“Take off your hat,” the King said to the Hatter.


“It isn’t mine,” said the Hatter.


“Stolen!” the King exclaimed, turning to the jury, who

instantly made a memorandum of the fact.


“I keep them to sell,” the Hatter added as an explanation;

“I’ve none of my own. I’m a hatter.”


Here the Queen put on her spectacles, and began staring at the Hatter, who

turned pale and fidgeted.


“Give your evidence,” said the King; “and don’t be

nervous, or I’ll have you executed on the spot.”


This did not seem to encourage the witness at all: he kept shifting from one

foot to the other, looking uneasily at the Queen, and in his confusion he bit a

large piece out of his teacup instead of the bread-and-butter.


Just at this moment Alice felt a very curious sensation, which puzzled her a

good deal until she made out what it was: she was beginning to grow larger

again, and she thought at first she would get up and leave the court; but on

second thoughts she decided to remain where she was as long as there was room

for her.


“I wish you wouldn’t squeeze so.” said the Dormouse, who was

sitting next to her. “I can hardly breathe.”


“I can’t help it,” said Alice very meekly: “I’m

growing.”


“You’ve no right to grow here,” said the Dormouse.


“Don’t talk nonsense,” said Alice more boldly: “you

know you’re growing too.”


“Yes, but I grow at a reasonable pace,” said the Dormouse:

“not in that ridiculous fashion.” And he got up very sulkily and

crossed over to the other side of the court.


All this time the Queen had never left off staring at the Hatter, and, just as

the Dormouse crossed the court, she said to one of the officers of the court,

“Bring me the list of the singers in the last concert!” on which

the wretched Hatter trembled so, that he shook both his shoes off.


“Give your evidence,” the King repeated angrily, “or

I’ll have you executed, whether you’re nervous or not.”