'Ahem ! ' said the Mouse with an important air, ' all ready ? driest thing Silence all round, please ! "William the Conqueror, whose cause was favoured pope, was soon submitted to English, who wanted leaders, and of late much accustomed to usurpation and conquest Edwin and Morcar, the earls of Mercia and Northumbria- -"'

'Ugh ! ' said the Lory, with shiver

'I beg your pardon ! ' said the Mouse, frowning, but very politely: 'Did you speak ? '

'Not I ! ' said the Lory hastily

' ,' said the Mouse '--I proceed "Edwin and Morcar, the earls of Mercia and Northumbria, declared for him: and even Stigand, the patriotic archbishop of Canterbury, found it advisable--"'

'Found what ? ' said the Duck

'Found it,' the Mouse replied rather crossly: ' what "it" means '

' what "it" means well enough, when thing,' said the Duck: 'it's generally frog or worm The question is, what did the archbishop find ? '

The Mouse notice this question, but hurriedly went on, '"--found it advisable with Edgar Atheling to meet William and offer him the crown William's conduct at first was moderate But the insolence Normans--" How getting on now, my dear ? ' it continued, turning to Alice as it spoke

'As wet as ever,' said Alice in melancholy tone: 'it doesn't seem to dry me at all '

' case,' said the Dodo solemnly, rising to its feet, 'I move meeting adjourn, immediate adoption of more energetic remedies--'

'Speak English ! ' said the Eaglet 'I don't know the meaning of half those long words, and, what's more, I don't believe either ! ' Eaglet bent down its head to hide smile: other birds tittered audibly

'What going ,' said the Dodo in an offended tone, 'was, best thing us dry Caucus-race '

' Caucus-race ? ' said Alice; not that she wanted much , but the Dodo had paused it thought that somebody ought , and no one else seemed inclined anything

'Why,' said the Dodo, 'the best way to explain ' (And, like the thing yourself, some winter day, tell you how the Dodo managed it )

First it marked out race-course, in sort of circle, ('the exact shape doesn't matter,' it said,) and then all the party were placed along the course, here and there no 'One, two, three, and away,' but they began running liked, and left off liked, so not easy race was over However, running half an hour or so, and were quite dry again, the Dodo suddenly called out 'The race is over ! ' all crowded round it, panting, and asking, 'But who has won ? '

This question the Dodo answer without great deal of thought, and it sat with one finger pressed upon its forehead (the position usually see Shakespeare, pictures of him), while the rest waited in silence At last the Dodo said, 'Everybody has won, and all prizes '

'But the prizes ? ' quite chorus of voices asked

'Why, she, ,' said the Dodo, pointing to Alice with one finger; whole party at once crowded round her, calling out in confused way, 'Prizes ! Prizes ! '

Alice had no idea what , and in despair she put her hand in her pocket, and pulled out box of comfits, (luckily the salt water got ), and handed them round as prizes exactly one a-piece all round

'But she prize herself, ,' said the Mouse

' ,' the Dodo replied very gravely 'What else got in your pocket ? ' he went on, turning to Alice

'Only thimble,' said Alice sadly

'Hand it over here,' said the Dodo

Then they all crowded round her once more, while the Dodo solemnly presented the thimble, saying 'We beg your acceptance elegant thimble'; and, when it had finished this short speech, they all cheered

Alice thought the whole thing very absurd, but they all looked so grave that she dare to laugh; and, as think of anything , she simply bowed, and took the thimble, looking as solemn as

The next thing was to eat the comfits: this caused some noise and confusion, large birds complained that taste theirs, small ones choked and had patted back However, over at last, sat down again in ring, and begged the Mouse them something more

'You promised me your history, ,' said Alice, 'and why you hate--C and D,' she added in whisper, half afraid offended again

'Mine is long and sad tale ! ' said the Mouse, turning to Alice, and sighing

' long tail, certainly,' said Alice, looking down with wonder Mouse's tail' 'but why call it sad ? ' And she kept on puzzling while the Mouse was speaking, her idea tale was something like this:--

 
 'Fury said to
mouse, That he met 
 house, "
 both go to law: 
 prosecute You
--Come, I'll take no denial; 

trial: For really 
 I've nothing 

" Said the mouse 
 cur, "Such
trial, 
, With no jury or judge, 
 wasting our breath
" "I'll be judge, I'll be jury," Said cunning old Fury: "I'll try the whole cause, and condemn you to death
" 

' attending ! ' said the Mouse to Alice severely ' you thinking of ? '

'I beg your pardon,' said Alice very humbly: 'you had got fifth bend, ? '

'I ! ' cried the Mouse, sharply and very angrily

'A knot ! ' said Alice, always ready herself useful, and looking anxiously about her 'Oh, do let me help to undo it ! '

' do nothing sort,' said the Mouse, getting up and walking away 'You insult me by talking such nonsense ! '

'I didn't mean it ! ' pleaded poor Alice 'But you're so easily offended, ! '

The Mouse only growled in reply

'Please come back and finish your story ! ' Alice called after it; others all joined in chorus, 'Yes, please do ! ' but the Mouse only shook its head impatiently, and walked little quicker

'What pity it wouldn't stay ! ' sighed the Lory, quite out of sight; and an old Crab took the opportunity of saying to her daughter 'Ah, my dear ! Let this be lesson never to lose your temper ! ' 'Hold your tongue, Ma ! ' said the young Crab, little snappishly 'You're enough the patience of an oyster ! '

' I had our Dinah here, ! ' said Alice aloud, addressing nobody 'She'd soon fetch it back ! '

'And Dinah, if venture to question ? ' said the Lory

Alice replied eagerly, for she was always ready about her pet: 'Dinah's our cat And she's such capital one for catching mice 't think ! And oh, her birds ! Why, she'll eat little bird look at it ! '

This speech caused remarkable sensation party birds hurried off at once: one the old Magpie began wrapping itself up very carefully, remarking, 'I really getting home; the night-air doesn't suit my throat ! ' and Canary called out in trembling voice to its children, 'Come away, my dears ! It's high time you were all in bed ! ' On various pretexts they all moved off, and Alice was soon left alone

' I hadn't mentioned Dinah ! ' she said to herself in melancholy tone 'Nobody seems to like her, down here, and I'm sure she's the best cat ! Oh, my dear Dinah ! I wonder if ever see you any more ! ' And here poor Alice began to cry again, for she felt very lonely and low-spirited In little while, however, she again heard little pattering of footsteps distance, and she looked up eagerly, half hoping Mouse had changed his mind, and was coming back to finish his story

Chapter IV: The Rabbit Sends in Little Bill

It White Rabbit, trotting slowly back again, and looking anxiously about as it went, it had lost something; and she heard it muttering to itself 'The Duchess ! The Duchess ! Oh my dear paws ! Oh my fur and whiskers ! She' ll get me executed, as sure as ferrets are ferrets ! Where CAN dropped them, I wonder ? ' Alice guessed in moment looking fan pair of white kid gloves, and she -naturedly began hunting about , but they were nowhere seen--everything seemed changed since her swim pool, great hall, glass table little door, had vanished completely

the Rabbit noticed Alice, as she went hunting about, and called out to her in an angry tone, 'Why, Mary Ann, you doing out here ? Run home this moment, and fetch me pair of gloves and fan ! Quick, now ! ' And Alice was frightened that she ran off at once direction it pointed to, without trying to explain the mistake it had made

' me housemaid,' she said to herself as she ran 'How surprised he'll be when he finds out who ! But I'd better take him his fan and gloves-- , if find them ' As she said this, she came upon neat little house, door of bright brass plate name 'W RABBIT' engraved upon it She went in without knocking, and hurried upstairs, in great fear lest she should meet the real Mary Ann, and be turned house before she had found the fan and gloves

'How queer it seems,' Alice said to herself, ' going messages for rabbit ! I suppose Dinah'll be sending me on messages next ! ' And she began fancying the sort of thing happen: '"Miss Alice ! Come here directly, and get ready for your walk ! " "Coming in minute, nurse ! But I've got mouse doesn't get out " Only I don't think,' Alice went on, ' ' d let Dinah stop house began ordering people about like that ! '

she had found her way into tidy little room with table window, and (as she had hoped) fan and pairs of tiny white kid gloves: she took up the fan and pair gloves, and was just going to leave the room, when her eye fell upon little bottle that stood near the looking- glass no label words 'DRINK ME,' but nevertheless she uncorked it and put it to her lips ' SOMETHING interesting is sure to happen,' she said to herself, 'whenever I eat or drink anything; so I'll just see what this bottle does hope it'll make me grow large again, for really I'm quite tired of being such tiny little thing ! '