The door led right into a large kitchen , which was full of smoke from one end to the other : the Duchess was sitting on a three-legged stool in the middle , nursing a baby ; the cook was leaning over the fire , stirring a large cauldron which seemed to be full of soup . ` There 's certainly too much pepper in that soup ! ' Alice said to herself , as well as she could for sneezing . There was certainly too much of it in the air . Even the Duchess sneezed occasionally ; and as for the baby , it was sneezing and howling alternately without a moment 's pause . The only things in the kitchen that did not sneeze , were the cook , and a large cat which was sitting on the hearth and grinning from ear to ear . ` Please would you tell me , ' said Alice , a little timidly , for she was not quite sure whether it was good manners for her to speak first , ` why your cat grins like that ? ' ` It 's a Cheshire cat , ' said the Duchess , ` and that 's why . Pig ! ' She said the last word with such sudden violence that Alice quite jumped ; but she saw in another moment that it was addressed to the baby , and not to her , so she took courage , and went on again : -- ' I did n't know that Cheshire cats always grinned ; in fact , I did n't know that cats COULD grin . ' ` They all can , ' said the Duchess ; ` and most of 'em do . ' ' I do n't know of any that do , ' Alice said very politely , feeling quite pleased to have got into a conversation . ` You do n't know much , ' said the Duchess ; ` and that 's a fact . ' Alice did not at all like the tone of this remark , and thought it would be as well to introduce some other subject of conversation . While she was trying to fix on one , the cook took the cauldron of soup off the fire , and at once set to work throwing everything within her reach at the Duchess and the baby -- the fire-irons came first ; then followed a shower of saucepans , plates , and dishes . The Duchess took no notice of them even when they hit her ; and the baby was howling so much already , that it was quite impossible to say whether the blows hurt it or not . ` Oh , PLEASE mind what you 're doing ! ' cried Alice , jumping up and down in an agony of terror . ` Oh , there goes his PRECIOUS nose ' ; as an unusually large saucepan flew close by it , and very nearly carried it off . ` If everybody minded their own business , ' the Duchess said in a hoarse growl , ` the world would go round a deal faster than it does . '
` Which would NOT be an advantage , ' said Alice , who felt very glad XXXXX get an opportunity of showing off a little of her knowledge .
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