded #ore like a tune: at last she
!ould even #ake out the words5 and she listened so eagerl( that5 when the two great
heads vanished fro# her lap5 she hardl( #issed the#8

3he was standing 7efore an ar!hed doorwa( over whi!h were the words 1+66=
$LC6 in large letters5 and on ea!h side of the ar!h there was a 7ell-handle< one was
#arked -Fisitors. ?ell5. and the other -3ervants. ?ell8.

-.ll wait till the song.s over5. thought $li!e5 -and then .ll ring--the--&HCH 7ell #ust
ring4. she went on5 ver( #u!h puIIled 7( the na#es8 -.# not a visitor5 and .# not a
servant8 There O+GHT to 7e one #arked G1ueen5G (ou know--.

Eust then the door opened a little wa(5 and a !reature with a long 7eak put its head out
for a #o#ent and said -=o ad#ittan!e till the week after neDt@. and shut the door again
with a 7ang8

$li!e kno!ked and rang in vain for a long ti#e5 7ut at last5 a ver( old Frog5 who was
sitting under a tree5 got up and ho77led slowl( towards her: he was dressed in 7right
(ellow5 and had enor#ous 7oots on8

-&hat is it5 now4. the Frog said in a deep hoarse whisper8

$li!e turned round5 read( to find fault with an(7od(8 -&here.s the servant whose
7usiness it is to answer the door4. she 7egan angril(8

-&hi!h door4. said the Frog8

$li!e al#ost sta#ped with
irritation at the slow drawl in
whi!h he spoke8 -TH3 door5 of
!ourse@.

The Frog looked at the door with
his large dull e(es for a #inute:
then he went nearer and ru77ed it
with his thu#75 as if he were
tr(ing whether the paint would
!o#e off< then he looked at $li!e8

-To answer the door4. he said8
-&hat.s it 7een asking of4. He was
so hoarse that $li!e !ould s!ar!el(
hear hi#8

- don.t know what (ou #ean5.
she said8

- talks 6nglish5 doesn.t 4. the
Frog went on8 -Or are (ou deaf4
&hat did it ask (ou4.

-=othing@. $li!e said i#patientl(8
-.ve 7een kno!king at it@.

-3houldn.t do that--shouldn.t do that--. the Frog #uttered8 -FeDes it5 (ou know8. Then
he went up and gave the door a ki!k with one of his great feet8 -Bou let T alone5. he
panted out5 as he ho77led 7a!k to his tree5 -and it.ll let BO+ alone5 (ou know8.

$t this #o#ent the door was flung open5 and a shrill voi!e was heard singing:

-To the Looking-Glass world it was $li!e that said5
G.ve a s!eptre in hand5 .ve a !rown on #( head<
Let the Looking-Glass !reatures5 whatever the( 7e5
Co#e and dine with the Aed 1ueen5 the &hite 1ueen5 and #e8G.

$nd hundreds of voi!es >oined in the !horus:

-Then fill up the glasses as 9ui!k as (ou !an5
$nd sprinkle the ta7le with 7uttons and 7ran:
Hut !ats in the !offee5 and #i!e in the tea--
$nd wel!o#e 1ueen $li!e with thirt(-ti#es-three@.

Then followed a !onfused noise of !heering5 and $li!e thought to herself5 -Thirt(
ti#es three #akes ninet(8 wonder if an( one.s !ounting4. n a #inute there was silen!e
again5 and the sa#e shrill voi!e sang another verse<

-GO Looking-Glass !reatures5G 9uothe $li!e5 Gdraw near@
.Tis an honour to see #e5 a favour to hear:
.Tis a privilege high to have dinner and tea
$long with the Aed 1ueen5 the &hite 1ueen5 and #e@G.

Then !a#e the !horus again: --

-Then fill up the glasses with trea!le and ink5
Or an(thing else that is pleasant to drink:
/iD sand with the !ider5 and wool with the wine--
$nd wel!o#e 1ueen $li!e with ninet(-ti#es-nine@.

-=inet( ti#es nine@. $li!e repeated in despair5 -Oh5 that.ll never 7e done@ .d 7etter go
in at on!e--. and there was a dead silen!e the #o#ent she appeared8

$li!e glan!ed nervousl( along the ta7le5 as she walked up the large hall5 and noti!ed
that there were a7out fift( guests5 of all kinds: so#e were ani#als5 so#e 7irds5 and
there were even a few flowers a#ong the#8 -.# glad the(.ve !o#e without waiting to
7e asked5. she thought: - should never have known who were the right people to invite@.

There were three !hairs at the head of the ta7le< the Aed and &hite 1ueens had alread(
taken two of the#5 7ut the #iddle one was e#pt(8 $li!e sat down in it5 rather
un!o#forta7le in the silen!e5 and longing for so#e one to speak8

$t last the Aed 1ueen 7egan8 -Bou.ve #issed the soup and fish5. she said8 -Hut on the
>oint@. $nd the waiters set a leg of #utton 7efore $li!e5 who looked at it rather
anDiousl(5 as she had never had to !arve a >oint 7efore8

-Bou look a little sh(< let #e introdu!e (ou to
that leg of #utton5. said the Aed 1ueen8
-$li!e--/utton< /utton--$li!e8. The leg of
#utton got up in the dish and #ade a little 7ow
to $li!e< and $li!e returned the 7ow5 not
knowing whether to 7e frightened or a#used8

-/a( give (ou a sli!e4. she said5 taking up
the knife and fork5 and looking fro# one 1ueen
to the other8

-Certainl( not5. the Aed 1ueen said5 ver(
de!idedl(: -it isn.t eti9uette to !ut an( one
(ou.ve 7een introdu!ed to8 Ae#ove the >oint@.
$nd the waiters !arried it off5 and 7rought a
large plu#-pudding in its pla!e8

- won.t 7e introdu!ed to the pudding5 please5. $li!e said rather hastil(5 -or we shall get
no dinner at all8 /a( give (ou so#e4.

?ut the Aed 1ueen looked sulk(5 and growled -Hudding--$li!e< $li!e--Hudding8
Ae#ove the pudding@. and the waiters took it awa( so 9ui!kl( that $li!e !ouldn.t return
its 7ow8

However5 she didn.t see wh( the Aed 1ueen should 7e the onl( one to give orders5 so5
as an eDperi#ent5 she !alled out -&aiter@ ?ring 7a!k the pudding@. and there it was again
in a #o#ent like a !on>uring-tri!k8 t was so large that she !ouldn.t help feeling a
LTTL6 sh( with it5 as she had 7een with the #utton< however5 she !on9uered her
sh(ness 7( a great effort and !ut a sli!e and handed it to the Aed 1ueen8

-&hat i#pertinen!e@. said the Hudding8 - wonder how (ou.d like it5 if were to !ut a
sli!e out of BO+5 (ou !reature@.

t spoke in a thi!k5 suet( sort of voi!e5 and $li!e hadn.t a word to sa( in repl(: she
!ould onl( sit and look at it and gasp8

-/ake a re#ark5. said the Aed 1ueen: -it.s ridi!ulous to leave all the !onversation to
the pudding@.

-)o (ou know5 .ve had su!h a 9uantit( of poetr( repeated to #e to-da(5. $li!e 7egan5 a
little frightened at finding that5 the #o#ent she opened her lips5 there was dead silen!e5
and all e(es were fiDed upon her< -and it.s a ver( !urious thing5 think-- ever( poe# was
a7out fishes in so#e wa(8 )o (ou know wh( the(.re so fond of fishes5 all a7out here4.

3he spoke to the Aed 1ueen5 whose answer was a little wide of the #ark8 -$s to
fishes5. she said5 ver( slowl( and sole#nl(5 putting her #outh !lose to $li!e.s ear5 -her
&hite /a>est( knows a lovel( riddle--all in poetr(--all a7out fishes8 3hall she repeat it4.

-Her Aed /a>est(.s ver( kind to #ention it5. the &hite 1ueen #ur#ured into $li!e.s
other ear5 in a voi!e like the !ooing of a pigeon8 -t would 7e 3+CH a treat@ /a( 4.

-Hlease do5. $li!e said ver( politel(8

The &hite 1ueen laughed with delight5 and stroked $li!e.s !heek8 Then she 7egan:

-GFirst5 the fish #ust 7e !aught8G
That is eas(: a 7a7(5 think5 !ould have !aught it8
G=eDt5 the fish #ust 7e 7ought8G
That is eas(: a penn(5 think5 would have 7ought it8

G=ow !ook #e the fish@G
That is eas(5 and will not take #ore than a #inute8
GLet it lie in a dish@G
That is eas(5 7e!ause it alread( is in it8

G?ring it here@ Let #e sup@G
t is eas( to set su!h a dish on the ta7le8
GTake the dish-!over up@G
$h5 TH$T is so hard that fear .# una7le@

For it holds it like glue--
Holds the lid to the dish5 while it lies in the #iddle:
&hi!h is easiest to do5
+n-dish-!over the fish5 or dish!over the riddle4.

-Take a #inute to think a7out it5 and then guess5. said the Aed 1ueen8 -/eanwhile5
we.ll drink (our health--1ueen $li!e.s health@. she s!rea#ed at the top of her voi!e5 and
all the guests 7egan drinking it dire!tl(5 and ver( 9ueerl( the( #anaged it: so#e of the#
put their glasses upon their heads like eDtinguishers5 and drank all that tri!kled down
their fa!es--others upset the de!anters5 and drank the wine as it ran off the edges of the
ta7le--and three of the# :who looked like kangaroos; s!ra#7led into the dish of roast
#utton5 and 7egan eagerl( lapping up the grav(5 ->ust like pigs in a trough@. thought
$li!e8

-Bou ought to return thanks in a neat spee!h5. the Aed 1ueen said5 frowning at $li!e as
she spoke8

-&e #ust support (ou5 (ou know5. the &hite 1ueen whispered5 as $li!e got up to do it5
ver( o7edientl(5 7ut a little frightened8

-Thank (ou ver( #u!h5. she whispered in repl(5 -7ut !an do 9uite well without8.

-That wouldn.t 7e at all the thing5. the Aed 1ueen said ver( de!idedl(: so $li!e tried to
su7#it to it with a good gra!e8

:-$nd the( )) push so@. she said afterwards5 when she was telling her sister the
histor( of the feast8 -Bou would have thought the( wanted to s9ueeIe #e flat@.;

n fa!t it was rather diffi!ult for her to keep in her pla!e while she #ade her spee!h:
the two 1ueens pushed her so5 one on ea!h side5 that the( nearl( lifted her up into the
air: - rise to return thanks--. $li!e 7egan: and she reall( )) rise as she spoke5 several
in!hes< 7ut she got hold of the edge of the ta7le5 and #anaged to pull herself down
again8

-Take !are of (ourself@. s!rea#ed the &hite 1ueen5 seiIing $li!e.s hair with 7oth her
hands8 -3o#ething.s going to happen@.

$nd then :as $li!e afterwards des!ri7ed it; all sorts of thing happened in a #o#ent8
The !andles all grew up to the !eiling5 looking so#ething like a 7ed of rushes with
fireworks at the top8 $s to the 7ottles5 the( ea!h took a pair of plates5 whi!h the( hastil(
fitted on as wings5 and so5 with forks for legs5 went fluttering a7out in all dire!tions:
-and ver( like 7irds the( look5. $li!e thought to herself5 as well as she !ould in the
dreadful !onfusion that was 7eginning8

$t this #o#ent she heard a hoarse laugh at her side5 and turned to see what was the
#atter with the &hite 1ueen< 7ut5 instead of the 1ueen5 there was the leg of #utton
sitting in the !hair8 -Here a#@. !ried a voi!e fro# the soup tureen5 and $li!e turned
again5 >ust in ti#e to see the 1ueen.s 7road good-natured fa!e grinning at her for a
#o#ent over the edge of the tureen5 7efore she disappeared into the soup8

There was not a #o#ent to 7e lost8 $lread( several of the guests were l(ing down in
the dishes5 and the soup ladle was walking up the ta7le towards $li!e.s !hair5 and
7e!koning to her i#patientl( to get out of its wa(8

- !an.t stand this an(
longer@. she !ried as
she >u#ped up and
seiIed the ta7le-!loth
with 7oth hands: one
good pull5 and plates5
dishes5 guests5 and
!andles !a#e !rashing
down together in a
heap on the floor8

-$nd as for BO+5.
she went on5 turning
fier!el( upon the Aed
1ueen5 who# she
!onsidered as the
!ause of all the
#is!hief--7ut the
1ueen was no longer
at her side--she had
suddenl( dwindled
down to the siIe of a
little doll5 and was
now on the ta7le5
#erril( running round
and round after her
own shawl5 whi!h was
trailing 7ehind her8

$t an( other ti#e5 $li!e would have felt surprised at this5 7ut she was far too #u!h
eD!ited to 7e surprised at an(thing =O&8 -$s for BO+5. she repeated5 !at!hing hold of
the little !reature in the ver( a!t of >u#ping over a 7ottle whi!h had >ust lighted upon the
ta7le5 -.ll shake (ou into a kitten5 that will@.

Chapter 13: 4haking

3he took her off the ta7le as she spoke5 and
shook her 7a!kwards and forwards with all her
#ight8 The Aed 1ueen #ade no resistan!e
whatever< onl( her fa!e grew ver( s#all5 and her
e(es got large and green: and still5 as $li!e went
on shaking her5 she kept on growing shorter--and
fatter--and softer--and rounder--and--
Chapter 11: 'aking

--and it reall( &$3 a kitten after all8
Chapter 12: 'hi#h )rea%ed "t5
-Bour #a>est( shouldn.t purr so loud5. $li!e said5 ru77ing her e(es5 and addressing the
kitten5 respe!tfull(5 (et with so#e severit(8 -Bou woke #e out of oh@ su!h a ni!e drea#@
$nd (ou.ve 7een along with #e5 Citt(--all through the Looking-Glass world8 )id (ou
know it5 dear4.

t is a ver( in!onvenient ha7it of kittens :$li!e had on!e #ade the re#ark; that5
whatever (ou sa( to the#5 the( $L&$B3 purr8 -f the# would onl( purr for G(esG and
#ew for Gno5G or an( rule of that sort5. she had said5 -so that one !ould keep up a
!onversation@ ?ut how C$= (ou talk with a person if the( alwa(s sa( the sa#e thing4.

On this o!!asion the kitten onl( purred: and it was i#possi7le to guess whether it
#eant -(es. or -no8.

3o $li!e hunted a#ong the !hess#en
on the ta7le till she had found the Aed
1ueen: then she went down on her
knees on the hearth-rug5 and put the
kitten and the 1ueen to look at ea!h
other8 -=ow5 Citt(@. she !ried5 !lapping
her hands triu#phantl(8 -Confess that
was what (ou turned into@.

:-?ut it wouldn.t look at it5. she said5
when she was eDplaining the thing
afterwards to her sister: -it turned awa(
its head5 and pretended not to see it: 7ut
it looked a LTTL6 asha#ed of itself5 so
think it /+3T have 7een the Aed
1ueen8.;

-3it up a little #ore stiffl(5 dear@. $li!e !ried with a #err( laugh8 -$nd !urtse( while
(ou.re thinking what to--what to purr8 t saves ti#e5 re#e#7er@. $nd she !aught it up
and gave it one little kiss5 ->ust in honour of having 7een a Aed 1ueen8.

-3nowdrop5 #( pet@. she went on5 looking over her shoulder at the &hite Citten5 whi!h
was still patientl( undergoing its toilet5 -when &LL )inah have finished with (our
&hite /a>est(5 wonder4 That #ust 7e the reason (ou were so untid( in #( drea#--
)inah@ do (ou know that (ou.re s!ru77ing a &hite 1ueen4 Aeall(5 it.s #ost disrespe!tful
of (ou@

-$nd what did )=$H turn to5 wonder4. she prattled on5 as she settled !o#forta7l(
down5 with one el7ow in the rug5 and her !hin in her hand5 to wat!h the kittens8 -Tell
#e5 )inah5 did (ou turn to Hu#pt( )u#pt(4 TH=C (ou did--however5 (ou.d 7etter
not #ention it to (our friends >ust (et5 for .# not sure8

-?( the wa(5 Citt(5 if onl( (ou.d 7een reall( with #e in #( drea#5 there was one thing
(ou &O+L) have en>o(ed-- had su!h a 9uantit( of poetr( said to #e5 all a7out fishes@
To-#orrow #orning (ou shall have a real treat8 $ll the ti#e (ou.re eating (our
7reakfast5 .ll repeat GThe &alrus and the CarpenterG to (ou< and then (ou !an #ake
7elieve it.s o(sters5 dear@

-=ow5 Citt(5 let.s !onsider who it was that drea#ed it all8 This is a serious 9uestion5 #(
dear5 and (ou should =OT go on li!king (our paw like that--as if )inah hadn.t washed
(ou this #orning@ Bou see5 Citt(5 it /+3T have 7een either #e or the Aed Cing8 He
was part of #( drea#5 of !ourse--7ut then was part of his drea#5 too@ &$3 it the Aed
Cing5 Citt(4 Bou were his wife5 #( dear5 so (ou ought to know--Oh5 Citt(5 )O help to
settle it@ .# sure (our paw !an wait@. ?ut the provoking kitten onl( 7egan on the other
paw5 and pretended it hadn.t heard the 9uestion8

&hi!h do BO+ think it was4

--------------------

$ 7oat 7eneath a sunn( sk(5
Lingering onward drea#il(
n an evening of Eul(--

Children three that nestle near5
6ager e(e and willing ear5
Hleased a si#ple tale to hear--

Long has paled that sunn( sk(:
6!hoes fade and #e#ories die8
$utu#n frosts have slain Eul(8

3till she haunts #e5 phanto#wise5
$li!e #oving under skies
=ever seen 7( waking e(es8

Children (et5 the tale to hear5
6ager e(e and willing ear5
Lovingl( shall nestle near8

n a &onderland the( lie5
)rea#ing as the da(s go 7(5
)rea#ing as the su##ers die:

6ver drifting down the strea#--
Lingering in the golden glea#--
Life5 what is it 7ut a drea#4



The 6nd