Алиса в стране чудес

           Besides,she’sshe,andI’mI,and—ohdear,howpuzzlingitallis! I’lltryifIknowallthethingsIusedtoknow. Letmesee:fourtimesfiveistwelve,andfourtimessixisthirteen,andfourtimessevenis —ohdear!Ishallnevergettotwentyatthatrate! However,theMultiplicationTabledoesn’tsignify:let’stryGeography. LondonisthecapitalofParis,andParisisthecapitalofRome,andRome—no,that’sallwrong,I’mcertain! ImusthavebeenchangedforMabel! I’lltryandsay"Howdoththelittle—"’ andshecrossedherhandsonherlapasifsheweresayinglessons,andbegantorepeatit,buthervoicesoundedhoarseandstrange,andthewordsdidnotcomethesameastheyusedtodo:— 

           ‘Howdoththelittlecrocodile 

           Improvehisshiningtail, 

           AndpourthewatersoftheNile 

           Oneverygoldenscale! 

           ‘Howcheerfullyheseemstogrin, 

           Howneatlyspreadhisclaws, 

           Andwelcomelittlefishesin 

           Withgentlysmilingjaws!’ 

           ‘I’msurethosearenottherightwords,’saidpoorAlice,andhereyesfilledwithtearsagainasshewenton, ‘ImustbeMabelafterall,andIshallhavetogoandliveinthatpokylittlehouse,andhavenexttonotoystoplaywith,andoh!eversomanylessonstolearn!