Wool and Water

           Shecaughttheshawlasshespoke,andlookedaboutfortheowner:inanothermomenttheWhiteQueencamerunningwildlythroughthewood,withbotharmsstretchedoutwide,asifshewereflying,andAliceverycivillywenttomeetherwiththeshawl.

           ‘I’mverygladIhappenedtobeintheway,’Alicesaid,asshehelpedhertoputonhershawlagain.

           TheWhiteQueenonlylookedatherinahelplessfrightenedsortofway,andkeptrepeatingsomethinginawhispertoherselfthatsoundedlike‘bread-and-butter,bread-and-butter,’andAlicefeltthatiftherewastobeanyconversationatall,shemustmanageitherself.Soshebeganrathertimidly:‘AmIaddressingtheWhiteQueen?’

           ‘Well,yes,ifyoucallthata-dressing,’TheQueensaid.‘Itisn’tmynotionofthething,atall.’

           Alicethoughtitwouldneverdotohaveanargumentattheverybeginningoftheirconversation,soshesmiledandsaid,‘IfyourMajestywillonlytellmetherightwaytobegin,I’lldoitaswellasIcan.’

           ‘ButIdon’twantitdoneatall!’groanedthepoorQueen.‘I’vebeena-dressingmyselfforthelasttwohours.’

           Itwouldhavebeenallthebetter,asitseemedtoAlice,ifshehadgotsomeoneelsetodressher,shewassodreadfullyuntidy.‘Everysinglething’scrooked,’Alicethoughttoherself,‘andshe’salloverpins!—mayIputyourshawlstraightforyou?’sheaddedaloud.

           ‘Idon’tknowwhat’sthematterwithit!’theQueensaid,inamelancholyvoice.‘It’soutoftemper,Ithink.