Аліса в Країні чудес

           ‘Idaresayit’saFrenchmouse,comeoverwithWilliamtheConqueror.’ (For,withallherknowledgeofhistory,Alicehadnoveryclearnotionhowlongagoanythinghadhappened.) Soshebeganagain:‘Ouestmachatte?’whichwasthefirstsentenceinherFrenchlesson-book. TheMousegaveasuddenleapoutofthewater,andseemedtoquiveralloverwithfright. ‘Oh,Ibegyourpardon!’ criedAlicehastily,afraidthatshehadhurtthepooranimal’sfeelings. ‘Iquiteforgotyoudidn’tlikecats.’ 

           ‘Notlikecats!’ criedtheMouse,inashrill,passionatevoice. ‘Wouldyoulikecatsifyouwereme?’ 

           ‘Well,perhapsnot,’saidAliceinasoothingtone:‘don’tbeangryaboutit. AndyetIwishIcouldshowyouourcatDinah: Ithinkyou’dtakeafancytocatsifyoucouldonlyseeher. Sheissuchadearquietthing,’Alicewenton,halftoherself,assheswamlazilyaboutinthepool, ‘andshesitspurringsonicelybythefire,lickingherpawsandwashingherface—andsheissuchanicesoftthingtonurse—andshe’ssuchacapitaloneforcatchingmice—oh,Ibegyourpardon!’ criedAliceagain,forthistimetheMousewasbristlingallover,andshefeltcertainitmustbereallyoffended. ‘Wewon’ttalkaboutheranymoreifyou’drathernot.’ 

           ‘Weindeed!’ criedtheMouse,whowastremblingdowntotheendofhistail. ‘AsifIwouldtalkonsuchasubject! Ourfamilyalwayshatedcats:nasty,low,vulgarthings! Don’tletmehearthenameagain!’ 

           ‘Iwon’tindeed!’saidAlice,inagreathurrytochangethesubjectofconversation. ‘Areyou—areyoufond—of—ofdogs?’ TheMousedidnotanswer,soAlicewentoneagerly: ‘ThereissuchanicelittledognearourhouseIshouldliketoshowyou!