with any idea of making another riddle, but simply in her good-natured
anxiety for the queer creature. That wall is so _very_ narrow!
What tremendously easy riddles you ask! Humpty Dumpty growled out.
Of course I don t think so! Why, if ever I _did_ fall off which
there s no chance of but _if_ I did Here he pursed his lips and
looked so solemn and grand that Alice could hardly help laughing. _If_
I did fall, he went on, _The King has promised me with his very own
mouth_ to to
To send all his horses and all his men, Alice interrupted, rather
unwisely.
Now I declare that s too bad! Humpty Dumpty cried, breaking into a
sudden passion. You ve been listening at doors and behind trees and
down chimneys or you couldn t have known it!
I haven t, indeed! Alice said very gently. It s in a book.
Ah, well! They may write such things in a _book_, Humpty Dumpty said
in a calmer tone. That s what you call a History of England, that is.
Now, take a good look at me! I m one that has spoken to a King, _I_ am:
mayhap you ll never see such another: and to show you I m not proud,
you may shake hands with me! And he grinned almost from ear to ear, as
he leant forwards (and as nearly as possible fell off the wall in doing
so) and offered Alice his hand. She watched him a little anxiously as
she took it. If he smiled much more, the ends of his mouth might meet
behind, she thought: and then I don t know what would happen to his
head! I m afraid it would come off!
Yes, all his horses and all his men, Humpty Dumpty went on. They d
pick me up again in a minute, _they_ would! However, this conversation
is going on a little too fast: let s go back to the last remark but
one.
I m afraid I can t quite remember it, Alice said very politely.
In that case we start fresh, said Humpty Dumpty, and it s my turn to
choose a subject ( He talks about it just as if it was a game!
thought Alice.) So here s a question for you. How old did you say you
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