jury had little recovered shock of being upset, and their slates and pencils found and handed back , they set to work very diligently to write out history accident, all except the Lizard, who seemed overcome anything but sit with its mouth open, gazing up roof court

'What business ? ' the King said to Alice

'Nothing,' said Alice

'Nothing whatever ? ' persisted the King

'Nothing whatever,' said Alice

'That's ,' the King said, turning jury They were just beginning to write this down on their slates, White Rabbit interrupted: 'Unimportant, your Majesty means, ,' in very respectful tone, but frowning and making faces at him as he spoke

'Unimportant, , I meant,' the King hastily said, and went on to himself in an undertone, 'important--unimportant-- unimportant--important--' he were trying which word sounded best

jury wrote it down 'important,' and some 'unimportant ' Alice this, as she was near enough to look over their slates; 'but it doesn't matter bit,' she thought to herself

moment the King, who for busily writing note-book, cackled out 'Silence ! ' and read out book, 'Rule Forty-two All persons more than mile hight to leave the court '

Everybody looked at Alice

'I'm not mile high,' said Alice

' ,' said the King

'Nearly two miles high,' added the Queen

'Well, I shan't go, at any rate,' said Alice: 'besides, that's not regular rule: you invented it just now '

'It's the oldest rule book,' said the King

'Then it Number One,' said Alice

The King turned pale, and shut his note-book hastily 'Consider your verdict,' jury, in low, trembling voice

'There's more evidence yet, please your Majesty,' said the White Rabbit, jumping up in great hurry; 'this paper has just been picked up '

'What's ? ' said the Queen

'I haven't opened it yet,' said the White Rabbit, 'but it letter, written prisoner to--to somebody '

'It must that,' said the King, 'unless written to nobody, which isn't usual, '

' it directed to ? ' said jurymen

'It isn't directed at all,' said the White Rabbit; ' , there's nothing written outside ' He unfolded the paper as he spoke, and added 'It isn't letter, after all: it's set of verses '

'Are they prisoner's handwriting ? ' asked another of they jurymen

'No, they're not,' said the White Rabbit, ' 's the queerest thing ' (The jury all looked puzzled )

' imitated somebody else's hand,' said the King (The jury all brightened up again )

'Please your Majesty,' said the Knave, 'I didn't write it, and 't prove : there's no name signed end '

' didn't sign it,' said the King, 'that only makes the matter worse meant some mischief, or else you'd have signed like an honest man '

general clapping of hands : it first really clever thing the King had said that day

'That proves his guilt,' said the Queen

'It proves nothing sort ! ' said Alice 'Why, you don't even know what they're about ! '

'Read them,' said the King

The White Rabbit put spectacles 'Where shall I begin, please your Majesty ? ' he asked

'Begin beginning,' the King said gravely, 'and go on till you come end: then stop '

These were the verses the White Rabbit read:--

'They told me you to her, And mentioned me to him She good character, But said swim

He sent them word I gone ( it true) If she should push the matter on, What would become of you ?

her one, they gave him two, us three or more; They all returned , Though they were mine before

If I or she should chance Involved affair, He trusts to set them free, Exactly were

My notion you (Before she had this fit) An obstacle that came between Him, and ourselves, and it

Don't let him know she liked them best, must ever be secret, kept from all the rest, Between yourself and me '

'That's the most important piece of evidence we've heard yet,' said the King, rubbing his hands; 'so now let the jury--'

'If can explain it,' said Alice, (she had grown so large last that she wasn't bit afraid of interrupting him,) 'I'll give him sixpence I don't believe there's an atom of meaning '

The jury all wrote down on their slates, 'She doesn't believe there's an atom of meaning ,' but attempted to explain the paper

'If there's no meaning ,' said the King, 'that saves world of trouble, , needn't try any And yet I don't know,' he went on, spreading out the verses knee, and looking at them with one eye; 'I seem some meaning , after all "--said swim--" 't swim, ? ' he added, turning Knave

The Knave shook his head sadly 'Do I look like it ? ' (Which he certainly , being made entirely of cardboard )

'All right, ,' said the King, and he went on muttering over the verses to himself: '" it true--" that's the jury, -- " her one, they gave him two--" why, be what tarts, --'

'But, it goes on "they all returned ,"' said Alice

'Why, there ! ' said the King triumphantly, pointing tarts table 'Nothing clearer than that Then again--"before she had this fit--" you never had fits, my dear, ? ' Queen

'Never ! ' said the Queen furiously, throwing an inkstand Lizard as she spoke (The unfortunate little Bill had left off writing slate with one finger, as it made no mark; but he now hastily began again, using the ink, that was trickling down his face, as long as it lasted )

'Then the words don't fit you,' said the King, looking round the court with smile dead silence

'It's pun ! ' the King added in an offended tone, and everybody laughed, 'Let the jury consider their verdict,' the King said, for twentieth time that day

'No, no ! ' said the Queen 'Sentence first--verdict afterwards '

'Stuff and nonsense ! ' said Alice loudly 'The idea of having the sentence first ! '

'Hold your tongue ! ' said the Queen, turning purple

'I won't ! ' said Alice

'Off with her head ! ' the Queen shouted top of her voice Nobody moved

'Who cares ? ' said Alice, (she had grown to her full size ) 'You're nothing but pack of cards ! '

the whole pack rose up air, and came flying down upon her: she gave little scream, half of fright and half of anger, and tried to beat them off, and found herself lying bank, with her head lap of her sister, who was gently brushing away some dead leaves that had fluttered down trees upon her face

'Wake up, Alice dear ! ' said her sister; 'Why, what long sleep you've had ! '

'Oh, I've had such curious dream ! ' said Alice, and she told her sister, as remember them, all these strange Adventures of hers that just been reading about; and when she had finished, her sister kissed her, and said, ' curious dream, dear, certainly: but now run in to your tea; it's getting late ' So Alice got up and ran off, thinking while she ran, she might, what wonderful dream it

But her sister sat still just as she left her, leaning her head on her hand, watching the setting sun, and thinking of little Alice and all her wonderful Adventures, till she too began dreaming after fashion, and her dream:--

First, she dreamed of little Alice herself, and once again the tiny hands were clasped upon her knee, bright eager eyes were looking up into hers-- hear the very tones of her voice, that queer little toss of her head back the wandering hair always get into her eyes--and still as she listened, or seemed to listen, the whole place around her became alive the strange creatures of her little sister's dream

The long grass rustled at her feet White Rabbit hurried by--the frightened Mouse splashed his way neighbouring pool-- hear the rattle teacups March Hare friends shared their never-ending meal, shrill voice Queen ordering off her unfortunate guests to execution--once more the pig-baby was sneezing Duchess's knee, while plates and dishes crashed around it--once more the shriek Gryphon, the squeaking Lizard's slate-pencil, choking suppressed guinea-pigs, filled the air, mixed up distant sobs miserable Mock Turtle

So she sat on, with closed eyes, and half believed herself in Wonderland, though she knew she had but to open them again, and all would change to dull reality--the grass only rustling wind, pool rippling waving reeds--the rattling teacups would change to tinkling sheep-bells, Queen's shrill cries voice shepherd boy-- sneeze baby, the shriek Gryphon, and all the other queer noises, would change (she knew) confused clamour busy farm-yard--while the lowing cattle distance would place Mock Turtle's heavy sobs

Lastly, she pictured to herself how this same little sister of hers would, after-time, be herself grown woman; and how keep, through all her riper years, the simple and loving heart of her childhood: and how gather about her other little children, and make their eyes bright and eager with many strange tale, perhaps even dream of Wonderland of : and how feel with all their simple sorrows, and find pleasure in all their simple joys, remembering her own child-life, happy summer days