Through the Looking-Glass

hen ten or twenty together, and at last in such crowds that they seemed to fill the wh

they were always tripping over something or other, and whenever one went down, several

ed to be a regular rule that, whenever a horse stumbled the rider fell off instantly. The confusion got worse every moment, and Alice was ve

elight, on seeing Alice. 'Did you happen to meet an

lice: 'several thous

t send all the horses, you know, because two of them are wanted in the game. And I haven't sent the two Messenge

on the road,

tone. 'To be able to see Nobody! And at that distance, too! Wh

now!' she exclaimed at last. 'But he's coming very slowly-and what curious attitudes he goes into!' (For the messenger kept

ose are Anglo-Saxon attitudes. He only does them when he's happy.

e is Happy. I hate him with an H, because he is Hideous. I fed him wi

the game, while Alice was still hesitating for the name of a town beginning with H. 'The other

r pardon?'

ctable to beg,'

understand,' said Alice. 'Wh

mpatiently. 'I must have two-to fetch an

out of breath to say a word, and could only wave his han

ng off the Messenger's attention from himself-but it was no use-the Anglo-Saxon attitudes on

e King. 'I feel faint-G

, opened a bag that hung round his neck, and hande

ndwich!' sa

left now,' the Messenger

King murmured i

deal. 'There's nothing like eating hay when you'r

r over you would be better,' Alice

e King replied. 'I said there was nothing l

King went on, holding out his hand

said the

s young lady saw him too. So of co

id in a sulky tone. 'I'm sure no

ve been here first. However, now you've got your br

tooping so as to get close to the King's ear. Alice was sorry for this, as she wanted to hear the news

d shaking himself. 'If you do such a thing again, I'll have you

arthquake!' thought Alice. 'Who ar

he Unicorn, of cour

g for th

t's my crown all the while! Let's run and see them.' And they trotted

Unicorn were fight

he Unicorn all

hite bread, some

m-cake and drummed

she asked, as well as she could, for the

said the King.

ut, after running a little further, 'to st

ong enough. You see, a minute goes by so fearfully

wd, in the middle of which the Lion and Unicorn were fighting. They were in such a cloud of dust, that at f

senger, was standing watching the fight, with a cup of tea

ered to Alice: 'and they only give them oyster-shells in there-so you see he's very hungry and t

nodded, and went on wit

n prison, dear ch

s time a tear or two trickled down hi

impatiently. But Hatta only munch

the King. 'How are they

ead-and-butter. 'They're getting on very well,' he said in a cho

ring the white bread and the b

,' said Hatta: 'this is a

the King called out 'Ten minutes allowed for refreshments!' Haigha and Hatta set to work at once

King said to Hatta: 'go and order the drums to begi

ook, look!' she cried, pointing eagerly. 'There's the White Queen running across the

bt,' the King said, without even look

lp her?' Alice asked, very much sur

dersnatch! But I'll make a memorandum about her, if you like-She's a dear good creature,' he repeat

hands in his pockets. 'I had the best of it this time?'

rather nervously. 'You shouldn't have r

en his eye happened to fall upon Alice: he turned round rather instantly,

his?' he s

duce her, and spreading out both his hands towards her in an Anglo-Saxon att

e fabulous monsters!' said

,' said Haig

reamily at Alice, an

s she began: 'Do you know, I always thought Unicorns we

said the Unicorn, 'if you'll believe in me

ou like,'

the Unicorn went on, turning from her to t

beckoned to Haigha. 'Open the bag!' he whisp

while he got out a dish and carving-knife. How they all came out of i

, and his eyes were half shut. 'What's this!' he said, blinking lazily at Alice,

Unicorn cried eagerly. 'You

re you animal-vegetable-or mineral?'

' the Unicorn cried out,

n and putting his chin on his paws. 'And sit down, both of you,' (

having to sit down between the two great cr

orn said, looking slyly up at the crown, which the poor K

in easy,' s

re of that,' s

, you chicken!' the Lion replied an

is voice quite quivered. 'All round the town?' he said. 'That's a good long way. Did y

ay down again. 'There was too much dust to see anythi

away diligently with the knife. 'It's very provoking!' she said, in reply to the Lion (she was getting qu

lass cakes,' the Unicorn remarked. 'Han

sh round, and the cake divided itself into three pieces as she did so. 'Now

with the knife in her hand, very much puzzled how to beg

anyhow,' said the Lion. 'Do

could answer him,

it, and it rang through and through her head till she felt quite deafened

* *

*

* *

ry looks at being interrupted in their feast, before she dropped to her knees,

ut of town,"' she thought to