March Hare: she thought it must be the right house, because the chimneys were

shaped like ears and the roof was thatched with fur. It was so large a house,

that she did not like to go nearer till she had nibbled some more of the

lefthand bit of mushroom, and raised herself to about two feet high: even then

she walked up towards it rather timidly, saying to herself “Suppose it

should be raving mad after all! I almost wish I’d gone to see the Hatter

instead!”


CHAPTER VII.

A Mad Tea-Party


There was a table set out under a tree in front of the house, and the March

Hare and the Hatter were having tea at it: a Dormouse was sitting between them,

fast asleep, and the other two were using it as a cushion, resting their elbows

on it, and talking over its head. “Very uncomfortable for the

Dormouse,” thought Alice; “only, as it’s asleep, I suppose it

doesn’t mind.”


The table was a large one, but the three were all crowded together at one

corner of it: “No room! No room!” they cried out when they saw

Alice coming. “There’s plenty of room!” said Alice

indignantly, and she sat down in a large arm-chair at one end of the table.


“Have some wine,” the March Hare said in an encouraging tone.


Alice looked all round the table, but there was nothing on it but tea. “I

don’t see any wine,” she remarked.


“There isn’t any,” said the March Hare.


“Then it wasn’t very civil of you to offer it,” said Alice

angrily.


“It wasn’t very civil of you to sit down without being

invited,” said the March Hare.


“I didn’t know it was your table,” said Alice;

“it’s laid for a great many more than three.”


“Your hair wants cutting,” said the Hatter. He had been looking at

Alice for some time with great curiosity, and this was his first speech.


“You should learn not to make personal remarks,” Alice said with

some severity; “it’s very rude.”


The Hatter opened his eyes very wide on hearing this; but all he said