Alice's Adventure in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
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long breath, and said ' that's very curious .'

' it's all about as curious as it can_be,' said the Gryphon .

' it all came different ! ' the mock turtle repeated thoughtfully .' i_should like to hear her try and repeat something now . tell her to_begin .' he looked at_the Gryphon as_if he thought it had some kind of authority over Alice .

' stand up and repeat "'Tis the voice of_the sluggard,"' said the Gryphon .

' how the creatures order one about, and make one repeat lessons ! ' thought Alice; ' I_might as_well be at school at once .' however, she got up, and began to repeat it, but her head was so full of_the lobster quadrille, that she hardly knew what she was saying, and_the words came very queer indeed:--

"'Tis the voice of_the lobster; I heard him declare, " you_have baked me too brown, I_must sugar my hair ." as a duck with its eyelids, so he with_his nose Trims his belt and_his buttons, and turns out his toes .'

[ later editions continued as follows when_the sands are all dry, he_is gay as a lark, and will talk in contemptuous tones of_the shark, but, when_the tide rises and sharks are around, his voice has a timid and tremulous sound .]

' that's different from what I used to_say when i_was a child,' said the Gryphon .

' well, I never heard it before,' said the mock turtle; ' but it sounds uncommon nonsense .'

Alice said nothing; she had sat down with her face in her hands, wondering if anything would ever happen in a natural way again .

' i_should like to_have it explained,' said the mock turtle .

' she_can't explain it,' said the Gryphon hastily .' go on with_the next verse .'

' but about his toes ? ' the mock turtle persisted .' how could he turn them out with_his nose, you_know ? '

' it's the first position in dancing .' Alice said; but was dreadfully puzzled by_the whole thing, and longed to_change the subject .

' go on with_the next verse,' the Gryphon repeated impatiently: ' it begins "I passed by his garden ."'

Alice did_not dare to disobey, though she felt sure it would all come wrong, and she went on in atrembling voice:--

'I passed by his garden, and marked, with one eye, how the owl and_the panther were sharing a pie--'

[ later editions continued as follows the panther took pie- crust, and gravy, and meat, while the owl had the dish as its share of_the treat . when_the pie was all finished, the owl, as a boon, was kindly permitted to pocket the spoon while the panther received knife and fork with a growl, and concluded the banquet--]

' what_is the use of repeating all that stuff,' the mock turtle interrupted, ' if_you don't explain it as_you go on ? it's by far the most confusing thing I ever heard ! '

' yes, i_think you'd better leave off,' said the Gryphon: and Alice was only too glad to_do_so .

' shall we_try another figure of_the lobster quadrille ? ' the Gryphon went on .' or would you like the mock turtle to sing you a song ? '

'Oh, a song, please, if_the mock turtle would_be so kind,' Alice replied, so eagerly that_the Gryphon said, in a rather offended tone, 'Hm ! no accounting for tastes ! sing her " turtle soup," will_you, old fellow ? '

the mock turtle sighed deeply, and began, in a voice sometimes choked with sobs, to sing this:--

' beautiful soup, so rich and green, Waiting in a hot tureen ! who for such dainties would_not stoop ? soup of_the evening, beautiful soup ! soup of_the evening, beautiful soup ! Beau--ootiful Soo--oop ! Beau--ootiful Soo--oop ! Soo--oop of_the e--e-- evening, beautiful, beautiful soup !

' beautiful soup ! who cares for fish, game, or any_other dish ? who_would_not give all else for two Pennyworth only of beautiful soup ? Pennyworth only of beautiful soup ? Beau--ootiful Soo--oop ! Beau--ootiful Soo--oop ! Soo--oop of_the e--e-- evening, beautiful, beauti--FUL soup ! '

' chorus again ! ' cried the Gryphon, and_the mock turtle had just begun to repeat it, when a cry of ' the trial's beginning ! ' was heard in_the distance .

' come on ! ' cried the Gryphon, and, taking Alice by_the hand, it hurried off, without waiting for_the end of_the song .

' what trial is_it ? ' Alice panted as she ran; but the Gryphon only answered ' come on ! ' and ran the faster, while more and more faintly came, carried on_the breeze that followed them, the melancholy words:--

'Soo--oop of_the e--e-- evening, beautiful, beautiful soup ! '

chapter XI: who stole the Tarts ?

the king and queen of Hearts were seated on their throne when_they arrived, with a great crowd assembled about_them-- all sorts of little birds and beasts, as_well as_the whole pack of cards: the knave was standing before them, in chains, with a soldier on each side to guard him; and near the king was_the white rabbit, with a trumpet in one hand, and a scroll of parchment in_the other . in_the very middle of_the court was a table, with a large dish of tarts upon it: they looked so good, that_it made Alice quite hungry to look at them--' i_wish they'd get the trial done,' she thought, ' and hand round the refreshments ! ' but there seemed to_be no chance of_this, so she began looking at everything about her, to_pass away the time .

Alice had never been in a court of justice before, but she had read about_them in books, and she was quite pleased to_find that she knew the name of nearly everything there .' that's the judge,' she said to herself, ' because of_his great wig .'

the judge, by_the_way, was_the king; and as he wore his crown over the wig, ( look at_the frontispiece if_you want_to_see how he_did it,) he_did_not look at all comfortable, and it_was certainly not becoming .

' and_that's the jury- box,' thought Alice, ' and those twelve creatures,' ( she was obliged to_say 'creatures,' you_see, because some_of_them were animals, and some were birds,) 'I suppose they_are the jurors .' she said this last word two_or_three times over to herself, being rather proud of it: for she thought, and rightly too, that very few little girls of her age knew the meaning of it at all . however, ' jury- men' would_have done just as_well .

the twelve jurors were all writing very busily on slates .' what_are they doing ? ' Alice whispered to_the Gryphon .' they_can't have anything to_put down yet, before_the trial's begun .'

' they're putting down their names,' the Gryphon whispered in reply, ' for fear they should forget them before_the end of_the trial .'

' stupid things ! ' Alice began in a loud, indignant voice, but she stopped hastily, for_the white rabbit cried out, ' silence in_the court ! ' and_the king put on_his spectacles and looked anxiously round, to_make out who was talking .

Alice could_see, as_well as_if she were looking over their shoulders, that all the jurors were writing down ' stupid things ! ' on their slates, and she_could even make out that one_of_them didn't know how to spell ' stupid,' and_that he had to ask his neighbour to_tell him .'A nice muddle their slates'll be in before_the trial's over ! ' thought Alice .

one_of_the jurors had a pencil that squeaked . this of_course, Alice could_not stand, and she went round the court and got behind him, and very_soon found an opportunity of taking it away . she did it so quickly that_the poor little juror ( it_was bill, the lizard) could_not make out at all what had become of it; so, after hunting all about for_it, he_was obliged to write with one finger for_the rest of_the day; and this_was of very little use, as it left no mark on_the slate .

' herald, read the accusation ! ' said the king .

on_this the white rabbit blew three blasts on_the trumpet, and then unrolled the parchment scroll, and read as follows:--

' the queen of Hearts, she made some tarts, all on a summer day: the knave of Hearts, he stole those tarts, and took them quite away ! '

' consider your verdict,' the king said to_the jury .

' not yet, not yet ! ' the rabbit hastily interrupted .' there's a great deal to_come before_that ! '

' call the first witness,' said the king; and_the white rabbit blew three blasts on_the trumpet, and called out, ' first witness ! '

the first witness was_the hatter . he_came in with a teacup in one hand and a piece of bread- and- butter in_the other .'I beg pardon, your majesty,' he began, ' for bringing these in: but I hadn't quite finished my tea when i_was sent for .'

' you ought_to_have finished,' said the king .' when did you begin ? '

the hatter looked at_the march hare, who had followed him into_the court, arm- in- arm with_the dormouse .'Fourteenth of march, i_think it_was,' he_said .

'Fifteenth,' said the march hare .

'Sixteenth,' added the dormouse .

' write that down,' the king said to_the jury, and_the jury eagerly wrote down all three dates on their slates, and then added them up, and reduced the answer to shillings and pence .

' take off your hat,' the king said to_the hatter .

' it isn't mine,' said the hatter .

' stolen ! ' the king exclaimed, turning to_the jury, who instantly made a memorandum of_the fact .

'I keep them to_sell,' the hatter added as an explanation; 'I've none of_my own .I'm a hatter .'

here the queen put on her spectacles, and began staring at_the hatter, who turned pale and fidgeted .

' give your evidence,' said the king; ' and don't be nervous, or I'll have_you executed on_the spot .'

this_did_not seem to encourage the witness at all: he kept shifting from one foot to_the other, looking uneasily at_the queen, and in_his confusion he bit a large piece out of_his teacup instead of_the bread- and- butter .

just at_this moment Alice felt a very curious sensation, which puzzled her a good_deal until she made out what it_was: she was beginning to grow larger again, and she thought at first she_would get up and leave the court; but on second thoughts she decided to remain where she was as long as_there_was room for her .

' i_wish you wouldn't squeeze so .' said the dormouse, who was sitting next to her .' I_can hardly breathe .'

' I_can't help it,' said Alice very meekly: 'I'm growing .'

' you've no right to grow here,' said the dormouse .

'Don't talk nonsense,' said Alice more boldly: ' you_know you're growing too .'

' yes, but I grow at a reasonable pace,' said the dormouse: ' not in_that ridiculous fashion .' and he got up very sulkily and crossed over to_the other side of_the court .

all this_time the queen had never left off staring at_the hatter, and, just as_the dormouse crossed the court, she said to one_of_the officers of_the court, ' bring me the list of_the singers in_the last concert ! ' on_which the wretched hatter trembled so, that he shook both his shoes off .

' give your evidence,' the king repeated angrily, ' or I'll have_you executed, whether you're nervous or not .'

'I'm a poor man, your majesty,' the hatter began, in atrembling voice, '-- and I hadn't begun my tea-- not above a week or so-- and what with_the bread- and- butter getting so thin-- and_the twinkling of_the tea--'

' the twinkling of_the what ? ' said the king .

' it began with_the tea,' the hatter replied .

' of_course twinkling begins with aT ! ' said the king sharply .' do_you take me for a dunce ? go on ! '

'I'm a poor man,' the hatter went on, ' and most things twinkled after_that-- only the march hare said--'

'I didn't ! ' the march hare interrupted in a great hurry .

' you_did ! ' said the hatter .

'I deny it ! ' said the march hare .

' he denies it,' said the king: ' leave out that part .'

' well, at any rate, the dormouse said--' the hatter went on, looking anxiously round to_see if he_would deny it too: but the dormouse denied nothing, being fast asleep .

' after_that,' continued the hatter, 'I cut some more bread- and- butter--'

' but what did the dormouse say ? ' one_of_the jury asked .

' that I_can't remember,' said the hatter .

' you_must remember,' remarked the king, ' or I'll have_you executed .'

the miserable hatter dropped his teacup and bread- and- butter, and went down on one knee .'I'm a poor man, your majesty,' he began .

' you're a very poor speaker,' said the king .

here one_of_the guinea-pigs cheered, and was immediately suppressed by_the officers of_the court .( as that_is rather a hard word, i_will just explain to_you how it was_done . they had a large canvas bag, which tied up at_the mouth with strings: into_this they slipped the guinea- Pig, head first, and then sat upon it .)

'I'm glad I've seen that done,' thought Alice .'I've so often read in_the newspapers, at_the end of trials, " there_was some attempts at applause, which_was immediately suppressed by_the officers of_the court," and I never understood what it meant till now .'

' if_that's all you_know about_it, you_may stand down,' continued the king .

' I_can't go no lower,' said the hatter: 'I'm on_the floor, as_it_is .'

' then you_may sit down,' the king replied .

here the other guinea- Pig cheered, and was suppressed .

' come, that finished the guinea-pigs ! ' thought Alice .' now we_shall get on better .'

'I'd rather finish my tea,' said the hatter, with an anxious look at_the queen, who was reading the list of singers .

' you_may go,' said the king, and_the hatter hurriedly left the court, without even waiting to_put his shoes on .

'-- and just take his head off outside,' the queen added to one_of_the officers: but the hatter was out of sight before_the officer could get to_the door .

' call the next witness ! ' said the king .

the next witness was_the duchess's cook . she carried the pepper- box in her hand, and Alice guessed who

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