'I don't much care where--' said Alice

'Then it doesn't matter you go,' said the Cat

'-- as I get somewhere,' Alice added as an explanation

'Oh, you're sure to ,' said the Cat, ' only walk long enough '

Alice felt denied, so she tried another question 'What sort of people live about here ? '

' direction,' the Cat said, waving its right paw round, 'lives Hatter: and direction,' waving the other paw, 'lives March Hare Visit either you like: they're both mad '

'But I don't want among mad people,' Alice remarked

'Oh, 't help that,' said the Cat: 'we're all mad here I'm mad You're mad '

'How I'm mad ? ' said Alice

' ,' said the Cat, 'or you wouldn't have come here '

Alice didn't think that proved it at all; however, she went on 'And how that you're mad ? '

' with,' said the Cat, 'a dog's not mad You grant that ? '

'I suppose so,' said Alice

'Well, then,' the Cat went on, ' , dog growls when it's angry, and wags its tail when it's pleased Now I growl when I'm pleased, and wag my tail when I'm angry Therefore I'm mad '

'I call it purring, not growling,' said Alice

'Call it what you like,' said the Cat ' play croquet Queen to-day ? '

' like it ,' said Alice, 'but I haven't been invited yet '

'You'll see me there,' said the Cat, and vanished

Alice was not much surprised , she was getting so used to queer things happening While she was looking place where it , it suddenly appeared again

'By-the-bye, what became baby ? ' said the Cat 'I'd nearly forgotten to ask '

'It turned into pig,' Alice quietly said, just it had come back in natural way

' it would,' said the Cat, and vanished again

Alice waited little, half expecting it again, but it appear, and after minute or two she walked on direction March Hare was said to live 'I've seen hatters before,' she said to herself; 'the March Hare much the most interesting, and perhaps May it won't be raving mad-- not so mad as in March ' As she said this, she looked up, and the Cat again, sitting on branch of tree

'Did you say pig, or fig ? ' said the Cat

' pig,' replied Alice; 'and you wouldn't keep appearing and vanishing so suddenly: you make one quite giddy '

'All right,' said the Cat; and it vanished quite slowly, beginning end tail, and ending grin, which remained rest of it had gone

'Well ! I've often seen cat without grin,' thought Alice; 'but grin without cat ! It's the most curious thing I ever saw in my life ! '

She gone much farther before she came in sight house March Hare: she thought it the right house, because the chimneys were shaped like ears roof was thatched with fur so large house, that she like nearer till she had nibbled some more lefthand bit of mushroom, and raised herself to about two feet high: even then she walked up towards it rather timidly, saying to herself 'Suppose it raving mad after all ! I almost wish I'd gone the Hatter instead ! '

Chapter VII: Mad Tea-Party

table set out under tree in front house, March Hare Hatter were having tea at it: Dormouse was sitting , fast asleep, other two were using it as cushion, resting their elbows , and talking over its head 'Very uncomfortable Dormouse,' thought Alice; 'only, as it's asleep, I suppose it doesn't mind '

The table was large one, but the three were all crowded together at one corner of it: 'No room ! No room ! ' they cried out saw Alice coming 'There's plenty of room ! ' said Alice indignantly, and she sat down in large arm-chair at one end table

'Have some wine,' the March Hare said in an encouraging tone

Alice looked all round the table, but nothing but tea 'I don't see any wine,' she remarked

'There isn't any,' said the March Hare

'Then it wasn't very civil of you to offer it,' said Alice angrily

'It wasn't very civil of you to sit down without being invited,' said the March Hare

'I didn't know your table,' said Alice; 'it's laid for more than three '

'Your hair wants cutting,' said the Hatter He looking at Alice for with great curiosity, and his first speech

' learn not personal remarks,' Alice said with some severity; 'it's very rude '

The Hatter opened his eyes very wide on hearing this; but all was, 'Why is raven like writing-desk ? '

'Come, some fun now ! ' thought Alice 'I'm glad they've begun asking riddles --I believe guess that,' she added aloud

' that find out the answer ? ' said the March Hare

'Exactly so,' said Alice

'Then say what you mean,' the March Hare went on

' ,' Alice hastily replied; ' -- I mean what --that's the same thing, '

'Not the same thing bit ! ' said the Hatter ' just say that " what I eat" same thing as "I eat what " ! '

' just say,' added the March Hare, 'that "I like what I get" same thing as "I get what I like" ! '

' just say,' added the Dormouse, who seemed talking sleep, 'that "I breathe when I sleep" same thing as "I sleep when I breathe" ! '

' same thing ,' said the Hatter, and here the conversation dropped, party sat silent for minute, while Alice thought over all remember about ravens and writing-desks, which wasn't much

The Hatter first to break the silence 'What day month ? ' , turning to Alice: he had taken his watch out pocket, and was looking at it uneasily, shaking it every , and holding it ear

Alice considered little, and then said 'The fourth '

'Two days wrong ! ' sighed the Hatter ' you butter wouldn't suit the works ! ' he added looking angrily March Hare

'It best butter,' the March Hare meekly replied

'Yes, but some crumbs got in ,' the Hatter grumbled: 'you shouldn't have put it in bread-knife '

The March Hare took the watch and looked at it gloomily: then he dipped it into his cup of tea, and looked at it again: but think of nothing better than his first remark, 'It best butter, '

Alice looking over his shoulder with some curiosity 'What funny watch ! ' she remarked 'It tells the day month, and doesn't tell what o'clock ! '

'Why should it ? ' muttered the Hatter 'Does your watch tell you what year ? '

' not,' Alice replied very readily: 'but that's because it stays the same year for such together '

' just the case with mine,' said the Hatter

Alice felt dreadfully puzzled The Hatter's remark seemed no sort of meaning , and yet certainly English 'I don't quite understand you,' she said, as politely as

'The Dormouse is asleep again,' said the Hatter, and he poured little hot tea upon its nose

The Dormouse shook its head impatiently, and said, without opening its eyes, ' , ; just what going to remark myself '

' guessed the riddle yet ? ' the Hatter said, turning to Alice again

'No, it up,' Alice replied: 'what's the answer ? '

'I haven't the slightest idea,' said the Hatter

'Nor I,' said the March Hare

Alice sighed wearily ' do something better time,' she said, 'than waste it in asking riddles no answers '

'If Time as ,' said the Hatter, 'you wouldn't talk about wasting it It's him '

'I don't know what you mean,' said Alice

' you don't ! ' the Hatter said, tossing his head contemptuously 'I dare say you never even spoke ! '

'Perhaps not,' Alice cautiously replied: 'but to beat time when I learn music '

'Ah ! that accounts ,' said the Hatter 'He won't stand beating Now, only kept on good terms , he'd do almost anything you liked clock For instance, suppose it were nine o'clock morning, just time lessons: you'd only have to whisper hint , and round goes the clock in twinkling ! Half-past one, time for dinner ! '

('I only wish ,' the March Hare said to itself in whisper )

' grand, certainly,' said Alice thoughtfully: 'but then--I shouldn't be hungry , '

'Not at first, perhaps,' said the Hatter: 'but keep it to half-past one as long liked '

'Is way you manage ? ' Alice asked

The Hatter shook his head mournfully 'Not I ! ' he replied 'We quarrelled last March--just before he went mad, --' (pointing tea spoon March Hare,) '-- great concert given Queen of Hearts, and I had to sing

"Twinkle, twinkle, little bat ! How I wonder what you're at ! "

the song, perhaps ? '

'I've heard something like it,' said Alice

'It goes on, ,' the Hatter continued, ' :--