I do n't understand you , ' said Alice . ` It 's dreadfully confusing ! ' ` That 's the effect of living backwards , ' the Queen said kindly : ` it always makes one a little giddy at first -- ' ` Living backwards ! ' Alice repeated in great astonishment . ' I never heard of such a thing ! ' ' -- but there 's one great advantage in it , that one 's memory works both ways . ' ` I 'm sure MINE only works one way , ' Alice remarked . ' I ca n't remember things before they happen . ' ` It 's a poor sort of memory that only works backwards , ' the Queen remarked . ` What sort of things do YOU remember best ? ' Alice ventured to ask . ` Oh , things that happened the week after next , ' the Queen replied in a careless tone . ` For instance , now , ' she went on , sticking a large piece of plaster -LSB- band-aid -RSB- on her finger as she spoke , ` there 's the King 's Messenger . He 's in prison now , being punished : and the trial does n't even begin till next Wednesday : and of course the crime comes last of all . ' ` Suppose he never commits the crime ? ' said Alice . ` That would be all the better , would n't it ? ' the Queen said , as she bound the plaster round her finger with a bit of ribbon . Alice felt there was no denying THAT . ` Of course it would be all the better , ' she said : ` but it would n't be all the better his being punished . '
` You 're wrong THERE , at any rate , ' said the XXXXX : ` were YOU ever punished ? '
Alice King Messenger Queen advantage band-aid first things tone ways