Алиса в зазеркалье
The Lion and the Unicorn
‘Sherunssofearfullyquick.YoumightaswelltrytocatchaBandersnatch!ButI’llmakeamemorandumabouther,ifyoulike—She’sadeargoodcreature,’herepeatedsoftlytohimself,asheopenedhismemorandum-book.‘Doyouspell"creature"withadouble"e"?’
AtthismomenttheUnicornsaunteredbythem,withhishandsinhispockets.‘Ihadthebestofitthistime?’hesaidtotheKing,justglancingathimashepassed.
‘Alittle—alittle,’theKingreplied,rathernervously.‘Youshouldn’thaverunhimthroughwithyourhorn,youknow.’
‘Itdidn’thurthim,’theUnicornsaidcarelessly,andhewasgoingon,whenhiseyehappenedtofalluponAlice:heturnedroundratherinstantly,andstoodforsometimelookingatherwithanairofthedeepestdisgust.
‘What—is—this?’hesaidatlast.
‘Thisisachild!’Haigharepliedeagerly,cominginfrontofAlicetointroduceher,andspreadingoutbothhishandstowardsherinanAnglo-Saxonattitude.‘Weonlyfounditto-day.It’saslargeaslife,andtwiceasnatural!’
‘Ialwaysthoughttheywerefabulousmonsters!’saidtheUnicorn.‘Isitalive?’
‘Itcantalk,’saidHaigha,solemnly.
TheUnicornlookeddreamilyatAlice,andsaid‘Talk,child.’
Alicecouldnothelpherlipscurlingupintoasmileasshebegan:‘Doyouknow,IalwaysthoughtUnicornswerefabulousmonsters,too!Ineversawonealivebefore!’
‘Well,nowthatwehaveseeneachother,’saidtheUnicorn,‘ifyou’llbelieveinme,I’llbelieveinyou.
