外国名著故事《爱丽丝漫游奇境记》选集

外国名著故事《爱丽丝漫游奇境记》选集Alicewasbeginningtogetverytiredofsittingbyhersisteronthebank,andofhavingnothingtodo：onceortwiceshehadpeepedintothebookhersisterwasreading,butithadnopicturesorconversationsinit,"andwhatistheuseofabook,"thoughtAlice"withoutpicturesorconversation?"Soshewasconsideringinherownmind(aswellasshecould,forthehotdaymadeherfeelverysleepyandstupid),whetherthepleasureofmakingadaisy-chainwouldbeworththetroubleofgettingupandpickingthedaisies,whensuddenlyaWhiteRabbitwithpinkeyesranclosebyher.TherewasnothingsoVERYremarkableinthat;nordidAlicethinkitsoVERYmuchoutofthewaytoheartheRabbitsaytoitself,"Ohdear!Ohdear!Ishallbelate!"(whenshethoughtitoverafterwards,itoccurredtoherthatsheoughttohavewonderedatthis,butatthetimeitallseemedquitenatural);butwhentheRabbitactuallyTOOKAWATCHOUTOFITSWAISTCOAT-POCKET,andlookedatit,andthenhurriedon,Alicestartedtoherfeet,foritflashedacrosshermindthatshehadneverbeforeseenarabbitwitheitherawaistcoat-pocket,orawatchtotakeoutofit,andburningwithcuriosity,sheranacrossthefieldafterit,andfortunatelywasjustintimetoseeitpopdownalargerabbit-holeunderthehedge.InanothermomentdownwentAliceafterit,neveronceconsideringhowintheworldshewastogetoutagain.Therabbit-holewentstraightonlikeatunnelforsomeway,andthendippedsuddenlydown,sosuddenlythatAlicehadnotamomenttothinkaboutstoppingherselfbeforeshefoundherselffallingdownaverydeepwell.Eitherthewellwasverydeep,orshefellveryslowly,forshehadplentyoftimeasshewentdowntolookaboutherandtowonderwhatwasgoingtohappennext.First,shetriedtolookdownandmakeoutwhatshewascomingto,butitwastoodarktoseeanything;thenshelookedatthesidesofthewell,andnoticedthattheywerefilledwithcupboardsandbook-shelves;hereandthereshesawmapsandpictureshunguponpegs.Shetookdownajarfromoneoftheshelvesasshepassed;itwaslabelled"ORANGEMARMALADE",buttohergreatdisappointmentitwasempty：shedidnotliketodropthejarforfearofkillingsomebody,somanagedtoputitintooneofthecupboardsasshefellpastit."Well!"thoughtAlicetoherself,"aftersuchafallasthis,Ishallthinknothingoftumblingdownstairs!Howbravethey"llallthinkmeathome!Why,Iwouldn"tsayanythingaboutit,evenifIfelloffthetopofthehouse!"(Whichwasverylikelytrue.)Down,down,down.WouldthefallNEVERcometoanend!"IwonderhowmanymilesI"vefallenbythistime?"shesaidaloud."Imustbegettingsomewherenearthecentreoftheearth.Letmesee：thatwouldbefourthousandmilesdown,Ithink--"(for,yousee,Alicehadlearntseveralthingsofthissortinherlessonsintheschoolroom,andthoughthiswasnotaVERYgoodopportunityforshowingoffherknowledge,astherewasnoonetolistentoher,stillitwasgoodpracticetosayitover)"--yes,that"sabouttherightdistance--butthenIwonderwhatLatitudeorLongitudeI"vegotto?"(AlicehadnoideawhatLatitudewas,orLongitudeeither,butthoughttheywerenicegrandwordstosay.)Presentlyshebeganagain."IwonderifIshallfallrightTHROUGHtheearth!Howfunnyit"llseemtocomeoutamongthepeoplethatwalkwiththeirheadsdownward!TheAntipathies,Ithink--"(shewasrathergladthereWASnoonelistening,thistime,asitdidn"tsoundatalltherightword)"--butIshallhavetoaskthemwhatthenameofthecountryis,youknow.Please,Ma"am,isthisNewZealandorAustralia?"(andshetriedtocurtseyasshespoke--fancyCURTSEYINGasyou"refallingthroughtheair!Doyouthinkyoucouldmanageit?)"Andwhatanignorantlittlegirlshe"llthinkmeforasking!No,it"llneverdotoask：perhapsIshallseeitwrittenupsomewhere."Down,down,down.Therewasnothingelsetodo,soAlicesoonbegantalkingagain."Dinah"llmissmeverymuchtonight,Ishouldthink!"(Dinahwasthecat.)"Ihopethey"llrememberhersaucerofmilkattea-time.Dinahmydear!Iwishyouweredownherewithme!Therearenomiceintheair,I"mafraid,butyoumightcatchabat,andthat"sverylikeamouse,youknow.Butdocatseatbats,Iwonder?"AndhereAlicebegantogetrathersleepy,andwentonsayingtoherself,inadreamysortofway,"Docatseatbats?Docatseatbats?"andsometimes,"Dobatseatcats?"for,yousee,asshecouldn"tanswereitherquestion,itdidn"tmuchmatterwhichwaysheputit.Shefeltthatshewasdozingoff,andhadjustbeguntodreamthatshewaswalkinghandinhandwithDinah,andsayingtoherveryearnestly,"Now,Dinah,tellmethetruth：didyouevereatabat?"whensuddenly,thump!thump!downshecameuponaheapofsticksanddryleaves,andthefallwasover.Alicewasnotabithurt,andshejumpedupontoherfeetinamoment：shelookedup,butitwasalldarkoverhead;beforeherwasanotherlongpassage,andtheWhiteRabbitwasstillinsight,hurryingdownit.Therewasnotamomenttobelost：awaywentAlicelikethewind,andwasjustintimetohearitsay,asitturnedacorner,"Ohmyearsandwhiskers,howlateit"sgetting!"Shewasclosebehinditwhensheturnedthecorner,buttheRabbitwasnolongertobeseen：shefoundherselfinalong,lowhall,whichwaslitupbyarowoflampshangingfromtheroof.Thereweredoorsallroundthehall,buttheywerealllocked;andwhenAlicehadbeenallthewaydownonesideanduptheother,tryingeverydoor,shewalkedsadlydownthemiddle,wonderinghowshewasevertogetoutagain.Suddenlyshecameuponalittlethree-leggedtable,allmadeofsolidglass;therewasnothingonitexceptatinygoldenkey,andAlice"sfirstthoughtwasthatitmightbelongtooneofthedoorsofthehall;but,alas!eitherthelocksweretoolarge,orthekeywastoosmall,butatanyrateitwouldnotopenanyofthem.However,onthesecondtimeround,shecameuponalowcurtainshehadnotnoticedbefore,andbehinditwasalittledooraboutfifteenincheshigh：shetriedthelittlegoldenkeyinthelock,andtohergreatdelightitfitted!Aliceopenedthedoorandfoundthatitledintoasmallpassage,notmuchlargerthanarat-hole：shekneltdownandlookedalongthepassageintotheloveliestgardenyoueversaw.Howshelongedtogetoutofthatdarkhall,andwanderaboutamongthosebedsofbrightflowersandthosecoolfountains,butshecouldnotevengetherheadthoughthedoorway;"andevenifmyheadwouldgothrough,"thoughtpoorAlice,"itwouldbeofverylittleusewithoutmyshoulders.Oh,howIwishIcouldshutuplikeatelescope!IthinkIcould,ifIonlyknowhowtobegin."For,yousee,somanyout-of-the-waythingshadhappenedlately,thatAlicehadbeguntothinkthatveryfewthingsindeedwerereallyimpossible.Thereseemedtobenouseinwaitingbythelittledoor,soshewentbacktothetable,halfhopingshemightfindanotherkeyonit,oratanyrateabookofrulesforshuttingpeopleupliketelescopes：thistimeshefoundalittlebottleonit,("whichcertainlywasnotherebefore,"saidAlice,)androundtheneckofthebottlewasapaperlabel,withthewords"DRINKME"beautifullyprintedonitinlargeletters.Itwasallverywelltosay"Drinkme,"butthewiselittleAlicewasnotgoingtodoTHATinahurry."No,I"lllookfirst,"shesaid,"andseewhetherit"smarked"poison"ornot";forshehadreadseveralnicelittlehistoriesaboutchildrenwhohadgotburnt,andeatenupbywildbeastsandotherunpleasantthings,allbecausetheyWOULDnotrememberthesimplerulestheirfriendshadtaughtthem：suchas,thatared-hotpokerwillburnyouifyouholdittoolong;andthatifyoucutyourfingerVERYdeeplywithaknife,itusuallybleeds;andshehadneverforgottenthat,ifyoudrinkmuchfromabottlemarked"poison,"itisalmostcertaintodisagreewithyou,soonerorlater.However,thisbottlewasNOTmarked"poison,"soAliceventuredtotasteit,andfindingitverynice,(ithad,infact,asortofmixedflavourofcherry-tart,custard,pineapple,roastturkey,toffee,andhotbutteredtoast,)sheverysoonfinisheditoff."Whatacuriousfeeling!"saidAlice;"Imustbeshuttinguplikeatelescope."Andsoitwasindeed：shewasnowonlytenincheshigh,andherfacebrightenedupatthethoughtthatshewasnowtherightsizeforgoingthroughthelittledoorintothatlovelygarden.First,however,shewaitedforafewminutestoseeifshewasgoingtoshrinkanyfurther：shefeltalittlenervousaboutthis;"foritmightend,youknow,"saidAlicetoherself,"inmygoingoutaltogether,likeacandle.IwonderwhatIshouldbelikethen?"Andshetriedtofancywhattheflameofacandleislikeafterthecandleisblownout,forshecouldnotremembereverhavingseensuchathing.Afterawhile,findingthatnothingmorehappened,shedecidedongoingintothegardenatonce;but,alasforpoorAlice!whenshegottothedoor,shefoundshehadforgottenthelittlegoldenkey,andwhenshewentbacktothetableforit,shefoundshecouldnotpossiblyreachit：shecouldseeitquiteplainlythroughtheglass,andshetriedherbesttoclimbuponeofthelegsofthetable,butitwastooslippery;andwhenshehadtiredherselfoutwithtrying,thepoorlittlethingsatdownandcried."Come,there"snouseincryinglikethat!"saidAlicetoherself,rathersharply;"Iadviseyoutoleaveoffthisminute!"Shegenerallygaveherselfverygoodadvice,(thoughsheveryseldomfollowedit),andsometimesshescoldedherselfsoseverelyastobringtearsintohereyes;andoncesherememberedtryingtoboxherownearsforhavingcheatedherselfinagameofcroquetshewasplayingagainstherself,forthiscuriouschildwasveryfondofpretendingtobetwopeople."Butit"snousenow,"thoughtpoorAlice,"topretendtobetwopeople!Why,there"shardlyenoughofmelefttomakeONErespectableperson!"Soonhereyefellonalittleglassboxthatwaslyingunderthetable：sheopenedit,andfoundinitaverysmallcake,onwhichthewords"EATME"werebeautifullymarkedincurrants."Well,I"lleatit,"saidAlice,"andifitmakesmegrowlarger,Icanreachthekey;andifitmakesmegrowsmaller,Icancreepunderthedoor;soeitherwayI"llgetintothegarden,andIdon"tcarewhichhappens!"Sheatealittlebit,andsaidanxiouslytoherself,"Whichway?Whichway?",holdingherhandonthetopofherheadtofeelwhichwayitwasgrowing,andshewasquitesurprisedtofindthatsheremainedthesamesize：tobesure,thisgenerallyhappenswhenoneeatscake,butAlicehadgotsomuchintothewayofexpectingnothingbutout-of-the-waythingstohappen,thatitseemedquitedullandstupidforlifetogooninthecommonway.Soshesettowork,andverysoonfinishedoffthecake.Curiouserandcuriouser!"criedAlice(shewassomuchsurprised,thatforthemomentshequiteforgothowtospeakgoodEnglish);"nowI"mopeningoutlikethelargesttelescopethateverwas!Good-bye,feet!"(forwhenshelookeddownatherfeet,theyseemedtobealmostoutofsight,theyweregettingsofaroff)."Oh,mypoorlittlefeet,Iwonderwhowillputonyourshoesandstockingsforyounow,dears?I"msure_I_shan"tbeable!Ishallbeagreatdealtoofarofftotroublemyselfaboutyou：youmustmanagethebestwayyoucan;--butImustbekindtothem,"thoughtAlice,"orperhapstheywon"twalkthewayIwanttogo!Letmesee：I"llgivethemanewpairofbootseveryChristmas."Andshewentonplanningtoherselfhowshewouldmanageit."Theymustgobythecarrier,"shethought;"andhowfunnyit"llseem,sendingpresentstoone"sownfeet!Andhowoddthedirectionswilllook!ALICE"SRIGHTFOOT,ESQ.HEARTHRUG,NEARTHEFENDER,(WITHALICE"SLOVE).Ohdear,whatnonsenseI"mtalking!"Justthenherheadstruckagainsttheroofofthehall：infactshewasnowmorethanninefeethigh,andsheatoncetookupthelittlegoldenkeyandhurriedofftothegardendoor.PoorAlice!Itwasasmuchasshecoulddo,lyingdownononeside,tolookthroughintothegardenwithoneeye;buttogetthroughwasmorehopelessthanever：shesatdownandbegantocryagain."Yououghttobeashamedofyourself,"saidAlice,"agreatgirllikeyou,"(shemightwellsaythis),"togooncryinginthisway!Stopthismoment,Itellyou!"Butshewentonallthesame,sheddinggallonsoftears,untiltherewasalargepoolallroundher,aboutfourinchesdeepandreachinghalfdownthehall.Afteratimesheheardalittlepatteringoffeetinthedistance,andshehastilydriedhereyestoseewhatwascoming.ItwastheWhiteRabbitreturning,splendidlydressed,withapairofwhitekidglovesinonehandandalargefanintheother：hecametrottingalonginagreathurry,mutteringtohimselfashecame,"Oh!theDuchess,theDuchess!Oh!won"tshebesavageifI"vekeptherwaiting!"Alicefeltsodesperatethatshewasreadytoaskhelpofanyone;so,whentheRabbitcamenearher,shebegan,inalow,timidvoice,"Ifyouplease,sir--"TheRabbitstartedviolently,droppedthewhitekidglovesandthefan,andskurriedawayintothedarknessashardashecouldgo.Alicetookupthefanandgloves,and,asthehallwasveryhot,shekeptfanningherselfallthetimeshewentontalking："Dear,dear!Howqueereverythingisto-day!Andyesterdaythingswentonjustasusual.IwonderifI"vebeenchangedinthenight?Letmethink：wasIthesamewhenIgotupthismorning?IalmostthinkIcanrememberfeelingalittledifferent.ButifI"mnotthesame,thenextquestionis,WhointheworldamI?Ah,THAT"Sthegreatpuzzle!"Andshebeganthinkingoverallthechildrensheknewthatwere

ofthesameageasherself,toseeifshecouldhavebeenchangedforanyofthem."I"msureI"mnotAda,"shesaid,"forherhairgoesinsuchlongringlets,andminedoesn"tgoinringletsatall;andI"msureIcan"tbeMabel,forIknowallsortsofthings,andshe,oh!sheknowssuchaverylittle!Besides,SHE"Sshe,andI"mI,and--ohdear,howpuzzlingitallis!I"lltryifIknowallthethingsIusedtoknow.Letmesee：fourtimesfiveistwelve,andfourtimessixisthirteen,andfourtimessevenis--ohdear!Ishallnevergettotwentyatthatrate!However,theMultiplicationTabledoesn"tsignify：let"stryGeography.LondonisthecapitalofParis,andParisisthecapitalofRome,andRome--no,THAT"Sallwrong,I"mcertain!ImusthavebeenchangedforMabel!I"lltryandsaylapbutnot"Howdoththelittle--""andshecrossedherhandsonherasifsheweresayinglessons,andbegantorepeatit,hervoicesoundedhoarseandstrange,andthewordsdidcomethesameastheyusedtodo：--"HowdoththelittlecrocodileImprovehisshiningtail,AndpourthewatersoftheNileOneverygoldenscale!"Howcheerfullyheseemstogrin,Howneatlyspreadhisclaws,AndwelcomelittlefishesinWithgentlysmilingjaws!"saylapbutnot"I"msurethosearenottherightwords,"saidpoorAlice,andhereyesfilledwithtearsagainasshewenton,"ImustbeMabelafterall,andIshallhavetogoandliveinthatpokylittlehouse,andhavenexttonotoystoplaywith,andoh!eversomanylessonstolearn!No,I"vemadeupmymindaboutit;ifI"mMabel,I"llstaydownhere!It"llbenousetheirputtingtheirheadsdownandsaying"Comeupagain,dear!"Ishallonlylookupandsay"WhoamIthen?Tellmethatfirst,andthen,ifIlikebeingthatperson,I"llcomeup：ifnot,I"llstaydownheretillI"msomebodyelse"--but,ohdear!"criedAlice,withasuddenburstoftears,"IdowishtheyWOULDputtheirheadsdown!IamsoVERYtiredofbeingallalonehere!"Asshesaidthisshelookeddownatherhands,andwassurprisedtoseethatshehadputononeoftheRabbit"slittlewhitekidgloveswhileshewastalking."HowCANIhavedonethat?"shethought."Imustbegrowingsmallagain."Shegotupandwenttothetabletomeasureherselfbyit,andfoundthat,asnearlyasshecouldguess,shewasnowabouttwofeethigh,andwasgoingonshrinkingrapidly：shesoonfoundoutthatthecauseofthiswasthefanshewasholding,andshedroppedithastily,justintimetoavoidshrinkingawayaltogether."ThatWASanarrowescape!"saidAlice,agooddealfrightenedatthesuddenchange,butverygladtofindherselfstillinexistence;"andnowforthegarden!"andsheranwithallspeedbacktothelittledoor：but,alas!thelittledoorwasshutagain,andthelittlegoldenkeywaslyingontheglasstableasbefore,"andthingsareworsethanever,"thoughtthepoorchild,"forIneverwassosmallasthisbefore,never!AndIdeclareit"stoobad,thatitis!"Asshesaidthesewordsherfootslipped,andinanothermoment,splash!shewasuptoherchininsaltwater.Herfirstideawasthatshehadsomehowfallenintothesea,"andinthatcaseIcangobackbyrailway,"shesaidtoherself.(Alicehadbeentotheseasideonceinherlife,andhadcometothegeneralconclusion,thatwhereveryougotoontheEnglishcoastyoufindanumberofbathingmachinesinthesea,somechildrendigginginthesandwithwoodenspades,thenarowoflodginghouses,andbehindthemarailwaystation.)However,shesoonmadeoutthatshewasinthepooloftearswhichshehadweptwhenshewasninefeethigh."IwishIhadn"tcriedsomuch!"saidAlice,assheswamabout,tryingtofindherwayout."Ishallbepunishedforitnow,Isuppose,bybeingdrownedinmyowntears!ThatWILLbeaqueerthing,tobesure!However,everythingisqueerto-day."Justthensheheardsomethingsplashingaboutinthepoolalittlewayoff,andsheswamnearertomakeoutwhatitwas：atfirstshethoughtitmustbeawalrusorhippopotamus,butthensherememberedhowsmallshewasnow,andshesoonmadeoutthatitwasonlyamousethathadslippedinlikeherself."Woulditbeofanyuse,now,"thoughtAlice,"tospeaktothismouse?Everythingissoout-of-the-waydownhere,thatIshouldthinkverylikelyitcantalk：atanyrate,there"snoharmintrying."Soshebegan："OMouse,doyouknowthewayoutofthispool?Iamverytiredofswimmingabouthere,OMouse!"(Alicethoughtthismustbetherightwayofspeakingtoamouse：shehadneverdonesuchathingbefore,butsherememberedhavingseeninherbrother"sLatinGrammar,"Amouse--ofamouse--toamouse--amouse--Omouse!"TheMouselookedatherratherinquisitively,andseemedtohertowinkwithoneofitslittleeyes,butitsaidnothing."Perhapsitdoesn"tunderstandEnglish,"thoughtAlice;"Idaresayit"saFrenchmouse,comeoverwithWilliamtheConqueror."(For,withallherknowledgeofhistory,Alicehadnoveryclearnotionhowlongagoanythinghadhappened.)Soshebeganagain："Ouestmachatte?"whichwasthefirstsentenceinherFrenchlesson-book.TheMousegaveasuddenleapoutofthewater,andseemedtoquiveralloverwithfright."Oh,Ibegyourpardon!"criedAlicehastily,afraidthatshehadhurtthepooranimal"sfeelings."Iquiteforgotyoudidn"tlikecats.""Notlikecats!"criedtheMouse,inashrill,passionatevoice."WouldYOUlikecatsifyouwereme?""Well,perhapsnot,"saidAliceinasoothingtone："don"tbeangryaboutit.AndyetIwishIcouldshowyouourcatDinah：Ithinkyou"dtakeafancytocatsifyoucouldonlyseeher.Sheissuchadearquietthing,"Alicewenton,halftoherself,assheswamlazilyaboutinthepool,"andshesitspurringsonicelybythefire,lickingherpawsandwashingherface--andsheissuchanicesoftthingtonurse--andshe"ssuchacapitaloneforcatchingmice--oh,Ibegyourpardon!"criedAliceagain,forthistimetheMousewasbristlingallover,andshefeltcertainitmustbereallyoffended."Wewon"ttalkaboutheranymoreifyou"drathernot.""Weindeed!"criedtheMouse,whowastremblingdowntotheendofhistail."AsifIwouldtalkonsuchasubject!OurfamilyalwaysHATEDcats：nasty,low,vulgarthings!Don"tletmehearthenameagain!""Iwon"tindeed!"saidAlice,inagreathurrytochangethesubjectofconversation."Areyou--areyoufond--of--ofdogs?"TheMousedidnotanswer,soAlicewentoneagerly："ThereissuchanicelittledognearourhouseIshouldliketoshowyou!Alittlebright-eyedterrier,youknow,withoh,suchlongcurlybrownhair!Andit"llfetchthingswhenyouthrowthem,andit"llsitupandbegforitsdinner,andallsortsofthings--Ican"trememberhalfofthem--anditbelongstoafarmer,youknow,andhesaysit"ssouseful,it"sworthahundredpounds!Hesaysitkillsalltheratsand--ohdear!"criedAliceinasorrowfultone,"I"mafraidI"veoffendeditagain!"FortheMousewasswimmingawayfromherashardasitcouldgo,andmakingquiteacommotioninthepoolasitwent.Soshecalledsoftlyafterit,"Mousedear!Docomebackagain,andwewon"ttalkaboutcatsordogseither,ifyoudon"tlikethem!"WhentheMouseheardthis,itturnedroundandswamslowlybacktoher：itsfacewasquitepale(withpassion,Alicethought),anditsaidinalowtremblingvoice,"Letusgettotheshore,andthenI"lltellyoumyhistory,andyou"llunderstandwhyitisIhatecatsanddogs."Itwashightimetogo,forthepoolwasgettingquitecrowdedwiththebirdsandanimalsthathadfallenintoit：therewereaDuckandaDodo,aLoryandanEaglet,andseveralothercuriouscreatures.Aliceledtheway,andthewholepartyswamtotheshore.Theywereindeedaqueer-lookingpartythatassembledonthebank--thebirdswithdraggledfeathers,theanimalswiththeirfurclingingclosetothem,andalldrippingwet,cross,anduncomfortable.Thefirstquestionofcoursewas,howtogetdryagain：theyhadaconsultationaboutthis,andafterafewminutesitseemedquitenaturaltoAlicetofindherselftalkingfamiliarlywiththem,asifshehadknownthemallherlife.Indeed,shehadquitealongargumentwiththeLory,whoatlastturnedsulky,andwouldonlysay,"Iamolderthanyou,andmustknowbetter';andthisAlicewouldnotallowwithoutknowinghowolditwas,and,astheLorypositivelyrefusedtotellitsage,therewasnomoretobesaid.AtlasttheMouse,whoseemedtobeapersonofauthorityamongthem,calledout,"Sitdown,allofyou,andlistentome!I'LLsoonmakeyoudryenough!"Theyallsatdownatonce,inalargering,withtheMouseinthemiddle.Alicekepthereyesanxiouslyfixedonit,forshefeltsureshewouldcatchabadcoldifshedidnotgetdryverysoon."Ahem!"saidtheMousewithanimportantair,"areyouallready?ThisisthedriestthingIknow.Silenceallround,ifyouplease!"WilliamtheConqueror,whosecausewasfavouredbythepope,wassoonsubmittedtobytheEnglish,whowantedleaders,andhadbeenoflatemuchaccustomedtousurpationandconquest.EdwinandMorcar,theearlsofMerciaandNorthumbria--"""Ugh!"saidtheLory,withashiver."Ibegyourpardon!"saidtheMouse,frowning,butverypolitely："Didyouspeak?'"NotI!"saidtheLoryhastily."Ithoughtyoudid,"saidtheMouse."--Iproceed."EdwinandMorcar,theearlsofMerciaandNorthumbria,declaredforhim：andevenStigand,thepatrioticarchbishopofCanterbury,founditadvisable--"'"FoundWHAT?"saidtheDuck."FoundIT,"theMouserepliedrathercrossly："ofcourseyouknowwhat"it"means.'"Iknowwhat"it"meanswellenough,whenIfindathing,"saidtheDuck："it'sgenerallyafrogoraworm.Thequestionis,whatdidthearchbishopfind?'TheMousedidnotnoticethisquestion,buthurriedlywenton,""--founditadvisabletogowithEdgarAthelingtomeetWilliamandofferhimthecrown.William'sconductatfirstwasmoderate.ButtheinsolenceofhisNormans--"Howareyougettingonnow,mydear?"itcontinued,turningtoAliceasitspoke."Aswetasever,"saidAliceinamelancholytone："itdoesn'tseemtodrymeatall.'"Inthatcase,"saidtheDodosolemnly,risingtoitsfeet,"Imovethatthemeetingadjourn,fortheimmediateadoptionofmoreenergeticremedies--'"SpeakEnglish!"saidtheEaglet."Idon'tknowthemeaningofhalfthoselongwords,and,what'smore,Idon'tbelieveyoudoeither!"AndtheEagletbentdownitsheadtohideasmile：someoftheotherbirdstitteredaudibly."WhatIwasgoingtosay,"saidtheDodoinanoffendedtone,"was,thatthebestthingtogetusdrywouldbeaCaucus-race.""WhatISaCaucus-race?"saidAlice;notthatshewantedmuchtoknow,buttheDodohadpausedasifitthoughtthatSOMEBODYoughttospeak,andnooneelseseemedinclinedtosayanything."Why,"saidtheDodo,"thebestwaytoexplainitistodoit."(And,asyoumightliketotrythethingyourself,somewinterday,IwilltellyouhowtheDodomanagedit.)Firstitmarkedoutarace-course,inasortofcircle,("theexactshapedoesn'tmatter,"itsaid,)andthenallthepartywereplacedalongthecourse,hereandthere.Therewasno"One,two,three,andaway,"buttheybeganrunningwhentheyliked,andleftoffwhentheyliked,sothatitwasnoteasytoknowwhentheracewasover.However,whentheyhadbeenrunninghalfanhourorso,andwerequitedryagain,theDodosuddenlycalledout"Theraceisover!"andtheyallcrowdedroundit,panting,andasking,"Butwhohaswon?'ThisquestiontheDodocouldnotanswerwithoutagreatdealofthought,anditsatforalongtimewithonefingerpresseduponitsforehead(thepositioninwhichyouusuallyseeShakespeare,inthepicturesofhim),whiletherestwaitedinsilence.AtlasttheDodosaid,"EVERYBODYhaswon,andallmusthaveprizes.'"Butwhoistogivetheprizes?"quiteachorusofvoicesasked."Why,SHE,ofcourse,"saidtheDodo,pointingtoAlicewithonefinger;andthewholepartyatoncecrowdedroundher,callingoutinaconfusedway,"Prizes!Prizes!'Alicehadnoideawhattodo,andindespairsheputherhandinherpocket,andpulledoutaboxofcomfits,(luckilythesaltwaterhadnotgotintoit),andhandedthemroundasprizes.Therewasexactlyonea-pieceallround."Butshemusthaveaprizeherself,youknow,"saidtheMouse."Ofcourse,"theDodorepliedverygravely."Whatelsehaveyougotinyourpocket?"hewenton,turningtoAlice."Onlyathimble,"saidAlicesadly.Handitoverhere,"saidtheDodo.Thentheyallcrowdedroundheroncemore,whiletheDodosolemnlypresentedthethimble,saying"Webeg