just looking round to see if the word TWEEDLE was written at the back
of each collar, when she was startled by a voice coming from the one
marked DUM.
If you think we re wax-works, he said, you ought to pay, you know.
Wax-works weren t made to be looked at for nothing, nohow!
Contrariwise, added the one marked DEE, if you think we re alive,
you ought to speak.
I m sure I m very sorry, was all Alice could say; for the words of
the old song kept ringing through her head like the ticking of a clock,
and she could hardly help saying them out loud:
Tweedledum and Tweedledee
Agreed to have a battle;
For Tweedledum said Tweedledee
Had spoiled his nice new rattle.
Just then flew down a monstrous crow,
As black as a tar-barrel;
Which frightened both the heroes so,
They quite forgot their quarrel.
I know what you re thinking about, said Tweedledum: but it isn t so,
nohow.
Contrariwise, continued Tweedledee, if it was so, it might be; and
if it were so, it would be; but as it isn t, it ain t. That s logic.
I was thinking, Alice said very politely, which is the best way out
of this wood: it s getting so dark. Would you tell me, please?
But the little men only looked at each other and grinned.
They looked so exactly like a couple of great schoolboys, that Alice
couldn t help pointing her finger at Tweedledum, and saying First
Boy!
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