Alice's Adventures in Wonderland / HTML Edition

n's Croq

ners at it, busily painting them red. Alice thought this a very curious thing, and she went nearer to watch them, and j

id Five, in a sulky tone

said, 'That's right, Five! Al

'I heard the Queen say only yeste

d the one who h

your business, T

and I'll tell him--it was for bringing

' when his eye chanced to fall upon Alice, as she stood watching them, and he ch

ice, a little timidly, 'why

Queen was to find it out, we should all have our heads cut off, you know. So you see, Miss, we're doing our best, afore she comes, to--' At this moment Five, who had been anxiously looking across the

ese came the royal children; there were ten of them, and the 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: it was t

er ever having heard of such a rule at processions; 'and besides, what would be the use of a procession,' thought she, 'if

looked at her, and the Queen said severely 'Who is this?' She s

ad impatiently; and, turning to Alice,

ry politely; but she added, to herself, 'Why, they're onl

you see, as they were lying on their faces, and the pattern on their backs was the same as the rest of the

e, surprised at her own courag

ter glaring at her for a moment like a wild

ery loudly and decidedly,

arm, and timidly said 'Conside

way from him, and said to

, very carefully

three gardeners instantly jumped up, and began bowing to

e me giddy.' And then, turning to the rose-tre

in a very humble tone, going down on o

h their heads!' and the procession moved on, three of the soldiers remaining

wer-pot that stood near. The three soldiers wandered about for a minute

ads off?' sho

t please your Majesty!' the

uted the Queen. 'Ca

looked at Alice, as the questi

shouted

d Alice joined the procession, wonder

ce at her side. She was walking by the White R

lice: '--where

over his shoulder as he spoke, and then raised himself upon tiptoe, put hi

or?' sa

hat a pity!"?'

'I don't think it's at all

m of laughter. 'Oh, hush!' the Rabbit whispered in a frightened tone. 'The

t settled down in a minute or two, and the game began. Alice thought she had never seen such a curious croquet-ground in her life; it was all ridges and furrows;

ts head, it would twist itself round and look up in her face, with such a puzzled expression that she could not help bursting out laughing: and when she had got its head down, and was going to begin again, it was very provoking to find that the hedgehog had unrolled itself, and was in the act of cr

ing for the hedgehogs; and in a very short time the Queen was in a furious passion, and went s

she knew that it might happen any minute, 'and then,' thought she, 'what would become of me? They'

noticed a curious appearance in the air: it puzzled her very much at first, but, after watching it a minute or two,

the Cat, as soon as there was m

ne of them.' In another minute the whole head appeared, and then Alice put down her flamingo, and began an account of the game, feeling

ave any rules in particular; at least, if there are, nobody attends to them--and you've no idea how confusing it is all the things being alive; for instance, there's the arch

e Queen?' said the

ced that the Queen was close behind her, listening: so she went on,

smiled and

ng, going up to Alice, and looking at

Cheshire Cat,' said Alice:

all,' said the King: 'however, i

not,' the

ng, 'and don't look at me like that

Alice. 'I've read that in some

ly, and he called the Queen, who was passing at the mo

difficulties, great or small. 'Off with his

r myself,' said the King e

assion. She had already heard her sentence three of the players to be executed for having missed their turns, and she did not like the look

or croqueting one of them with the other: the only difficulty was, that her flamingo was gone across to the

ht: 'but it doesn't matter much,' thought Alice, 'as all the arches are gone from this side of the ground.' So she tuck

round it: there was a dispute going on between the executioner, the King, and the Queen, who

uestion, and they repeated their arguments to her, though, as they all spok

ss there was a body to cut it off from: that he had never had to do s

g that had a head could be beheaded,

ss than no time she'd have everybody executed, all round. (It was this

to say but 'It belongs to the Duch

he executioner: 'fetch her here.' And

back with the Duchess, it had entirely disappeared; so the King and the executioner ra