' 's the jury-box,' thought Alice, 'and those twelve creatures,' (she was obliged 'creatures,' , because were animals, and some were birds,) 'I suppose the jurors ' She said this last word 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' done just

The twelve jurors were all writing very busily on slates ' they doing ? ' Alice whispered Gryphon ' 't have anything down yet, trial's begun '

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

'Stupid things ! ' Alice began in loud, indignant voice, but she stopped hastily, White Rabbit cried out, 'Silence court ! ' King put spectacles and looked anxiously round, out who was talking

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

jurors had pencil that squeaked This , Alice stand, and she went round the court and got behind him, and found an opportunity of taking it away She did it so quickly poor little juror ( Bill, the Lizard) make out at all what had become of it; so, after hunting all about , obliged to write with one finger rest day; and of very little use, as it left no mark slate

'Herald, read the accusation ! ' said the King

the White Rabbit blew three blasts trumpet, and then unrolled the parchment scroll, and read as follows:--

'The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts, All on summer day: The Knave of Hearts, he stole those tarts, And took them quite away ! '

'Consider your verdict,' the King said jury

'Not yet, not yet ! ' the Rabbit hastily interrupted 'There's great deal ! '

'Call the first witness,' said the King; White Rabbit blew three blasts trumpet, and called out, 'First witness ! '

The first witness Hatter in with teacup in one hand and piece of bread-and-butter other 'I beg pardon, your Majesty,' he began, 'for bringing these in: but I hadn't quite finished my tea when sent for '

'You finished,' said the King 'When did you begin ? '

The Hatter looked March Hare, who had followed him court, arm-in-arm Dormouse 'Fourteenth of March, ,'

'Fifteenth,' said the March Hare

'Sixteenth,' added the Dormouse

'Write that down,' the King said jury, 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 Hatter

'It isn't mine,' said the Hatter

'Stolen ! ' the King exclaimed, turning jury, who instantly made memorandum fact

'I keep them ,' the Hatter added as an explanation; 'I've none own I'm hatter '

Here the Queen put on her spectacles, and began staring Hatter, who turned pale and fidgeted

'Give your evidence,' said the King; 'and don't be nervous, or I'll executed spot '

seem to encourage the witness at all: he kept shifting from one foot other, looking uneasily Queen, and confusion he bit large piece out teacup instead bread-and-butter

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

' you wouldn't squeeze so ' said the Dormouse, who was sitting next to her ' hardly breathe '

' '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're growing too '

'Yes, but I grow at reasonable pace,' said the Dormouse: 'not ridiculous fashion ' And he got up very sulkily and crossed over other side court

All the Queen had never left off staring Hatter, and, just Dormouse crossed the court, she said to officers court, 'Bring me the list singers last concert ! ' the wretched Hatter trembled so, that he shook both his shoes off

'Give your evidence,' the King repeated angrily, 'or I'll executed, whether you're nervous or not '

'I'm poor man, your Majesty,' the Hatter began, in trembling voice, '--and I hadn't begun my tea--not above week or so--and what bread-and-butter getting so thin-- twinkling tea--'

'The twinkling what ? ' said the King

'It began tea,' the Hatter replied

' twinkling begins with T ! ' said the King sharply ' take me for dunce ? Go on ! '

'I'm poor man,' the Hatter went on, 'and most things twinkled --only the March Hare said--'

'I didn't ! ' the March Hare interrupted in great hurry

' ! ' 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 if deny it too: but the Dormouse denied nothing, being fast asleep

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

'But what did the Dormouse say ? ' jury asked

'That 't remember,' said the Hatter

' remember,' remarked the King, 'or I'll executed '

The miserable Hatter dropped his teacup and bread-and-butter, and went down on one knee 'I'm poor man, your Majesty,' he began

'You're very poor speaker,' said the King

Here guinea-pigs cheered, and was immediately suppressed officers court ( is rather hard word, just explain how it They had large canvas bag, which tied up mouth with strings: 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 newspapers, end of trials, " some attempts at applause, immediately suppressed officers court," and I never understood what it meant till now '

' 's all , stand down,' continued the King

' 't go no lower,' said the Hatter: 'I'm floor, '

'Then sit down,' the King replied

Here the other guinea-pig cheered, and was suppressed

'Come, that finished the guinea-pigs ! ' thought Alice 'Now get on better '

'I'd rather finish my tea,' said the Hatter, with an anxious look Queen, who was reading the list of singers

' go,' said the King, Hatter hurriedly left the court, without even waiting his shoes on

'--and just take his head off outside,' the Queen added to officers: but the Hatter was out of sight officer could get door

'Call the next witness ! ' said the King

The next witness Duchess's cook She carried the pepper-box in her hand, and Alice guessed who , even before she got court, the people near the door began sneezing all at once

'Give your evidence,' said the King

'Shan't,' said the cook

The King looked anxiously White Rabbit, who said in low voice, 'Your Majesty must cross-examine this witness '

'Well, if , ,' the King said, with melancholy air, and, after folding his arms and frowning cook till his eyes were nearly out of sight, in deep voice, ' tarts made of ? '

'Pepper, mostly,' said the cook

'Treacle,' said sleepy voice behind her

'Collar that Dormouse,' the Queen shrieked out 'Behead that Dormouse ! Turn that Dormouse out of court ! Suppress him ! Pinch him ! Off whiskers ! '

For some minutes the whole court was in confusion, getting the Dormouse turned out, and, they had settled down again, the cook had disappeared

'Never mind ! ' said the King, with an air of great relief 'Call the next witness ' And he added in an undertone Queen, 'Really, my dear, cross-examine the next witness It quite makes my forehead ache ! '

Alice watched the White Rabbit as he fumbled over the list, feeling very curious what the next witness like, '--for they haven't got much evidence yet,' she said to herself Imagine her surprise, White Rabbit read out, top shrill little voice, the name 'Alice ! '

Chapter XII: Alice's Evidence

'Here ! ' cried Alice, quite forgetting flurry moment how large she had grown last , and she jumped up hurry that she tipped over the jury-box edge of her skirt, upsetting all the jurymen on heads crowd below, and there they lay sprawling about, reminding her of globe of goldfish she had accidentally upset the week before

'Oh, I beg your pardon ! ' she exclaimed in tone of great dismay, and began picking them up again as quickly as , accident goldfish kept running in her head, and she had vague sort of idea that collected at once and put back jury-box, or die

'The trial cannot proceed,' said the King in very grave voice, 'until all the jurymen are back in their proper places--all,' he repeated with great emphasis, looking hard at Alice as do