Only I could n't quite reach it . ' ` And it certainly DID seem a little provoking -LRB- ` almost as if it happened on purpose , ' she thought -RRB- that , though she managed to pick plenty of beautiful rushes as the boat glided by , there was always a more lovely one that she could n't reach . ` The prettiest are always further ! ' she said at last , with a sigh at the obstinacy of the rushes in growing so far off , as , with flushed cheeks and dripping hair and hands , she scrambled back into her place , and began to arrange her new-found treasures . What mattered it to her just then that the rushes had begun to fade , and to lose all their scent and beauty , from the very moment that she picked them ? Even real scented rushes , you know , last only a very little while -- and these , being dream-rushes , melted away almost like snow , as they lay in heaps at her feet -- but Alice hardly noticed this , there were so many other curious things to think about . They had n't gone much farther before the blade of one of the oars got fast in the water and WOULD N'T come out again -LRB- so Alice explained it afterwards -RRB- , and the consequence was that the handle of it caught her under the chin , and , in spite of a series of little shrieks of ` Oh , oh , oh ! ' from poor Alice , it swept her straight off the seat , and down among the heap of rushes . However , she was n't hurt , and was soon up again : the Sheep went on with her knitting all the while , just as if nothing had happened . ` That was a nice crab you caught ! ' she remarked , as Alice got back into her place , very much relieved to find herself still in the boat . ` Was it ? I did n't see it , ' Said Alice , peeping cautiously over the side of the boat into the dark water . ' I wish it had n't let go -- I should so like to see a little crab to take home with me ! ' But the Sheep only laughed scornfully , and went on with her knitting . ` Are there many crabs here ? ' said Alice . ` Crabs , and all sorts of things , ' said the Sheep : ` plenty of choice , only make up your mind . Now , what DO you want to buy ? ' ` To buy ! '
XXXXX echoed in a tone that was half astonished and half frightened -- for the oars , and the boat , and the river , had vanished all in a moment , and she was back again in the little dark shop . '
Alice Said Sheep crab dream-rushes feet oars obstinacy series shrieks