Аліса в Країні чудес
The Queen’s Croquet Ground
"Howareyougettingon? "saidtheCat,assoonastherewasmouthenoughforittospeakwith.
Alicewaitedtilltheeyesappeared,andthennodded. "It’snousespeakingtoit,"shethought,"tillitsearshavecome,oratleastoneofthem. "Inanotherminutethewholeheadappeared, andthenAliceputdownherflamingo,andbegananaccountofthegame,feelingverygladshehadsomeonetolistentoher. TheCatseemedtothinkthattherewasenoughofitnowinsight,andnomoreofitappeared.
"Idon’tthinktheyplayatallfairly,"Alicebegan,inratheracomplainingtone,"andtheyallquarrelsodreadfullyonecan’thearoneselfspeak—andtheydon’tseemtohaveanyrulesinparticular: atleast,ifthereare,nobodyattendstothem—andyou’venoideahowconfusingitisallthethingsbeingalive: forinstance,there’sthearchI’vegottogothroughnextwalkingaboutattheotherendoftheground—andIshouldhavecroquetedtheQueen’shedgehogjustnow,onlyitranawaywhenitsawminecoming!"
"HowdoyouliketheQueen? "saidtheCatinalowvoice.
"Notatall,"saidAlice: "she’ssoextremely—"JustthenshenoticedthattheQueenwasclosebehindher,listening: soshewenton"—likelytowin,thatit’shardlyworthwhilefinishingthegame."
TheQueensmiledandpassedon.
"Whoareyoutalkingto? "saidtheKing,goinguptoAlice,andlookingattheCat’sheadwithgreatcuriosity.
"It’safriendofmine—aCheshire-Cat,"saidAlice: "allowmetointroduceit."
