Alice in Wonderland (46)

Alice in Wonderland (46)

" A fine day, your Majesty ! " the Duchess began in a low, weak voice.

"Now I give you fair warning, " shouted tyhe Queen, stamping on the ground as she spoke.

"Either you or your head must be off, and that in about half no time ! Take your choice. "

The Duchess took her chice, and was gone in a moment.

" Let's go on with the game, " the Queen said to Alice.

Alice was too much frightened to say a word, but slowly followed her back to the qroquet ground.

The other gests had taken advantage of the Queen's absence, and were rest in the shade.

However, the moment they saw her, they hurried back to the game.

All the time they were playing, the Queen shouting " Off with his head ! " or " Off with her head. "

Those whom she sentenced were taken into custody by the soldiers, who of course had to leave off being arches to do this.

So there were no arches left, and all the players, except the King, the Queen, and Aice, were i custody and under sentence of execution.

Then Queen left off, quite out of breath and said to Alice.
" Have you seen the Mock Turtle yet ? "

" No, " said Alice, " I don't even know what a Mock Turtle is. "

" It's the thing Mock Turtle Soup is made from, " said the Queen.

" I never saw one, or heard of one, " said Alice.

" Come on, then, " said the Queen, " and he shall tell you his story. "

As they walked off together, Alice heard the King say in a low voice, to the company generally.
" You are all pardoned. "

" Come, that's a good thing ! " she said to herself, for she had felt quite unhappy at the number of executions the Queen had ordered.

They very soon came upon a Gryphon, lying fast asleep in the sun.



(参照Gryphon)


"Up, lazy thing ! " said the Queen, " and take this young lady to see the Mock turtle, and to hear his history.

" I must go back and see after some executions I have ordered. "
And the Queen walked off, leaving Alice alone with the Gryphon.

(46/65)