Which Dreamed it?

           ‘Yourmajestyshouldn’tpurrsoloud,’Alicesaid,rubbinghereyes,andaddressingthekitten,respectfully,yetwithsomeseverity.‘Youwokemeoutofoh!suchanicedream!Andyou’vebeenalongwithme,Kitty—allthroughtheLooking-Glassworld.Didyouknowit,dear?’

           Itisaveryinconvenienthabitofkittens(Alicehadoncemadetheremark)that,whateveryousaytothem,theyalwayspurr.‘Ifthemwouldonlypurrfor"yes"andmewfor"no,"oranyruleofthatsort,’shehadsaid,‘sothatonecouldkeepupaconversation!Buthowcanyoutalkwithapersoniftheyalwayssaythesamething?’

           Onthisoccasionthekittenonlypurred:anditwasimpossibletoguesswhetheritmeant‘yes’or‘no.’

           SoAlicehuntedamongthechessmenonthetabletillshehadfoundtheRedQueen:thenshewentdownonherkneesonthehearth-rug,andputthekittenandtheQueentolookateachother.‘Now,Kitty!’shecried,clappingherhandstriumphantly.‘Confessthatwaswhatyouturnedinto!’

           (‘Butitwouldn’tlookatit,’shesaid,whenshewasexplainingthethingafterwardstohersister:‘itturnedawayitshead,andpretendednottoseeit:butitlookedalittleashamedofitself,soIthinkitmusthavebeentheRedQueen.’)

           ‘Situpalittlemorestiffly,dear!’Alicecriedwithamerrylaugh.‘Andcurtseywhileyou’rethinkingwhatto—whattopurr.Itsavestime,remember!’Andshecaughtitupandgaveitonelittlekiss,‘justinhonourofhavingbeenaRedQueen.’