Lizard as she spoke. (The unfortunate little Bill had left off writing on his

slate with one finger, as he found it made no mark; but he now hastily began

again, using the ink, that was trickling down his face, as long as it lasted.)


“Then the words don’t fit you,” said the King, looking

round the court with a smile. There was a dead silence.


“It’s a pun!” the King added in an offended tone, and

everybody laughed, “Let the jury consider their verdict,” the King

said, for about the twentieth time that day.


“No, no!” said the Queen. “Sentence first—verdict

afterwards.”


“Stuff and nonsense!” said Alice loudly. “The idea of having

the sentence first!”


“Hold your tongue!” said the Queen, turning purple.


“I won’t!” said Alice.


“Off with her head!” the Queen shouted at the top of her voice.

Nobody moved.


“Who cares for you?” said Alice, (she had grown to her full size by

this time.) “You’re nothing but a pack of cards!”


At this the whole pack rose up into the air, and came flying down upon her: she

gave a little scream, half of fright and half of anger, and tried to beat them

off, and found herself lying on the bank, with her head in the lap of her

sister, who was gently brushing away some dead leaves that had fluttered down

from the trees upon her face.


“Wake up, Alice dear!” said her sister; “Why, what a long

sleep you’ve had!”


“Oh, I’ve had such a curious dream!” said Alice, and she told

her sister, as well as she could remember them, all these strange Adventures of

hers that you have just been reading about; and when she had finished, her

sister kissed her, and said, “It was a curious dream, dear,

certainly: but now run in to your tea; it’s getting late.” So Alice

got up and ran off, thinking while she ran, as well she might, what a wonderful

dream it had been.


But her sister sat still just as she left her, leaning her head on her hand,