Alice was just beginning to say There s a mistake somewhere , when
the Queen began screaming so loud that she had to leave the sentence
unfinished. Oh, oh, oh! shouted the Queen, shaking her hand about as
if she wanted to shake it off. My finger s bleeding! Oh, oh, oh, oh!
Her screams were so exactly like the whistle of a steam-engine, that
Alice had to hold both her hands over her ears.
What _is_ the matter? she said, as soon as there was a chance of
making herself heard. Have you pricked your finger?
I haven t pricked it _yet_, the Queen said, but I soon shall oh, oh,
oh!
When do you expect to do it? Alice asked, feeling very much inclined
to laugh.
When I fasten my shawl again, the poor Queen groaned out: the brooch
will come undone directly. Oh, oh! As she said the words the brooch
flew open, and the Queen clutched wildly at it, and tried to clasp it
again.
Take care! cried Alice. You re holding it all crooked! And she
caught at the brooch; but it was too late: the pin had slipped, and the
Queen had pricked her finger.
That accounts for the bleeding, you see, she said to Alice with a
smile. Now you understand the way things happen here.
But why don t you scream now? Alice asked, holding her hands ready to
put over her ears again.
Why, I ve done all the screaming already, said the Queen. What would
be the good of having it all over again?
By this time it was getting light. The crow must have flown away, I
think, said Alice: I m so glad it s gone. I thought it was the night
coming on.
I wish _I_ could manage to be glad! the Queen said. Only I never can
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