Аліса в Країні чудес
Down the Rabbit-hole
Eitherthewellwasverydeep,orshefellveryslowly,forshehadplentyoftimeasshewentdowntolookaboutherandtowonderwhatwasgoingtohappennext. First,shetriedtolookdownandmakeoutwhatshewascomingto,butitwastoodarktoseeanything; thenshelookedatthesidesofthewell,andnoticedthattheywerefilledwithcupboardsandbook-shelves;hereandthereshesawmapsandpictureshunguponpegs. Shetookdownajarfromoneoftheshelvesasshepassed;itwaslabelled‘ORANGEMARMALADE’,buttohergreatdisappointmentitwasempty: shedidnotliketodropthejarforfearofkillingsomebody,somanagedtoputitintooneofthecupboardsasshefellpastit.
‘Well!’thoughtAlicetoherself,‘aftersuchafallasthis,Ishallthinknothingoftumblingdownstairs! Howbravethey’llallthinkmeathome! Why,Iwouldn’tsayanythingaboutit,evenifIfelloffthetopofthehouse!’ (Whichwasverylikelytrue.)
Down,down,down. Wouldthefallnevercometoanend! ‘IwonderhowmanymilesI’vefallenbythistime?’shesaidaloud. ‘Imustbegettingsomewherenearthecentreoftheearth. Letmesee:thatwouldbefourthousandmilesdown,Ithink—’ (for,yousee,Alicehadlearntseveralthingsofthissortinherlessonsintheschoolroom, andthoughthiswasnotaverygoodopportunityforshowingoffherknowledge,astherewasnoonetolistentoher,stillitwasgoodpracticetosayitover)‘ —yes,that’sabouttherightdistance—butthenIwonderwhatLatitudeorLongitudeI’vegotto?’ (AlicehadnoideawhatLatitudewas,orLongitudeeither,butthoughttheywerenicegrandwordstosay.)
Presentlyshebeganagain.
