AliceinWonderland
Chapter1
Aliceandherbigsisterweresittingonthegrass.Hersisterwasreadingabook,butAlicehadnothingtoread.Shelookedathersister’sbookagain.Therewerenopicturesinit.
“Whatgoodisabookwithoutpictures?”shewondered.
Itwasaveryhotday,andAlicewonderedwhattodo.“I’msosleepy,”shesaidtoherself.“ShallIlookforsomeflowers,orisittoohot?”
Shesawaleaffallingfromatree,butshewastoosleepytolookatit.
Justthen,awhiterabbitranby,veryneartoher.Thatdoesnothappeneveryday,butAlicedidnotwonderverymuchevenwhentherabbitsaidtoitself,“Oh!Oh!Iwillbetoolate!”
Butshedidwonderwhentherabbittookawatchoutofitspocketandlookedatit.
“Arabbitwithapocket?”Aliceaskedherself.“Andawatchinit?”
ShejumpedupandranaftertheWhiteRabbit.Shewasjusttimetoseehimgodownabigrabbithole.
Alicewentintotheholetoo.Shedidn’tstoptowonderhowshecouldgetoutagain.
Therabbitholewentalongjustundertheground,andthen…Alicewasfalling…down…down…down.
Shewasnotfallingquickly.Shehadtimetowonder“What’sgoingtohappennext?”Shelookeddown,buttherewasnolightthere.
Down,down,down.“WillDinahwonderwhereIamtonight?”Aliceaskedherself.(DinahwasAlice’scat.)“Willtheyrememberhermilkatteatime?Oh,Dinah!Whyaren’tyouherewithme?Therearenomicehere,buttheremaybesomebats.Docatseatbats,Iwonder?”Alicewasbeginningtogetsleepy.“Docatseatbats?”sheaskedherself.“Docatseatbats?”Andsometimessheasked,“Dobatseatcats?”
THUMP!BUMP!Alicecamedownonsomethingthatwasnotveryhard.
Shesatupquickly.ShecouldstillseetheWhiteRabbit,farawayalongtherabbithole.
“Run!”Alicetoldherself,andsheranveryquicklyaftertheWhiteRabbit.
“Oh,myears!”sheheardhimsay.“Howlateit’sgetting!”Thenhewentquicklythroughanopeningatthesideoftherabbithole.
Aliceranthroughtheopening.Shewasinalonghall,andshecouldnotseetheWhiteRabbit.
Thereweredoorsoneverysideofthehall,butshecouldnotopenanyofthem,andshecouldnotfindtheopeningfromtherabbithole.
“WhatcanIdo?”shewondered.Thenshesawalittletable.Itwasaglasstable,andtherewasaverysmallgoldenkeyonit.“Willitopenoneofthedoors?”shewondered.Shewenttoallthedoors,butthekeywasmuchtoosmalltoopenanyofthem.“Itmustopensomething.”
Thenshesawaverylittledoor,hiddennearoneofthebigdoors.Thelittlekeyopenedit.Aliceputherheaddownandlookedthroughitintoaverybeautifulgarden.Shecouldseealotofflowersandgrass,andshewantedtogothere.Butthedoorwasmuchtoosmall.Sadlysheshutitagainandtookthekeybacktothetable.
“Whycan’tIbecomesmaller?”Alicewondered.“It’snotlikehomehere—it’smoremagic—sotheremustbeawaytogetsmaller.”Shelookedattheglasstable.Therewasalittlebottleonit.(Thatwasnotonthetablebefore,”Alicetoldherself.)Shereadanoteonthebottle.Itwasinverygood,bigwriting:“Drinkme”.
“Iwilltryjustalittle,”Alicesaid,“averylittle”.Shetrieditanditwasverynice.Shedranksomemore.
“Oh!Myfeetaremuchsmallerandmuchnearer,”Alicesaid,“Imustbeverysmallnow.”
Shewas.“NowIcangothroughthelittledoor,”shetoldherself.Shewenttothedoor,butshecouldnotopenit,andthekeywasontheglasstable.Shecouldseeitthroughtheglass,butshewasnowmuchtoosmalltogetit.Shetriedtogettoituponeoftheglasslegs,butshecouldnot.
Thepoorlittlegirlsatdownandcried.
“Alice!Alice!”shesaidbravely.“It’snogoodcryinglikethat.Stopitatonce!”shesometimesspoketoherselflikethat,butitdidnothelpherthistime.Shewasstillcryingwhenshesawalittleglassboxunderthetable.
Aliceopenedthebox.Therewasaverysmallcakeinit.“Eatme”,sheread.
“Yes,Iwilleatit,”Alicesaid.“ifIgrowbiggerafterthat,Icangetthekey.IfIgrowsmaller,Icangetunderthedoorintothegarden.”Sosheatethecake.
Chapter2
Alicegrewbigger.“HowquicklyI’mgrowing!”shesaid.Andthen,“Oh!”cried,asherheadhittheceiling.
“Imustgointothatgarden,”shethought.“Thishallistoosmallformenow.”
Shetookthelittlegoldenkeyandwentquicklytothegardendoor.Shewasmuchtoobigtogothroughit.
PoorAlice!Shesatdownandbegantocryagain.Becauseshewassobig,thetearsthatfellfromhereyeswereverybigtoo.Theymadeabigpool.
“Stopcrying!”Alicetoldherself.“You’reabiggirl”(andshewasbig—verybig)“andyoumustn’tcry.”Butshecouldn’tstopthebigtears,andsoontherewasapooloftearsallroundher.
Afteratime,sheheardlittlefeetrunningtowardsher,andthenshesawtheWhiteRabbitcomingback.Hehadhisbestclotheson,andhehadtwoverycleanwhiteglovesinonehandandafaninhisotherhand.
“Oh,theDuchess,theDuchess!”Aliceheardhimsaying.“Howangryshe’llbebecauseI’mlate!”
Alicewantedtoaskhimforhelp.Shetriedtospeakinhernicestwayasshesaid,“Please—“
TheWhiteRabbitjumped.Thewordcamefromtheceiling,andhewasafraid.Heranawayasquicklyashecould,andtheglovesandthefanfellfromhishands.
Alicetookuptheverysmallglovesandthefan.Itwashotinthehall,soshebegantofanherselfwiththefan.
“AmIchanged?”shewondered.“Iwasmyselfyesterday,butthingsarenotthesametoday.IfI’mnotme,whoamI?Idon’twanttobemyfriendMabelbecauseshedoesn’tknowverymuch.Iknowmuchmorethanshedoes.”Alicestopped.“DoIknowmore?”shewandered.“I’lltry.I’lltrytosayfourtimes.Fourtimesoneisfour.Fourtimestwoiseight.Fourtimesthreeisnine.Fourtimesfouris…oh!”shebegantocryagain.
ShehadputoneoftheWhiteRabbit’slittlegloveson.
“HowcanIhavedonethat?”shethought.“Imustbegrowingsmall.”
Shestoodupandwalkedtothetableagain.“I’llseehowbigIam,”shesaid.
Thetablewasalongwayup.Alicewasverysmall,andshewasquicklybecomingsmaller.“Thefan!”shethought.“Thefan’smakingmesmaller.”Shethrewitdown.
“I’msosmallthatIcangothroughthedoor,”shethought,andsherantowardsit.Shehadnotrunfarwhen—SPLASH—shefellintoalotofwater.“Ihavefallenintothesea,”shethought.
Itwasn’tthesea.Itwasthepooloftearsthatshehadmadewhenshewasverybig.
“WhydidIcrysomuch?”Alicesaid.
Sheheardsomethingsplashingaboutinthepoolnearher.“Itmustbeaverybigfishorseaanimal,”shethought.Butthensherememberedthatsheherselfwasverysmall,andshesoonsawthatitwasamousethathadfallenintothewater.
“Iwonderifitcanspeak,”Alicethought.“Thisplaceisnotthesameashome,soI’llspeaktoit.Oh,Mouse!”shesaid.“Doyouknowthewayoutofthispool?”
Therewasnoanswer.“IsitaFrenchmouse?”Alicewondered.ShetriedtoremembersomeFrenchwords.ThewordsthatbeganherschoolFrenchwords.ThewordsthatbeganherschoolFrenchbookwerethewordsfor:Whereismycat?SoshesaidtheminFrench.
Therewasagreatsplashing,andtheMousemovedawayasquicklyashecould.
“Oh!”Alicecried.“Pleasedon’tbeangry!Ididn’trememberthatmicedon’tlikecatsifyouwereme?”
“No,”Alicesaid.“No.butIthinkyouwouldlikeDinah.Sheisanice,dearthing.”Alicewasspeakingmostlytoherself.“Shenevermakesanoise,andshe’sverygood.Shecatchesallthemice—Oh!You’reangryagain!WewillnotspeakaboutDinahanymore—“
“We!”theMousecried.“Ineverspeakaboutcats!Idon’twanttohearanymoreaboutthem.”
Alicequicklytriedtospeakaboutotherthings.“Perhaps…”shesaid,“Perhapsyoulikedogs?”TheMousedidnotanswer,soAlicebeganagain:“Thereisaverynicelittledognearourhouse.Youwouldloveit.Itlikesplayingwithchildren,butitworkstoo.Itshomeisonafarm,andthefarmersaysthatithelpshimalot.Itkillsallthem—Oh!”
TheMousewasveryangry.Hesplashedhiswaytothesideofthepoolandgotoutofthewater.Alicewentafterhim.
Therewerealotofanimalsandbirdswhichhadfallenintothepool:aduck,andadodoandotherswithnamesthatAlicedidnotknow.TheysplashedafterAliceandgotoutofthewater.
Chapter3
Alicewasverycoldafterbeinginthepool,andtheanimalsandbirdswerecoldandunhappy.
Alicedidnotwonderaboutitwhentheybegantospeaktoher.
“Thebestthingifyouarecold,”theDodosaid,“istohavearace—aCaucusrace.”
Noneoftheotherbirdsoranimalssaidanything,buttheDodowaswaitingforaquestion,soAliceasked,“WhatisaCaucusrace?”
“Icouldtellyou,”theDodosaid,“butthebestthingistodoit.”
TheDodomademarkstoshowwheretorun.Therewasnoplacetobeginrunning.Therewasnoplacetorunto.Therewasno“One,two,three,go!”Theybeganrunningwhentheyliked,andtheystoppedwhentheyliked.OnlytheDodoknewwhentheracewasover.Wheneverybodywashotagainandhappy,theDodocalledout:“Theraceisover.”
ThentheyallstoodroundtheDodoandasked,“Whohaswon?”
TheDodocouldnotansweratonce.Hesatforalongtimewithafingertohishead,andatlasthesaid:“Everybodyhaswon.Everyonemusthaveaprize.”
“Butwhoistogivetheprizes?”theMouseandalotofotheranimalsasked.
“Sheis,”theDodosaid,lookingatAlice.
“Prizes!Prizes!”allthebirdsandanimalscried,standingroundAlice.
Alicewasnotreadyforthis,butsheputherhandinherpocket.Shefoundasmallboxofverysmallsweetsinit.(Itwasagoodthingthatthewaterhadnotgotintoit.)Therewasjustonesweetforeachofthebirdsandanimals.
“Butshemusthaveaprizeherself,youknow,”theMousesaid.
“Yes,”theDodoanswered.HetoldAlicetofindanotherprizeinherpocket.
“Ionlyhavethebox,”Alicesaid.
“Giveittome.”TheDodoputhishandout,andAliceputtheboxintoit.
TheyallstoodroundAliceagain,andtheDodogaveherthebox,saying:“Pleasetakethisverybeautifulboxwithourthanks.”
Thenextthingwastoeatthesweets.Therewassomenoiseandcryingaboutthis.Thesweetsweretoosmallforthebigbirds:theydidnotlast.Theyweretoobigforthesmallbirds.“Quick!Patthemontheirbacks!”Alicecried.
Atlastthesweetswereallgone,andthebirdsandanimalssatroundinaringandwaitedforsomethingtohappen.
“IfDinahwerehere,Ishouldbeveryhappy,”Alicesaid.Shesaidittoherself,buthernewfriendsheardthewords.
“AndwhoisDinah,mayIask?”theDodosaid.
Alicewasalwaysreadytospeakaboutherfriendthecat.
“Dinah’sourcat.She’sverynice.Andshe’sveryquick.Youshouldseehercatchingmice.She’sverygoodatcatchingbirdstoo—Oh,whyhavetheyallgone?”
Alltheanimalsandbirdshadgone.Alicewasaloneagain.“Theydon’tlikemetospeakaboutDinah,”shetoldherself.“NobodylikesDinahdownhere,butshe’sthebestcatofall.IwonderifIshalleverseeheragain.”
Alicebegantocryagainbecauseshewasalone,butsheheardlittlefeetcomingtowardsher,andshestoppedcrying.“Perhapsit’stheMouse,”shethought.
Chapter4
ItwasnottheMouse.ItwastheWhiterabbit.Hewaslookingeverywhere,andsheheardhimsaying,“TheDuchess!She’llbesoangry!Oh,wherearethey?Wheredidtheyfall?”
Aliceknewthathewaslookingforthefanandthelittlegloves,andshetriedtofindthem.Buteverythingwaschanged.Thehallwiththelittleglasstableandthedoorshadgone.Shewasinthecountry.
TheWhiteRabbitsawher.“Whatareyoudoingouthere,MaryAnn?”heaskedangrily.“Runhomeatonceandbringmesomewhiteglovesandafan.Quick!Now!”
AlicerantowardsalittlehousewithouttryingtotelltheWhiteRabbitthatshewasnotthegirlwhoworkedforhim.Whenshecametothedoorofthehouse,shesaw“W.RABBIT”onit,andshewentin.Inasmallroomatthetopofthehousetherewasatable.Alicesawafanandsomeglovesonit.Shetookthemandwenttowardsthedoor,buttherewasalittlebottlenearit.Itwasnotlikethebottleinthehall.Itdidnothave“DRINKME”onit,butshetriedit.
“WhenIeatordrinkanythinghere,”shesaidtoherself,“somethingalwayshappens.Perhapsthiswillmakemegrowbigagain.Idon’twanttobesmallanymore.”
Shedidgrow.Shegrewveryquickly.
“HaveIdrunktoomuch?Shewondered.
Shesatdown.Butsoonshewastoobigforthat.Withhersideontheflooritwasbetter,butshewasstillgrowing.Sheputherarmoutofthewindowandherfootinsidethefireplace.
“I’mgladthereisn’tafire,”shethought.“IfIgrowanymore,Idon’tknowwhatwillhappen.”
Shestoppedgrowing,butshecouldnotmove.
“MaryAnn!MaryAnn!Whereareyou?Wherearemygloves?”Thewordscamefromthegarden,outsidethewindow.Therabbitwasthere,andsoonAliceheardhislittlefeetashecameuptotheroom.
TheRabbittriedtoopenthedooroftheroom,buthecouldnotmoveit.Alice’sbackstoppedit.
Aliceheardhimsay,“ThenI’llgoandgetinatthewindow.”
“Oh,no,youwillnot!”Alicethought.ShewaitedfortheRabbittorunroundthehousetothewindow.
Therewasalittlecry.SheheardtheRabbitcallingforhelp,andthensheheardlittleanimalsspeaking.
“It’sanarm.”
“It’stoobig.Itcan’tbeanarm.”
“Itisanarm.Takeitaway.”
Alicemovedherarm.Thereweremorecriesandalotofnoise,andthensheheardtheRabbit:“Wemustburnthehousedown!”
Aliceshouted,‘Ifyoudo,I’llaskDinahtocatchyou!”hershoutmademethelittlehouseshake.
Therewasnoanswerfromthelittleanimals.Sheheardnothingatallforsometime.Thentheybegantomoveaboutagain.
“Whatwilltheydonext?”Alicewondered.
Alotoflittlestoneswerethrownatthewindow.Someofthemhitherarm,andsomeofthemcamethroughthewindowandhitherfaceandherbodybeforetheyfellonthefloor.
Alicelookedatthestonesonthefloor.Theyallbecamelittlecakes.
“IfIeatoneofthesecakes,”shethought,“itwilldosomethingtome.Itcan’tmakemebigger,soitmustmakemesmaller.”
Sheateoneofthecakes.
Atonceshebegantogetsmaller.Whenshewassosmallthatshecouldgothroughthedoor,sheranoutofthehouse.
Therewerealotofanimalsoutside,soAliceranquicklyuntilshegottosometrees.Itwasveryhardtorunbecauseshewassosmall.Sheranroundeventhesmallestplantsandflowers.
“Oh!”Alicesaid,stoppingandusingapieceofgrassasafan,“Imustgrowbiggeragain.HowcanIdoit?Imusteatordrinksomething,butthequestioniswhat?”
Thatwasthequestion.Alicelookedallroundherattheflowersandthegrass,butshecouldnotseeanythingwith“EATME”or“DRINKME”onit.
Therewasabigmushroomgrowingnearher.Alicewenttowardsit.Shelookedunderit;shelookedbesideit;shelookedatthebackofit.Thenshelookedtoseewhatwasontopofit.
Themushroomwasasbigasshewas,butshecouldjustseeoverthetop.Shelookedintotheeyesofabigbluecaterpillar.
Chapter5
TheCaterpillarlookedatAliceandsaidnothing.
“Perhapsitdoesn’tspeak,”Alicethought.
Butatlastitdidspeak.“Whoareyou?”itasked.
Itwasahardquestion.Aliceanswered,butnotveryquickly:“I…Idon’tknow.IknewwhoIwasthismorning,butIhavechanged…morethanonce…Ithink.”
“How?”theCaterpillarasked.
Itwasanotherhardquestion.Alicesaid,“It’sjustthat…changingfromonethingtoanotherisveryhard.”
“No,itisn’t.”
Alicethoughtaboutthat.Perhapsitisn’thardforyou,”shesaid.Sheknewthatcaterpillarschangemorethanoncebeforetheybecomebutterflies.“Butitishardforme.”
“Foryou?Whoareyou?”
TheCaterpillarhadaskedthatquestionbefore,andAlicewasneartobecomingangry.Shesaid,“PerhapsyoucantellmewhoyouarebeforeItellyouwhoIam.”
“why?”
Itwasanotherhardquestion.Alicecouldnotanswerit,soshebegantowalkaway.
“Comeback!”theCaterpillarcalled.“Iwanttosaysomething.”
Alicewentbacktothemushroom.“Youmustneverbeangry,”theCaterpillarsaid.
“Isthatall?”Aliceasked.Shewasangry.
“No.”
Alicewaited.“PerhapsitwillsaysomethingifIwait,”shethought.
TheCaterpillargotdownfromthemushroomandbegantomoveaway.Asitwent,itsaid:“Onesidewillmakeyougrowbigger,andtheothersidewillmakeyougrowsmaller.”
Alicedidnotsayanything,butshethought,“Onesideofwhat?Theothersideofwhat?”
PerhapstheCaterpillarheardherthinking,becauseitsaid,“Ofthemushroom.Itwasround,likeallmushrooms.“Howcanithavetwosides—onesideandtheotherside?”shewondered.
Atlastsheputherarmsroundthetop,asfarastheywouldgo.Shetookabiofthemushroomwitheachhand.
“Andnowwhichbitwillmakemebigger?”askedherself.Shetookaverysmallbitefromone.“Oh!”shecried,asherheadhitherfoot.Shejustgotasmallbitefromtheothersideintohermouthbeforeitwastoolate.Thatmadeherbigger.
Thenshetriedverysmallbitesfromonesideortheother,andatlastshewasnottoobigandnottoosmall.
“NowImustfindthatbeautifulgarden,”shesaid.
Alicebegantowalkthroughthetrees.Shecametoagarden,butitwasnotthegardenthatshesawbefore.Therewasahouseinit—averysmallhouse.
“I’mmuchtoobig,”Alicethought.“IfIgotherelikethis,thepeopleinthehousewillbeafraid.I’lleatsomemushroomfromthepartthatmakesmesmall.”
Chapter6PigandPepper
WhenAlicewasnottoobigtogothroughthedoor,shewentuptoit.Thehousewasverynoisyin-side.
There''snobell,"shetoldherself,"andnobodywouldhearabell.There''stoomuchnoise."
Sheopenedthedoorandwentin.
Shewantedtocoverherearsbecauseofthenoise,butshecouldnotdothatinfrontoftheDuchess.
TheDuchesswassittingonaverysmallchair.Shehadababyinherarms.Thecookwasatthefire,makingsoupinaverybigpot.
"There''stoomuchpepperinthatsoup,"Alicesaidtoherself.Itwashardtosayanythingbecausethepeppermadehersneezesomuch.EventheDuchesswassneezing,andthebabysneezedandcriedwithoutstopping.
Thecookwasnotsneezing,butshewasmakingagreatnoisewiththecookingthings-Crash!Bang!Smash!
Therewasaverybigcat,too,anditwasnotsneezing.Itwassittingnearthefire,andithadagrinfromeartoearonitsface.
"Cangirlsspeakfirsttoduchesses,ormusttheywaitfortheduchessestospeaktothem?"Alicewondered.
TheDuchessdidnotspeak,soAliceasked:"Pleasetellmewhyyourcatgrinslikethat."
"It''saCheshirecat,"saidtheDuchess,"andthat''swhy.Pig!"Sheshoutedthelastword,andAlicejumped.ButtheDuchesswasshoutingatthebaby,andnotatAlice.SoAlicespokeagain.
"Ididn''tknowthatCheshirecatsalwaysgrin.Ihaveneverseenanycatgrinning."
"Theyallcan,"saidtheDuchess,"andmostofthemdo."
"Ididn''tknowthat."Alicesaid.
"Youdon''tknowmuch!"
Alicethought,"Imustthinkofsomethingnewtospeakabout."ButjustthenthecooktookthesouppotoffthefireandbegantothrowthingsattheDuchess.Onethingcamethroughtheairafteranother:pots,jars,irons,knives.SomeofthethingshittheDuchessandthebaby.TheDuchessdidnothing,andthebabywasmakingsomuchnoisethatitcouldnotmakeanymore.
"Oh,pleasedon''tthrowanymorethingsatthebaby."Alicecried."You''llhititsprettynose."
"Itisn''tyourbaby,"theDuchesssaid,andshebegantosingtoit.Aftereverylineshegaveitagreatshake.Thewordswere:
Speakroughlytoyourlittleboy,
Andbeathimwhenhesneezes:
Heonlydoesittoannoy,
Becauseheknowsitteases.
Perhapsthosewerenotthewords.ItwashardforAlicetohearthembecausethebabywasmakingsomuchnoise.
"Here!"theDuchesssaid."Youcanhavethebabyforatimeifyoulike."Asshewasspeaking,shethrewthebabytoAlice,adding,"ImustgetreadytoplaycroquetwiththeQueen,"andgoingquicklyoutoftheroom.Thecookthrewapotafterher,butitdidnothither.
Alicecaughtthebaby,butitwashardtomakeitstaystillinherarms.Shetookitoutofthehouse,andafteratimeitstoppedsneezing.Itdidnotstopcrying,butitbegantomakenoiseslikeababypig.Itseyeswerebecomingverysmall,anditsnosewaschangingandbecomingmorelikeapig''snose.
"Itisapig!"Alicetoldherself.Sheputitdownontheground,anditranhappilyaway,makingpignoises.
Alicelookedroundher.ShejumpedalittlewhenshesawtheCheshireCatsittinginoneofthetreesnearher.
TheCatonlygrinnedwhenitsawAlice.
"Itlookskind,"shethought,"butperhapsitwillgetangryquicklylikeallthepeopleandanimalshere."Soshetriedtospeakinapleasingway.
"CheshireCat,dear,"shesaid.
Itsgringrewbigger.notsmaller,sosheknewthatitwaspleased.
"Willyoutellme,please,"shesaid,"whichwayImustofromhere?"
"Yes,"saidtheCat,"butmustn''tyoutellmewhereyouwanttogo?"
"Well,anyplace——"Alicebegan.
"Thenyoucangoanyway,"theCatsaid.
"——ifitisaplace,"Alicesaid.
"Ifyouwalkthatway,you''llgettoaHatter''shouse.Hattersmakehats,youknow.Andifyouwalkthatway,you''llfindaMarchHare.TheHatter''smad,andtheMarchHare''smad."
"ButIdon''twanttomeetmadpeople,"Alicesaid.
“Oh,there''snowaynottomeetthem.We''reallmadhere.I''mmad.You''remad."
"HowdoyouknowI''mmad?"Aliceasked.
"Youmustbemad,"theCatsaid."Everybodywhocomeshereismad.AreyougoingtoplaycroquetwiththeQueentoday?"
"Thatwouldbeverynice,"saidAlice,"butnobodyhasaskedmeyet."
"You''llseemethere,"theCheshireCatsaid.
Itdidnotgoaway,butitwasnotthereanymore.Itjustdisappeared.Alicedidnotwonderaboutthis,butshewasstilllookingattheplacewhenitappearedagain."Whathappenedtothebaby?"itasked.
"Itbecameapig,"Alicesaid.
"Ithoughtitwould,"saidtheCat,anddisappearedagain.
Alicewaited."Perhapsitwillappearagain,"shethought.Butitdidnotappear,andshebegantowalktowardstheMarchHare''shome.
"Ihaveseenhattersbefore,"shesaidtoherself."IwouldliketoseeaMarchHare.ThisisMay,notmarch,soperhapstheMarchHareisn''tverymad."
Justthen,shelookedup,andtherewastheCheshireCatagain,sittinginanothertree.
"Didyousaypig,orfig?"saidtheCat.
"Isaidpig,"Aliceanswered."Andpleasestopappearinganddisappearingsoquickly.Idon''tlikeit."
TheCatdisappearedalittleatatime.ThelastpartthatAlicecouldseewasitsgrin.Itwasthereaftertheotherpartshadgone.
"Ihaveseenacatwithoutagrinverymanytimes,"Alicethought."butagrinwithoutacat!Ineversawanythinglikethatbefore."
WhentheCheshireCat''sgrinhadgone,AlicebegantowalkagaintowardstheMarchHare''shouse.Shesawitthroughthetrees,anditwasnotsosmallastheDuchess''shouse.Alicehadthebitsofmushroominherpockets.Shequicklyatealittleofthebitthatmadeherbigger.Thenshewalkedtowardsthehouse.
Chapter7AttheTeaTable
Therewasatreeinfrontofthehouse.Abigtableunderthetreehadplacesforalotofpeople,buttherewereonlythreeatit:theHatter,theMarchHare,andadormouse.TheDormousewasasleep,andtheothertwoweresittingveryneartoit,oneoneachside,andspeakingoveritshead.
WhentheysawAlice,theHatterandtheMarchHarecriedout,"No,no!Thereisn''taplaceforyou!""Therearealotofplaces,"Alicesaid,andshesatdowninabigchair.
TheHatterlookedatherandtookawatchoutofhispocket."Whatdayisit?"heasked.
Alicethought.Thenshesaid,"Wednesday,Ithink.""It''sFridaybymywatch,"theHattersaidtotheMarchHare,lookingunhappy."Itoldyouthatbutterwasn''tgoodforawatch.""Itwasthebestbutter,"theMarchHaresaid.
"Yes,butyouputitinwiththebreadknife.Somebreadgotin,perhaps."TheMarchHaretookthewatchandlookedatitsadly.Thenheputitinhistea;tookitout;lookedatitsadlyagain;andsaidagain,"Itwasthebestbutter."Alicelookedatthewatch."Ittellstheday,"shesaid,"butitdoesn''ttellyouthetimeofday.""Whyshouldit?"theHatterasked."Doesyourwatchtellyouwhatyearitis?""No,"Aliceanswered,"butthat''sbecauseit''sthesameyearforaverylongtime.""Andmywatchdoesn''ttellthetimebecauseit''salwaysteatime."Alicewonderedaboutthat,butshesaidnothing.
"Takesomemoretea,"theMarchHaresaidtoher.
Alicesaid."Thankyou.ButIhaven''thadanyyet,soIcan''ttakemore.""Yes,youcan,"theHattersaid."Anybodycantakemorethannothing."AlicedidnotlikethewaytheHatterspoketoher."Idon''tthinkheshouldspeaktomelikethat,"shethought.Andshebegantotellhim:"Idon''tthink--""Thenyoushouldn''tspeak,"theHattersaid.
Alicewasangry.Shewalkedawayfromthetable."Perhapsthey''llcallmeback,"shethought."Andthenthey''llbenicetomeandgivemesometeaandbread-and-butter."Buttheydidnotsayanything.Shelookedbackonce.TheDormousewasstillasleep,andtheHatterandtheMarchHareweretryingtoputitintotheteapot.
"I''llnevergothereagain,"Alicesaid.Andshetriedtotellherself,"Ididn''twantanyteaorbread-and-butter."Justasshesaidthat,shesawadoorinoneofthetrees.
Ihaveneverseenadoorinatreebefore,"shethought."Iwonderwhereitgoes."Andshewentin.Shefoundherselfinthelonghall,nearthelittleglasstable.
"I''llgetthroughthelittledoorintothegardenthistime,"shesaidtoherself.Shetookthelittlegoldenkeyandopenedthelittledoor.Thenshetookverysmallbitesfromthebitofmushroomthatmadehersmaller.Whenshewasnottoobigandnottoosmall,shewalkedthroughthedoor.Atlastshewasinthebeautifulgarden.
Chapter8CroquetwiththeQueen
Theprettiestflowersinthegardenweretheroses.Thereweresomeonasmalltree.Alicestoppedtolookatthem.Theywerewhiteroses,butthreegardenerswereworkinghard,tryingtomakethemred.
"Whyaretheydoingthat?"Alicewondered.Shewentnearthem.
"Pleasecanyoutellme,"sheasked,"whyyouaremakingthoserosesred?"
Thethreegardenerslookedveryunhappy.
"Youtellher.Seven,"oneofthemsaid.
"No,"saidSeven,"youtellher.Five."ButFivesaid,"No,youtellher,Two."Twolookedevenmoreunhappy.buthebegan.Well.Miss,this…er…this…er…treeshouldbearedrosetree.IftheQueenseeswhiterosesonit,she''ll…er…she''llhaveourheadscutoff.Sowe''retryingtomakethemredbeforeshecomesto…er…"
Fivewaslookingacrossthegarden,andjustthenhecriedout,"TheQueen!TheQueen!"
Atoncethethreegardenersthrewthemselvesdownwiththeirfacesontheground.
Aliceheardagreatnoise."NowIshallseetheQueen!"shethought.
Itwasaprocession.Tensoldierscameinfrontofalltheothers.Theywerelikethegardeners,buttheyhadclubslike.ThenAlicesawtenoftheKing''sownmenwithreddiamondsonthem.ThechildrenoftheKingandQueencamenext,allwithredhearts.Afterthemtherewerethepeoplewhohadcometoplaycroquet.Mostofthemwerekingsandqueens,butAlicesawthatoneofthemwastheWhiteRabbit,notlookingatallhappy.TheKnaveofHeartscamenext,"justinfrontoftheKingandQueenofHeartsthemselves.
"ShouldIlieonmyfacelikethegardeners?"Alicewondered."Butwhatisaprocessionforifnobodylooksatit?"Soshestoodandwaited.
WhentheprocessioncametoAlice,theyallstoppedandlookedather.TheQueensaidtotheKnaveofHearts."Whoisthis?"
TheKnaveofHeartsdidnotknow,sohesaidnothing.
"Fool!"theQueenshouted.ThenshespoketoAlice."What''syouname,child?""MynameisAlice,ifyouplease."AndAlicewonderedifthatwasthewaytospeaktoaqueen."Butthey''reonlyapackofcards,"shetoldherself."I''mnotgoingtobeafraidofthem."
TheQueenlookedatthetreegardenerswhowereontheirfacesroundtherosetree.Shecouldnotseewhotheywerebecausetheirbackswerethesameasthebacksofalltheothers:thesameasthreesoldiers;orthreeoftheKing''sownmen;oreventhreeofherownchildren.
"Whoarethese?"theQueenasked.
"Don''taskme!WhyshouldIknow?"saidAlice.…"Thatwasverybraveofme,"shethought.
TheQueen''sfacebecameveryred.Shewasvery,veryangry.ShelookedatAliceandshouted:"Offwithherhead!Off--""Nonsense!"saidAlice.
TheQueendidnotknowwhattodo.TheKingputhishandonhiswife''sarmandsaid,"Don''tbeangry,mydear.She''sonlyachild."
Shemovedherarmawayangrily."Showmetheirfaces,"shesaidtotheKnave.
TheKnavemovedthegardenerswithhisfoot.
"Getup!"theQueenshouted,andtheystoodup,verymuchafraid,andsayingnothing.
"What,"theQueenasked,"haveyoubeendoing?""Ifyouplease,"beganTwo,"we…er…weweretrying--""Isee!"saidtheQueen.Shehadbeenlookingattheroses."Offwiththeirheads!"
Theprocessionmovedon,butthreesoldiersstayedtocutthegardeners''headsoff.ThegardenersrantoAliceforhelp,andsheputthemintoabigflowerpot."Don''tbeafraid,"shesaid."Theywillnotcutyourheadsoff."
Thesoldierslookedroundthegardenforsometime.Thentheywentaftertheprocession.
"Aretheirheadsoff?"theQueenshouted.
"Theirheadshavegone,ifyouplease,"theyshoutedback.
"Good!"shoutedtheQueen."Canyouplaycroquet?"
Thesoldierssaidnothing,buttheylookedatAlice.Thequestionwasforher.
"Yes,"Alicecalledout.
"Comeon,then!"theQueencried,andAlicewentandlookherplaceintheprocession.
"Whatwillhappennext?"shewondered.
"It''s-it''saniceday,isn''tit?"sheheard.
TheWhiteRabbitwasbesideher.Hewaslookingatherfacetoseeifshewasangrywithhim.
"Yes,averyniceday,"Alicesaid."Where''stheDuchess?"
"Sh!"TheRabbitlookedallroundhimquickly.ThenheputhismouthneartoAlice''searandsaid:"She''sgoingtohaveherheadcutoff."
"Isshe?Why?"Alicesaid.
"Didyousay,"Ishallcry''?"theRabbitasked.
"No,Ididn''t.Ishallnotcry.Isaid,"Why?"
"ShehittheQueen--"theRabbitbegan.
"Oh,good!"Alicesaid.
"Sh!"theRabbitsaidagain.(Alicecouldseethathewasafraid.)''TheQueenwillhearyou.Shehearseverything.TheDuchesscamelate,andtheQueensaid--""Gotoyourplaces!"shoutedtheQueen,andpeoplebegantorunabouteverywhere.Theyranintootherpeopleandfelldown.AlicecouldseethattheywereallafraidoftheQueen.Butafteratimetheywereready,andthegamebegan.
ThiscroquetwasnotthegameAliceknew.Athomepeoplehitaballwithawooden''mallet''tosenditoverthegrass.Heresomebodygaveheraflamingotohitahedgehog.Someofthegroundwasgrassy,andsomewasnot.
Whenherflamingowasreadytohitthehedgehog,thehedgehogwalkedaway.Whenthehedgehogwasaballagain,theflamingoputitsheadupandlookedather."It''saveryhardgame,"Alicethought.
Thegamewashardforeverybody,andtheQueenwasbecomingangrierandangrier.Shewentroundshouting"Offwithhishead!"or"Offwithherhead!"Alicedidn''tseeanyheadsbeingcutoff,butshewasnothappy."TheQueenisn''tangrywithmejustnow,"shethought,"butitcanhappenatanytime.Iwouldliketospeaktosomebodyaboutit."Therewassomethingintheairnearher."Iwonderwhatitis,"shesaid.Andthenshesawthatitwasagrin."It''stheCheshireCat,"shethought.
"NowIshallhavesomebodytospeakto."Assoonasitsmouthwasallthere,theCheshireCatsaid,"Howareyou?Areyouhappy?"Alicewaited.Whenshecouldseeitseyes,sheshookherhead."Ican''tspeaktoit,"shethought,"beforeithassomeears--orperhapsoneear."
Soonshecouldseeitshead,withtheears,and,Alicesaid,"Idon''tlikethegameatall.Itisn''tagoodgame."
TheCatdidnotshowanymoreofitself.Itsheadstayedintheairwithoutabody."HowdoyouliketheQueen?"itasked.
"Idon''t,"saidAlice.ShesawthattheQueenwasverynear,andsheadded"-think--ldon''tthinkthatthereisanyqueenlikeher."
TheQueenwaspleased,andmovedaway.ButtheKingcametoAliceandstoodbyher,lookingattheCat''sheadandwondering."Whoareyouspeakingto?"heaskedAlice.
"It''safriendofmine,"Alicesaid,"aCheshirecat."
Idon''tlikethelookofitatall,"saidtheKing,"butitmaykissmyhand,ifitlikes."
"Idon''twantto."theCatsaid.
TheKingwasangry,buthewasafraidtoo."Don''tlookatmelikethat,"hesaidtotheCat,andhestoodontheothersideofAlice.
Alicesaid,"Acatmaylookataking.Ireadthatinabook,Ithink."
"Well,itmustgo,"theKingsaid,andhecalledtotheQueen."Thiscatmustgo,mydear,mustn''tit?"
TheQueendidnotevenlook."Offwithhishead!"sheshouted.
"I''llgettheaxemanmyself,"theKingsaid,andhewentawayquickly.
Justthen,Alicelostherflamingo.Ittriedtoflyupintoatree,andshecouldnotcatchitforsometime.
WhenAlicegotbacktotheCheshireCat,therewerealotofpeopleroundit.TheKingandtheQueenandtheaxemanwereallspeakingatthesametime.
Theaxemanwassaying:"Ican''tcutaheadoffitthereisn''tabodytocutitoff."
TheKingwassaying:"Nonsense!Ifanythinghasahead,itsheadcanbecutoff."
TheQueenwassaying:"Ifsomebodydoesn''tdosomethingsoon,I''llhaveeverybody''sheadcutoff."
AssoonasAlicecame,theyallaskedheraboutit.Alicethought,andthenshesaid,"It''stheDuchess''scat.Askheraboutit."
"BringtheDuchesshere,"theQueensaid."She''swaitingtohaveherheadcutoff."
TheaxemanrantogettheDuchess.andtheCheshireCat''sheadbegantodisappear.EvenitsgrinhaddisappearedbythetimetheDuchesscame.TheKingandtheaxemanranabout,tryingtofindit,buttheQueentoldalltheotherstogobacktothegame.
"Comeforawalk,"theDuchesssaid,andsheputherarmthroughAlice''sarm."I''mverygladtoseeyouagain."Andtheywalkedaway.
AliceheardtheQueenatthecroquetground.Shewasstillshouting''Offwithhishead!"and''Offwithherhead!"asshegotangrywiththeplayers.
"Youmustbegladtobealive."AlicesaidtotheDuchess.
"Yes,"theDuchesssaid."It''saniceday.""Willtheystillcutyourheadoff?""Oh,no!Theynevercutanybody''sheadoff.TheQueenlikestosayit,butnobodydoesit."Alicewantedtoasksomemorequestions,buttheyheardacryof''Thetrial''sbeginning!""Whattrialisit?"Alicetriedtoask,buttheDuchesswasrunningtooquicklytoanswer.AsshestillhadAlice''sarm,Alicerantoo.
Chapter9WhoStoletheTarts?
TheKingandQueenofHeartsweresittingdown,andthetrialwasreadytobeginwhenAlicewentintothecourtroom.Alicehadneverbeeninacourtroom,butshehadseenpicturesofcourts,andsheknewsomethingaboutthemfrombooks.
TheKnaveofHeartswasstandinginfrontoftheKingandQueen.Hisheadwasdown,andtherewasasoldieroneachsideofhim.Itwashistrial.
Alicefoundaplace,andthenshelookedroundher.Shesawalotoftheanimalsandbirdsthatsheknew.Andthereweresometartsonatableonthecourt.Theylookedverygood.
Wheneverybodywasready,theKingcalledout:"Readthepaper!"TheWhiteRabbitstoodup.Fromaverybigpaperhereadout:
"TheQueenofHearts.shemadesometarts,Allonasummerday.
TheKnaveofHearts,hestolethosetarts,Andtookthemallaway.""Offwithhishead!"criedtheQueen.
AlicecouldseethattheWhiteRabbitwasafraid,buthesaid,"Notyet,notyet!Wemusthavewitnesses.
"Callawitness,"saidtheKing.
TheHattercameintothecourtasawitness.Hehadhisteainonehandandsomebread-and-butterintheotherhand.
"Iwashavingmyteawhentheycalledme,"hesaid.
“Why?”askedtheKing."Whendidyoubeginyourtea?"TheHatterthought.HelookedattheMarchHareandtheDormouse,whohadcomeintocourtwithhim.Thenhesaid,"March14th,Ithink.""15th,"saidtheMarchHare.
"16th,"addedtheDormouse.
"Writethatdown,"saidtheKing.ThenhesaidtotheHatter,"Takeoffyourhat.""Itisn''tmine,"saidtheHatter.
"Youstoleit?"TheKinglookedangry.
TheHatterwassoafraidthathebegantoshake."No,no!Isellthem.I''mapoorman.Ihaven''tanyhatsofmyown.I''mahatter!""Don''tbeafraid,"theKingsaid,"orI''lltellthemtocutyourheadoff.Whatdidyousee?""I''mapoorman,"theHattersaid,stillshaking."IwashavingmyteawhentheMarchHaresaid--""Ididn''t!"theMarchHarecriedquickly.
"Well,theDormousesaid--"TheHatterwaitedfortheDormousetosay"Ididn''t"buttheDormousewasasleep.
"Afterthat,"theHattersaid,"Icutsomemorebread-and-butter.""ButwhatdidtheDormousesay?""Ican''tremember,"theHattersaid.
"Youmustremember,"theKingsaid,"orI''llhaveyourheadcutoff."Theunhappyhatterwasshakingmoreandmore."I''mapoorman--"hebegan.
TheKingwantedtohearthenextwitness."Youmaygo,"hesaidtotheHatter.
TheHatterranoutofthecourtastheQueensaid,"Andcuthisheadoffoutside!"Buthewasrunningsoquicklythattheaxemancouldnotcatchhim.
Alicewaswonderingwhythecourtroomwasbecomingsmaller.Shethoughtaboutit."PerhapsIamgrowingbigger,"shetoldherself.
"Callthenextwitness,"saidtheKing.
Alicedidnotknowwhothenextwitnesswas.
Butpeopleatthedoorbegantosneeze,andtheneverybodyinthecourtsneezed,astheDuchess''scookcameinwithherpepperpot.
TheKinglookedather."Areyouthenextwitness?"heasked.
Therewasnoanswer.
"Telluseverythingthatyouknow,"saidtheKing.
"No!"saidthecook.
"Youmustaskhersomequestions,"theWhiteRabbittoldtheKing.
"Oh!"theKingsaid.Hethoughthard,andthenheasked,"Whataretartsmadeof?""Pepper,mostly,"thecooksaid,andsheshookherpepperpot.
Wheneverybodyhadstoppedsneezing,theylookedforthecook,butshehaddisappeared.
"Callthenextwitness,"saidtheKing.
Alicewonderedwhothenextwitnesswouldbe.Thewitnesseshaven''tsaidanythingyet,"shethought.
TheWhiteRabbitlookedathispaper.Hereadoutthenextname:"Alice!"
Chapter10TheEndoftheTrial
"Here!"criedAlice,andshestoodup.
Shedidnotrememberthatshehadbeengrowing.Whenshestoodup,thechairsandtablesandotherthingsandthepeopleinthecourtroomfellabouthere,there,andeverywhere.
Aliceputthembackintheirplaces.ThenshelookedattheKing.Hewaswritingsomething.HelookedatAliceandthenread:
"RuleForty-two:Nopersonasbigasahousemaystayinthecourt.""I''mnotasbigasahouse--"Alicebegan.
"Youare,"saidtheKing.
"Nearlytwiceasbig,"theQueenadded.Shewasveryangry.
"--andit''snotarule,"Alicesaid."Youhavejustwrittenit.""It''stheoldestruleofall,"theKingtoldher.
"Then,"saidAlice,"itshouldbeRuleOne,notRuleForty-two."Shewasnotafraidofthembecauseshehadgrownsobig.
"Offwithherhead!"shoutedtheQueen.
"Nonsense!"saidAlice."Who''safraidofyou?You''reonlyapackofcards!"Thepackofcards--allfifty-twoofthem-wentupintotheairandcamedownontopofher.Alicebegantofightthem,partlyafraid,andpartlyangry.Sheopenedhereyes,and--Shewasonthegrass;someleaveshadfallenfromthetreeontoher,andhersisterwasmovingthemoffherface.
"Wakeup,Alicedear!"hersistersaid."Whatalongsleepyouhavehad!"
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