Here the Dormouse shook itself, and began singing in its sleep 'Twinkle, twinkle, twinkle, twinkle--' and went on had to pinch it it stop

'Well, I'd hardly finished the first verse,' said the Hatter, ' Queen jumped up and bawled out, "He's murdering the time ! Off head ! "'

'How dreadfully savage ! ' exclaimed Alice

'And that,' the Hatter went on in mournful tone, 'he won't do thing I ask ! It's always six o'clock now '

bright idea came into Alice's head 'Is reason tea-things are put out here ? ' she asked

'Yes, that's it,' said the Hatter with sigh: 'it's always tea-time, and we've no time to wash the things between whiles '

'Then you keep moving round, I suppose ? ' said Alice

'Exactly so,' said the Hatter: ' things get used up '

'But what happens come beginning again ? ' Alice ventured to ask

'Suppose we change the subject,' the March Hare interrupted, yawning 'I'm getting tired I vote the young lady tells us story '

'I'm afraid I don't know one,' said Alice, rather alarmed proposal

'Then the Dormouse shall ! ' they both cried 'Wake up, Dormouse ! ' pinched it on both sides at once

The Dormouse slowly opened his eyes 'I wasn't asleep,' in hoarse, feeble voice: 'I heard every word you fellows were saying '

'Tell us story ! ' said the March Hare

'Yes, please do ! ' pleaded Alice

'And be quick ,' added the Hatter, 'or you'll be asleep again before it's done '

'Once upon time there were three little sisters,' the Dormouse began in great hurry; 'and their names were Elsie, Lacie, and Tillie; lived bottom of well--'

'What did they live on ? ' said Alice, who always took great interest in questions of eating and drinking

'They lived on treacle,' said the Dormouse, after thinking minute or two

'They couldn't that, ,' Alice gently remarked; 'they'd ill '

'So they were,' said the Dormouse; 'very ill '

Alice tried to fancy to herself what such an extraordinary ways of living like, but it puzzled her , so she went on: 'But why did they live bottom of well ? '

'Take some more tea,' the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly

'I've had nothing yet,' Alice replied in an offended tone, 'so 't take more '

'You mean 't take less,' said the Hatter: 'it's very easy more than nothing '

'Nobody asked your opinion,' said Alice

'Who's making personal remarks now ? ' the Hatter asked triumphantly

Alice quite know what : so she helped herself to some tea and bread-and-butter, and then turned Dormouse, and repeated her question 'Why did they live bottom of well ? '

The Dormouse again took minute or two , and then said, ' treacle-well '

'There's no such thing ! ' Alice was beginning very angrily, but the Hatter March Hare went 'Sh ! sh ! ' Dormouse sulkily remarked, ' 't be civil, you'd better finish the story '

'No, please go on ! ' Alice said very humbly; 'I won't interrupt again I dare say one '

'One, indeed ! ' said the Dormouse indignantly However, he consented on 'And so these three little sisters--they were learning to draw, --'

'What did they draw ? ' said Alice, quite forgetting her promise

'Treacle,' said the Dormouse, without considering at all

' clean cup,' interrupted the Hatter: 'let's all move one place on '

He moved on as he spoke, Dormouse followed him: the March Hare moved Dormouse's place, and Alice rather unwillingly took the place March Hare The Hatter who got any advantage change: and Alice was worse off than before, March Hare had just upset the milk-jug into his plate

Alice wish to offend the Dormouse again, so she began very cautiously: 'But I don't understand Where did they draw the treacle from ? '

' draw water out of water-well,' said the Hatter; 'so think draw treacle out of treacle-well--eh, stupid ? '

'But they were well,' Alice said Dormouse, not choosing to notice this last remark

' they were', said the Dormouse; '--well in '

This answer so confused poor Alice, that she let the Dormouse go on for without interrupting it

'They were learning to draw,' the Dormouse went on, yawning and rubbing its eyes, for getting very sleepy; ' drew all manner of things--everything that begins with an M--'

'Why with an M ? ' said Alice

' ? ' said the March Hare

Alice was silent

The Dormouse had closed its eyes , and was going off into doze; but, on being pinched Hatter, it woke up again with little shriek, and went on: '--that begins with an M, such as mouse-traps, moon, and memory, and muchness-- you say things are "much of muchness"--did you ever see such thing as drawing of muchness ? '

'Really, now you ask me,' said Alice, confused, 'I don't think--'

'Then you shouldn't talk,' said the Hatter

This piece of rudeness was more than Alice could bear: she got up in great disgust, and walked off; the Dormouse fell asleep instantly, and neither others took the least notice of her going, though she looked back , half hoping that call after her: the last time she saw them, they were trying the Dormouse teapot

'At any rate I'll never go there again ! ' said Alice as she picked her way wood 'It's the stupidest tea-party I ever was at in all my life ! '

Just as she said this, she noticed that trees had door leading right 'That's very curious ! ' she thought 'But everything's curious today go in at once ' And in she went

Once more she found herself long hall, and close little glass table 'Now, I'll manage better ,' she said to herself, and began by taking the little golden key, and unlocking the door that led garden Then she went to work nibbling mushroom (she had kept piece of it in her pocket) till she was about foot high: then she walked down the little passage: and then--she found herself at last beautiful garden, bright flower-beds cool fountains

Chapter VIII: The Queen's Croquet-Ground

large rose-tree stood near the entrance garden: the roses growing were white, but there were three gardeners at it, busily painting them red Alice thought this very curious thing, and she went nearer to watch them, and just as she came up she heard say, 'Look out now, Five ! Don't go splashing paint over me like that ! '

'I couldn't help it,' said Five, in sulky tone; 'Seven jogged my elbow '

Seven looked up and said, 'That's right, Five ! Always lay the blame on others ! '

'You'd better not talk ! ' said Five 'I heard the Queen say only yesterday you deserved beheaded ! '

'What for ? ' said the one who had spoken first

'That's none of your business, Two ! ' said Seven

'Yes, his business ! ' said Five, 'and I'll tell him-- for bringing the cook tulip-roots instead of onions '

Seven flung down his brush, and had just begun 'Well, of all the unjust things--' when his eye chanced upon Alice, as she stood watching them, and he checked himself suddenly: the others looked round also, and all bowed low

'Would you tell me,' said Alice, little timidly, 'why painting those roses ? '

Five and Seven said nothing, but looked at Two Two began in low voice, 'Why the fact is, , Miss, this here been red rose-tree, and we put white one in by mistake; and Queen was it out, all have our heads cut off, So , Miss, we're doing our best, afore she comes, to--' moment Five, who anxiously looking across the garden, called out 'The Queen ! The Queen ! ' three gardeners instantly threw themselves flat upon their faces sound of many footsteps, and Alice looked round, eager the Queen

First came ten soldiers carrying clubs; these were all shaped like the three gardeners, oblong and flat, with their hands and feet corners: next the ten courtiers; these were ornamented all over with diamonds, and walked two and two, soldiers did came the royal children; there were ten , little dears came jumping merrily along hand in hand, in couples: they were all ornamented with hearts Next came the guests, mostly Kings and Queens, and among them Alice recognised the White Rabbit: talking in hurried nervous manner, smiling at everything that was said, and went by without noticing her Then followed the Knave of Hearts, carrying the King's crown on crimson velvet cushion; and, last of all this grand procession, came THE KING AND QUEEN OF HEARTS

Alice was rather doubtful whether she ought not to lie down on her face like the three gardeners, but remember ever having heard rule at processions; 'and besides, what the use of procession,' thought she, 'if people had all to lie down upon their faces, so couldn't see it ? ' So she stood still where she was, and waited

procession came opposite to Alice, they all stopped and looked at her, Queen said severely 'Who ? ' She said it Knave of Hearts, who only bowed and smiled in reply

'Idiot ! ' said the Queen, tossing her head impatiently; and, turning to Alice, she went on, 'What's , child ? '

'My name is Alice, so please your Majesty,' said Alice very politely; but she added, to herself, 'Why, they're only pack of cards, after all I needn't be afraid ! '

'And these ? ' said the Queen, pointing three gardeners who were lying round the rosetree; for, , were lying on their faces, pattern on their backs same rest pack, tell whether they were gardeners, or soldiers, or courtiers, or three of her own children

'How should ? ' said Alice, surprised at her own courage 'It's no business '

The Queen turned crimson with fury, and, after glaring at her for moment like wild beast, screamed 'Off with her head ! Off--'

'Nonsense ! ' said Alice, very loudly and decidedly, Queen was silent

The King laid his hand upon her arm, and timidly said 'Consider, my dear: only child ! '

The Queen turned angrily away , and said Knave 'Turn them over ! '

The Knave did so, very carefully, with one foot

'Get up ! ' said the Queen, in shrill, loud voice, three gardeners instantly jumped up, and began bowing King, the Queen, the royal children, and everybody else

'Leave off that ! ' screamed the Queen 'You make me giddy ' And then, turning rose-tree, she went on, 'What been doing here ? '

'May it please your Majesty,' said Two, in very humble tone, going down on one knee as he spoke, 'we were trying--'

' ! ' said the Queen, who had meanwhile been examining the roses 'Off with their heads ! ' procession moved on, three soldiers remaining behind to execute the unfortunate gardeners, who ran to Alice for protection

'You shan't be beheaded ! ' said Alice, and she put them into large flower-pot that stood near The three soldiers wandered about for minute or two, looking , and then quietly marched off others

'Are their heads off ? ' shouted the Queen

'Their heads are gone, please your Majesty ! ' the soldiers shouted in reply

'That's right ! ' shouted the Queen ' play croquet ? '

The soldiers were silent, and looked at Alice, question was evidently meant for her

'Yes ! ' shouted Alice

'Come on, then ! ' roared the Queen, and Alice joined the procession, wondering what would happen next