` 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 Queen : ` were YOU ever punished ? ' ` Only for faults , ' said Alice . ` And you were all the better for it , I know ! ' the Queen said triumphantly . ` Yes , but then I HAD done the things I was punished for , ' said Alice : ` that makes all the difference . ' ` But if you HAD N'T done them , ' the Queen said , ` that would have been better still ; better , and better , and better ! ' Her voice went higher with each ` better , ' till it got quite to a squeak at last . Alice was just beginning to say ` There 's a mistake somewhere -- , ' when the Queen began screaming so loud that she had to leave the sentence unfinished . ` Oh , oh , oh ! ' shouted the Queen , shaking her hand about as if she wanted to shake it off . ` My finger 's bleeding ! Oh , oh , oh , oh ! ' Her screams were so exactly like the whistle of a steam-engine , that Alice had to hold both her hands over her ears . ` What IS the matter ? ' she said , as soon as there was a chance of making herself heard . ` Have you pricked your finger ? ' ' I have n't pricked it YET , ' the Queen said , ` but I soon shall -- oh , oh , oh ! ' ` When do you expect to do it ? ' Alice asked , feeling very much inclined to laugh .
` When I fasten my shawl again , ' the poor XXXXX groaned out : ` the brooch will come undone directly .
Alice Queen THERE ears faults matter screams steam-engine things voice