Алиса в зазеркалье

           Heunfasteneditashespoke,andwasjustgoingtothrowitintothebushes,whenasuddenthoughtseemedtostrikehim,andhehungitcarefullyonatree.‘CanyouguesswhyIdidthat?’hesaidtoAlice.

           Aliceshookherhead.

           ‘Inhopessomebeesmaymakeanestinit—thenIshouldgetthehoney.’

           ‘Butyou’vegotabee-hive—orsomethinglikeone—fastenedtothesaddle,’saidAlice.

           ‘Yes,it’saverygoodbee-hive,’theKnightsaidinadiscontentedtone,‘oneofthebestkind.Butnotasinglebeehascomenearityet.Andtheotherthingisamouse-trap.Isupposethemicekeepthebeesout—orthebeeskeepthemiceout,Idon’tknowwhich.’

           ‘Iwaswonderingwhatthemouse-trapwasfor,’saidAlice.‘Itisn’tverylikelytherewouldbeanymiceonthehorse’sback.’

           ‘Notverylikely,perhaps,’saidtheKnight:‘butiftheydocome,Idon’tchoosetohavethemrunningallabout.’

           ‘Yousee,’hewentonafterapause,‘it’saswelltobeprovidedforeverything.That’sthereasonthehorsehasallthoseankletsroundhisfeet.’

           ‘Butwhataretheyfor?’Aliceaskedinatoneofgreatcuriosity.

           ‘Toguardagainstthebitesofsharks,’theKnightreplied.‘It’saninventionofmyown.Andnowhelpmeon.I’llgowithyoutotheendofthewood—What’sthedishfor?’

           ‘It’smeantforplum-cake,’saidAlice.

           ‘We’dbettertakeitwithus,’theKnightsaid.‘It’llcomeinhandyifwefindanyplum-cake.Helpmetogetitintothisbag.