The Mouse gave a sudden leap out of the water , and seemed to quiver all over with fright . ` Oh , I beg your pardon ! ' cried Alice hastily , afraid that she had hurt the poor animal 's feelings . ' I quite forgot you did n't like cats . ' ` Not like cats ! ' cried the Mouse , in a shrill , passionate voice . ` Would YOU like cats if you were me ? ' ` Well , perhaps not , ' said Alice in a soothing tone : ` do n't be angry about it . And yet I wish I could show you our cat Dinah : I think you 'd take a fancy to cats if you could only see her . She is such a dear quiet thing , ' Alice went on , half to herself , as she swam lazily about in the pool , ` and she sits purring so nicely by the fire , licking her paws and washing her face -- and she is such a nice soft thing to nurse -- and she 's such a capital one for catching mice -- oh , I beg your pardon ! ' cried Alice again , for this time the Mouse was bristling all over , and she felt certain it must be really offended . ` We wo n't talk about her any more if you 'd rather not . ' ` We indeed ! ' cried the Mouse , who was trembling down to the end of his tail . ` As if I would talk on such a subject ! Our family always HATED cats : nasty , low , vulgar things ! Do n't let me hear the name again ! ' ' I wo n't indeed ! ' said Alice , in a great hurry to change the subject of conversation . ` Are you -- are you fond -- of -- of dogs ? '
The Mouse did not answer , so Alice went on eagerly : ` There is such a nice little dog near our house I should like XXXXX show you !
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