A Caucus-Race and a Long Tale

           Theywereindeedaqueer-lookingpartythatassembledonthebank—thebirdswithdraggledfeathers,theanimalswiththeirfurclingingclosetothem,andalldrippingwet,cross,anduncomfortable. 

           Thefirstquestionofcoursewas,howtogetdryagain: theyhadaconsultationaboutthis,andafterafewminutesitseemedquitenaturaltoAlicetofindherselftalkingfamiliarlywiththem,asifshehadknownthemallherlife. Indeed,shehadquitealongargumentwiththeLory,whoatlastturnedsulky,andwouldonlysay, ‘Iamolderthanyou,andmustknowbetter’; andthisAlicewouldnotallowwithoutknowinghowolditwas,and,astheLorypositivelyrefusedtotellitsage, therewasnomoretobesaid. 

           AtlasttheMouse,whoseemedtobeapersonofauthorityamongthem,calledout, ‘Sitdown,allofyou,andlistentome! I’llsoonmakeyoudryenough!’ Theyallsatdownatonce,inalargering,withtheMouseinthemiddle. Alicekepthereyesanxiouslyfixedonit,forshefeltsureshewouldcatchabadcoldifshedidnotgetdryverysoon. 

           ‘Ahem!’ saidtheMousewithanimportantair, ‘areyouallready? ThisisthedriestthingIknow. Silenceallround,ifyouplease! "WilliamtheConqueror,whosecausewasfavouredbythepope,wassoonsubmittedtobytheEnglish,whowantedleaders,andhadbeenoflatemuchaccustomedtousurpationandconquest. EdwinandMorcar,theearlsofMerciaandNorthumbria—"’ 

           ‘Ugh!’ saidtheLory,withashiver. 

           ‘Ibegyourpardon!’ saidtheMouse,frowning,butverypolitely: ‘Didyouspeak?’