` She 's tired , poor thing ! ' said the Red Queen . ` Smooth her hair -- lend her your nightcap -- and sing her a soothing lullaby . ' ' I have n't got a nightcap with me , ' said Alice , as she tried to obey the first direction : ` and I do n't know any soothing lullabies . ' ' I must do it myself , then , ' said the Red Queen , and she began : ` Hush-a-by lady , in Alice 's lap ! Till the feast 's ready , we 've time for a nap : When the feast 's over , we 'll go to the ball -- Red Queen , and White Queen , and Alice , and all ! ` And now you know the words , ' she added , as she put her head down on Alice 's other shoulder , ` just sing it through to ME . I 'm getting sleepy , too . ' In another moment both Queens were fast asleep , and snoring loud . ` What AM I to do ? ' exclaimed Alice , looking about in great perplexity , as first one round head , and then the other , rolled down from her shoulder , and lay like a heavy lump in her lap . ' I do n't think it EVER happened before , that any one had to take care of two Queens asleep at once ! No , not in all the History of England -- it could n't , you know , because there never was more than one Queen at a time . Do wake up , you heavy things ! ' she went on in an impatient tone ; but there was no answer but a gentle snoring . The snoring got more distinct every minute , and sounded more like a tune : at last she could even make out the words , and she listened so eagerly that , when the two great heads vanished from her lap , she hardly missed them . She was standing before an arched doorway over which were the words QUEEN ALICE in large letters , and on each side of the arch there was a bell-handle ; one was marked ` Visitors ' Bell , ' and the other ` Servants ' Bell . ' ` I 'll wait till the song 's over , ' thought Alice , ` and then I 'll ring -- the -- WHICH bell must I ring ? ' she went on , very much puzzled by the names . ` I 'm not a visitor , and I 'm not a servant .
There OUGHT to be one marked `` XXXXX , '' you know -- ' Just then the door opened a little way , and a creature with a long beak put its head out for a moment and said ` No admittance till the week after next ! '
ALICE Bell England Queen Queens bell-handle first lullabies minute nightcap