Reading Help Alice's adventure in wonderland
`Ah, well! It means much the same thing,' said the Duchess, `
` digging her sharp little chin into Alice's shoulder as she added, `
` `and the moral of THAT is--"Take care of the sense, and the `
` sounds will take care of themselves."' `
` `
` `How fond she is of finding morals in things!' Alice thought to `
` herself. `
` `
` `I dare say you're wondering why I don't put my arm round your `
` waist,' the Duchess said after a pause: `the reason is, that I'm `
` doubtful about the temper of your flamingo. Shall I try the `
` experiment?' `
` `
` `HE might bite,' Alice cautiously replied, not feeling at all `
` anxious to have the experiment tried. `
` `
` `Very true,' said the Duchess: `flamingoes and mustard both `
` bite. And the moral of that is--"Birds of a feather flock `
` together."' `
` `
` `Only mustard isn't a bird,' Alice remarked. `
` `
` `Right, as usual,' said the Duchess: `what a clear way you `
` have of putting things!' `
` `
` `It's a mineral, I THINK,' said Alice. `
` `
` `Of course it is,' said the Duchess, who seemed ready to agree `
` to everything that Alice said; `there's a large mustard-mine near `
` here. And the moral of that is--"The more there is of mine, the `
` less there is of yours."' `
` `
` `Oh, I know!' exclaimed Alice, who had not attended to this `
` last remark, `it's a vegetable. It doesn't look like one, but it `
` is.' `
` `
` `I quite agree with you,' said the Duchess; `and the moral of `
` that is--"Be what you would seem to be"--or if you'd like it put `
` more simply--"Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than `
` what it might appear to others that what you were or might have `
` been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared `
` to them to be otherwise."' `
` `
` `I think I should understand that better,' Alice said very `
` politely, `if I had it written down: but I can't quite follow it `
` as you say it.' `
` `
` `That's nothing to what I could say if I chose,' the Duchess `
` replied, in a pleased tone. `
` `
` `Pray don't trouble yourself to say it any longer than that,' `
` said Alice. `
` `
` `Oh, don't talk about trouble!' said the Duchess. `I make you `
` a present of everything I've said as yet.' `
` `
` `A cheap sort of present!' thought Alice. `I'm glad they don't `
` give birthday presents like that!' But she did not venture to `
` say it out loud. `
` `
` `Thinking again?' the Duchess asked, with another dig of her `
` sharp little chin. `
` `
` `I've a right to think,' said Alice sharply, for she was `
` beginning to feel a little worried. `
` `
` `Just about as much right,' said the Duchess, `as pigs have to fly; `
` and the m--' `
` `
` But here, to Alice's great surprise, the Duchess's voice died `
` away, even in the middle of her favourite word `moral,' and the `
` arm that was linked into hers began to tremble. Alice looked up, `
` and there stood the Queen in front of them, with her arms folded, `
` frowning like a thunderstorm. `
` `
` `A fine day, your Majesty!' the Duchess began in a low, weak `
` voice. `
` `
` `Now, I give you fair warning,' shouted the Queen, stamping on `
` the ground as she spoke; `either you or your head must be off, `
` and that in about half no time! Take your choice!' `
` `
` The Duchess took her choice, and was gone in a moment. `
` `
` `Let's go on with the game,' the Queen said to Alice; and Alice `
` was too much frightened to say a word, but slowly followed her `
` back to the croquet-ground. `
` `
` The other guests had taken advantage of the Queen's absence, `
` and were resting in the shade: however, the moment they saw her, `
` they hurried back to the game, the Queen merely remarking that a `
` moment's delay would cost them their lives. `
` `
` All the time they were playing the Queen never left off `
` quarrelling with the other players, and shouting `Off with his `
` head!' or `Off with her head!' Those whom she sentenced were `
` taken into custody by the soldiers, who of course had to leave `
` off being arches to do this, so that by the end of half an hour `
` or so there were no arches left, and all the players, except the `
` King, the Queen, and Alice, were in custody and under sentence of `
` execution. `
` `
` Then the Queen left off, quite out of breath, and said to `
` Alice, `Have you seen the Mock Turtle yet?' `
` `
` `No,' said Alice. `I don't even know what a Mock Turtle is.' `
` `
` `It's the thing Mock Turtle Soup is made from,' said the Queen. `
` `
` `I never saw one, or heard of one,' said Alice. `
` `
` `Come on, then,' said the Queen, `and he shall tell you his `
` history,' `
` `
` As they walked off together, Alice heard the King say in a low `
` voice, to the company generally, `You are all pardoned.' `Come, `
` THAT'S a good thing!' she said to herself, for she had felt quite `
` unhappy at the number of executions the Queen had ordered. `
` `
` They very soon came upon a Gryphon, lying fast asleep in the `
` sun. (IF you don't know what a Gryphon is, look at the picture.) `
` `Up, lazy thing!' said the Queen, `and take this young lady to `
` see the Mock Turtle, and to hear his history. I must go back and `
` see after some executions I have ordered'; and she walked off, `
` leaving Alice alone with the Gryphon. Alice did not quite like `
` the look of the creature, but on the whole she thought it would `
` be quite as safe to stay with it as to go after that savage `
` Queen: so she waited. `
` `
` The Gryphon sat up and rubbed its eyes: then it watched the `
` Queen till she was out of sight: then it chuckled. `What fun!' `
` said the Gryphon, half to itself, half to Alice. `
` `
` `What IS the fun?' said Alice. `
` `
` `Why, SHE,' said the Gryphon. `It's all her fancy, that: they `
` never executes nobody, you know. Come on!' `
` `
` `Everybody says "come on!" here,' thought Alice, as she went `
` slowly after it: `I never was so ordered about in all my life, `
` never!' `
` `
` They had not gone far before they saw the Mock Turtle in the `
` distance, sitting sad and lonely on a little ledge of rock, and, `
` as they came nearer, Alice could hear him sighing as if his heart `
` would break. She pitied him deeply. `What is his sorrow?' she `
` asked the Gryphon, and the Gryphon answered, very nearly in the `
` same words as before, `It's all his fancy, that: he hasn't got `
` no sorrow, you know. Come on!' `
` `
` So they went up to the Mock Turtle, who looked at them with `
` large eyes full of tears, but said nothing. `
` `
` `This here young lady,' said the Gryphon, `she wants for to `
` know your history, she do.' `
` `
` `I'll tell it her,' said the Mock Turtle in a deep, hollow `
` tone: `sit down, both of you, and don't speak a word till I've `
` finished.' `
` `
` So they sat down, and nobody spoke for some minutes. Alice `
` thought to herself, `I don't see how he can EVEN finish, if he `
` doesn't begin.' But she waited patiently. `
` `
` `Once,' said the Mock Turtle at last, with a deep sigh, `I was `
` a real Turtle.' `
` `
` These words were followed by a very long silence, broken only `
` by an occasional exclamation of `Hjckrrh!' from the Gryphon, and `
` the constant heavy sobbing of the Mock Turtle. Alice was very `
` nearly getting up and saying, `Thank you, sir, for your `
` interesting story,' but she could not help thinking there MUST be `
` more to come, so she sat still and said nothing. `
` `
` `When we were little,' the Mock Turtle went on at last, more `
` calmly, though still sobbing a little now and then, `we went to `
` school in the sea. The master was an old Turtle--we used to call `
` him Tortoise--' `
` `
` `Why did you call him Tortoise, if he wasn't one?' Alice asked. `
` `
` `We called him Tortoise because he taught us,' said the Mock `
` Turtle angrily: `really you are very dull!' `
` `
` `You ought to be ashamed of yourself for asking such a simple `
` question,' added the Gryphon; and then they both sat silent and `
` looked at poor Alice, who felt ready to sink into the earth. At `
` last the Gryphon said to the Mock Turtle, `Drive on, old fellow! `
` Don't be all day about it!' and he went on in these words: `
` `
` `Yes, we went to school in the sea, though you mayn't believe `
` it--' `
` `
` `I never said I didn't!' interrupted Alice. `
` `
` `You did,' said the Mock Turtle. `
` `
` `Hold your tongue!' added the Gryphon, before Alice could speak `
` again. The Mock Turtle went on. `
` `
` `We had the best of educations--in fact, we went to school `
`
` digging her sharp little chin into Alice's shoulder as she added, `
` `and the moral of THAT is--"Take care of the sense, and the `
` sounds will take care of themselves."' `
` `
` `How fond she is of finding morals in things!' Alice thought to `
` herself. `
` `
` `I dare say you're wondering why I don't put my arm round your `
` waist,' the Duchess said after a pause: `the reason is, that I'm `
` doubtful about the temper of your flamingo. Shall I try the `
` experiment?' `
` `
` `HE might bite,' Alice cautiously replied, not feeling at all `
` anxious to have the experiment tried. `
` `
` `Very true,' said the Duchess: `flamingoes and mustard both `
` bite. And the moral of that is--"Birds of a feather flock `
` together."' `
` `
` `Only mustard isn't a bird,' Alice remarked. `
` `
` `Right, as usual,' said the Duchess: `what a clear way you `
` have of putting things!' `
` `
` `It's a mineral, I THINK,' said Alice. `
` `
` `Of course it is,' said the Duchess, who seemed ready to agree `
` to everything that Alice said; `there's a large mustard-mine near `
` here. And the moral of that is--"The more there is of mine, the `
` less there is of yours."' `
` `
` `Oh, I know!' exclaimed Alice, who had not attended to this `
` last remark, `it's a vegetable. It doesn't look like one, but it `
` is.' `
` `
` `I quite agree with you,' said the Duchess; `and the moral of `
` that is--"Be what you would seem to be"--or if you'd like it put `
` more simply--"Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than `
` what it might appear to others that what you were or might have `
` been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared `
` to them to be otherwise."' `
` `
` `I think I should understand that better,' Alice said very `
` politely, `if I had it written down: but I can't quite follow it `
` as you say it.' `
` `
` `That's nothing to what I could say if I chose,' the Duchess `
` replied, in a pleased tone. `
` `
` `Pray don't trouble yourself to say it any longer than that,' `
` said Alice. `
` `
` `Oh, don't talk about trouble!' said the Duchess. `I make you `
` a present of everything I've said as yet.' `
` `
` `A cheap sort of present!' thought Alice. `I'm glad they don't `
` give birthday presents like that!' But she did not venture to `
` say it out loud. `
` `
` `Thinking again?' the Duchess asked, with another dig of her `
` sharp little chin. `
` `
` `I've a right to think,' said Alice sharply, for she was `
` beginning to feel a little worried. `
` `
` `Just about as much right,' said the Duchess, `as pigs have to fly; `
` and the m--' `
` `
` But here, to Alice's great surprise, the Duchess's voice died `
` away, even in the middle of her favourite word `moral,' and the `
` arm that was linked into hers began to tremble. Alice looked up, `
` and there stood the Queen in front of them, with her arms folded, `
` frowning like a thunderstorm. `
` `
` `A fine day, your Majesty!' the Duchess began in a low, weak `
` voice. `
` `
` `Now, I give you fair warning,' shouted the Queen, stamping on `
` the ground as she spoke; `either you or your head must be off, `
` and that in about half no time! Take your choice!' `
` `
` The Duchess took her choice, and was gone in a moment. `
` `
` `Let's go on with the game,' the Queen said to Alice; and Alice `
` was too much frightened to say a word, but slowly followed her `
` back to the croquet-ground. `
` `
` The other guests had taken advantage of the Queen's absence, `
` and were resting in the shade: however, the moment they saw her, `
` they hurried back to the game, the Queen merely remarking that a `
` moment's delay would cost them their lives. `
` `
` All the time they were playing the Queen never left off `
` quarrelling with the other players, and shouting `Off with his `
` head!' or `Off with her head!' Those whom she sentenced were `
` taken into custody by the soldiers, who of course had to leave `
` off being arches to do this, so that by the end of half an hour `
` or so there were no arches left, and all the players, except the `
` King, the Queen, and Alice, were in custody and under sentence of `
` execution. `
` `
` Then the Queen left off, quite out of breath, and said to `
` Alice, `Have you seen the Mock Turtle yet?' `
` `
` `No,' said Alice. `I don't even know what a Mock Turtle is.' `
` `
` `It's the thing Mock Turtle Soup is made from,' said the Queen. `
` `
` `I never saw one, or heard of one,' said Alice. `
` `
` `Come on, then,' said the Queen, `and he shall tell you his `
` history,' `
` `
` As they walked off together, Alice heard the King say in a low `
` voice, to the company generally, `You are all pardoned.' `Come, `
` THAT'S a good thing!' she said to herself, for she had felt quite `
` unhappy at the number of executions the Queen had ordered. `
` `
` They very soon came upon a Gryphon, lying fast asleep in the `
` sun. (IF you don't know what a Gryphon is, look at the picture.) `
` `Up, lazy thing!' said the Queen, `and take this young lady to `
` see the Mock Turtle, and to hear his history. I must go back and `
` see after some executions I have ordered'; and she walked off, `
` leaving Alice alone with the Gryphon. Alice did not quite like `
` the look of the creature, but on the whole she thought it would `
` be quite as safe to stay with it as to go after that savage `
` Queen: so she waited. `
` `
` The Gryphon sat up and rubbed its eyes: then it watched the `
` Queen till she was out of sight: then it chuckled. `What fun!' `
` said the Gryphon, half to itself, half to Alice. `
` `
` `What IS the fun?' said Alice. `
` `
` `Why, SHE,' said the Gryphon. `It's all her fancy, that: they `
` never executes nobody, you know. Come on!' `
` `
` `Everybody says "come on!" here,' thought Alice, as she went `
` slowly after it: `I never was so ordered about in all my life, `
` never!' `
` `
` They had not gone far before they saw the Mock Turtle in the `
` distance, sitting sad and lonely on a little ledge of rock, and, `
` as they came nearer, Alice could hear him sighing as if his heart `
` would break. She pitied him deeply. `What is his sorrow?' she `
` asked the Gryphon, and the Gryphon answered, very nearly in the `
` same words as before, `It's all his fancy, that: he hasn't got `
` no sorrow, you know. Come on!' `
` `
` So they went up to the Mock Turtle, who looked at them with `
` large eyes full of tears, but said nothing. `
` `
` `This here young lady,' said the Gryphon, `she wants for to `
` know your history, she do.' `
` `
` `I'll tell it her,' said the Mock Turtle in a deep, hollow `
` tone: `sit down, both of you, and don't speak a word till I've `
` finished.' `
` `
` So they sat down, and nobody spoke for some minutes. Alice `
` thought to herself, `I don't see how he can EVEN finish, if he `
` doesn't begin.' But she waited patiently. `
` `
` `Once,' said the Mock Turtle at last, with a deep sigh, `I was `
` a real Turtle.' `
` `
` These words were followed by a very long silence, broken only `
` by an occasional exclamation of `Hjckrrh!' from the Gryphon, and `
` the constant heavy sobbing of the Mock Turtle. Alice was very `
` nearly getting up and saying, `Thank you, sir, for your `
` interesting story,' but she could not help thinking there MUST be `
` more to come, so she sat still and said nothing. `
` `
` `When we were little,' the Mock Turtle went on at last, more `
` calmly, though still sobbing a little now and then, `we went to `
` school in the sea. The master was an old Turtle--we used to call `
` him Tortoise--' `
` `
` `Why did you call him Tortoise, if he wasn't one?' Alice asked. `
` `
` `We called him Tortoise because he taught us,' said the Mock `
` Turtle angrily: `really you are very dull!' `
` `
` `You ought to be ashamed of yourself for asking such a simple `
` question,' added the Gryphon; and then they both sat silent and `
` looked at poor Alice, who felt ready to sink into the earth. At `
` last the Gryphon said to the Mock Turtle, `Drive on, old fellow! `
` Don't be all day about it!' and he went on in these words: `
` `
` `Yes, we went to school in the sea, though you mayn't believe `
` it--' `
` `
` `I never said I didn't!' interrupted Alice. `
` `
` `You did,' said the Mock Turtle. `
` `
` `Hold your tongue!' added the Gryphon, before Alice could speak `
` again. The Mock Turtle went on. `
` `
` `We had the best of educations--in fact, we went to school `
`