And then the Duck and the Dodo ! How nicely the Duck sang to us as we came along through the water : and if the Dodo had n't known the way to that nice little cottage , I do n't know when we should have got dry again -- '' and there is no knowing how long she might have prattled on in this way , if she had not suddenly caught the sound of pattering feet . It was the white rabbit , trotting slowly back again , and looking anxiously about it as it went , as if it had lost something , and she heard it muttering to itself `` the Marchioness ! the Marchioness ! oh my dear paws ! oh my fur and whiskers ! She 'll have me executed , as sure as ferrets are ferrets ! Where can I have dropped them , I wonder ? '' Alice guessed in a moment that it was looking for the nosegay and the pair of white kid gloves , and she began hunting for them , but they were now nowhere to be seen -- everything seemed to have changed since her swim in the pool , and her walk along the river-bank with its fringe of rushes and forget-me-nots , and the glass table and the little door had vanished . Soon the rabbit noticed Alice , as she stood looking curiously about her , and at once said in a quick angry tone , `` why , Mary Ann ! what are you doing out here ? Go home this moment , and look on my dressing-table for my gloves and nosegay , and fetch them here , as quick as you can run , do you hear ? '' and Alice was so much frightened that she ran off at once , without saying a word , in the direction which the rabbit had pointed out . She soon found herself in front of a neat little house , on the door of which was a bright brass plate with the name W. RABBIT , ESQ. . She went in , and hurried upstairs , for fear she should meet the real Mary Ann and be turned out of the house before she had found the gloves : she knew that one pair had been lost in the hall , `` but of course , '' thought Alice , `` it has plenty more of them in its house . How queer it seems to be going messages for a rabbit ! I suppose Dinah 'll be sending me messages next ! '' And she began fancying the sort of things that would happen : `` Miss Alice ! come here directly and get ready for your walk ! '' `` Coming in a minute , nurse !
but I 've got to watch this mousehole till Dinah comes back , and see that the mouse does n't get out -- '' `` only I do n't think , '' XXXXX went on , `` that they 'd let Dinah stop in the house , if it began ordering people about like that ! ''
Alice Ann Dinah Dodo ESQ. Marchioness executed ferrets minute pattering