` Curtsey while you 're thinking what to say , it saves time . ' Alice wondered a little at this , but she was too much in awe of the Queen to disbelieve it . ` I 'll try it when I go home , ' she thought to herself , ` the next time I 'm a little late for dinner . ' ` It 's time for you to answer now , ' the Queen said , looking at her watch : ` open your mouth a LITTLE wider when you speak , and always say `` your Majesty . '' ' ' I only wanted to see what the garden was like , your Majesty -- ' ` That 's right , ' said the Queen , patting her on the head , which Alice did n't like at all , ` though , when you say `` garden , '' -- I 'VE seen gardens , compared with which this would be a wilderness . ' Alice did n't dare to argue the point , but went on : ' -- and I thought I 'd try and find my way to the top of that hill -- ' ` When you say `` hill , '' ' the Queen interrupted , ' I could show you hills , in comparison with which you 'd call that a valley . ' ` No , I should n't , ' said Alice , surprised into contradicting her at last : ' a hill CA N'T be a valley , you know . That would be nonsense -- ' The Red Queen shook her head , ` You may call it `` nonsense '' if you like , ' she said , ` but I 'VE heard nonsense , compared with which that would be as sensible as a dictionary ! ' Alice curtseyed again , as she was afraid from the Queen 's tone that she was a LITTLE offended : and they walked on in silence till they got to the top of the little hill . For some minutes Alice stood without speaking , looking out in all directions over the country -- and a most curious country it was . There were a number of tiny little brooks running straight across it from side to side , and the ground between was divided up into squares by a number of little green hedges , that reached from brook to brook . ' I declare it 's marked out just like a large chessboard ! ' Alice said at last . ` There ought to be some men moving about somewhere -- and so there are ! ' She added in a tone of delight , and her heart began to beat quick with excitement as she went on . ` It 's a great huge game of chess that 's being played -- all over the world -- if this IS the world at all , you know . Oh , what fun it is ! How I WISH I was one of them ! I would n't mind being a Pawn , if only I might join -- though of course I should LIKE to be a Queen , best . ' She glanced rather shyly at the real Queen as she said this , but her companion only smiled pleasantly , and said , ` That 's easily managed .
You can be the White Queen 's Pawn , if you like , as Lily 's too young to play ; and you 're in the Second Square to begin with : when you get to the Eighth Square you 'll be a XXXXX -- ' Just at this moment , somehow or other , they began to run .
Alice CA Curtsey LITTLE Queen chessboard point right top way