It is a _most provoking_ thing, he said at last, when a person
doesn t know a cravat from a belt!
I know it s very ignorant of me, Alice said, in so humble a tone that
Humpty Dumpty relented.
It s a cravat, child, and a beautiful one, as you say. It s a present
from the White King and Queen. There now!
Is it really? said Alice, quite pleased to find that she _had_ chosen
a good subject, after all.
They gave it me, Humpty Dumpty continued thoughtfully, as he crossed
one knee over the other and clasped his hands round it, they gave it
me for an un-birthday present.
I beg your pardon? Alice said with a puzzled air.
I m not offended, said Humpty Dumpty.
I mean, what _is_ an un-birthday present?
A present given when it isn t your birthday, of course.
Alice considered a little. I like birthday presents best, she said at
last.
You don t know what you re talking about! cried Humpty Dumpty. How
many days are there in a year?
Three hundred and sixty-five, said Alice.
And how many birthdays have you?
One.
And if you take one from three hundred and sixty-five, what remains?
Three hundred and sixty-four, of course.
56