like to see a little crab to take home with me! But the Sheep only
laughed scornfully, and went on with her knitting.
Are there many crabs here? said Alice.
Crabs, and all sorts of things, said the Sheep: plenty of choice,
only make up your mind. Now, what _do_ you want to buy?
To buy! Alice echoed in a tone that was half astonished and half
frightened for the oars, and the boat, and the river, had vanished all
in a moment, and she was back again in the little dark shop.
I should like to buy an egg, please, she said timidly. How do you
sell them?
Fivepence farthing for one Twopence for two, the Sheep replied.
Then two are cheaper than one? Alice said in a surprised tone, taking
out her purse.
Only you _must_ eat them both, if you buy two, said the Sheep.
Then I ll have _one_, please, said Alice, as she put the money down
on the counter. For she thought to herself, They mightn t be at all
nice, you know.
The Sheep took the money, and put it away in a box: then she said I
never put things into people s hands that would never do you must get
it for yourself. And so saying, she went off to the other end of the
shop, and set the egg upright on a shelf.
I wonder _why_ it wouldn t do? thought Alice, as she groped her way
among the tables and chairs, for the shop was very dark towards the
end. The egg seems to get further away the more I walk towards it. Let
me see, is this a chair? Why, it s got branches, I declare! How very
odd to find trees growing here! And actually here s a little brook!
Well, this is the very queerest shop I ever saw!
* * * * * * *
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