Fury said to a mouse, That he met in the house, Let us both
go to law: _I_ will prosecute _you_. Come, I ll take no
denial; We must have a trial: For really this morning I ve
nothing to do. Said the mouse to the cur, Such a trial, dear
sir, With no jury or judge, would be wasting our breath.
I ll be judge, I ll be jury, Said cunning old Fury: I ll
try the whole cause, and condemn you to death.
You are not attending! said the Mouse to Alice severely. What are
you thinking of?
I beg your pardon, said Alice very humbly: you had got to the fifth
bend, I think?
I had _not!_ cried the Mouse, sharply and very angrily.
A knot! said Alice, always ready to make herself useful, and looking
anxiously about her. Oh, do let me help to undo it!
I shall do nothing of the sort, said the Mouse, getting up and
walking away. You insult me by talking such nonsense!
I didn t mean it! pleaded poor Alice. But you re so easily offended,
you know!
The Mouse only growled in reply.
Please come back and finish your story! Alice called after it; and
the others all joined in chorus, Yes, please do! but the Mouse only
shook its head impatiently, and walked a little quicker.
What a pity it wouldn t stay! sighed the Lory, as soon as it was
quite out of sight; and an old Crab took the opportunity of saying to
her daughter Ah, my dear! Let this be a lesson to you never to lose
_your_ temper! Hold your tongue, Ma! said the young Crab, a little
snappishly. You re enough to try the patience of an oyster!
I wish I had our Dinah here, I know I do! said Alice aloud,
addressing nobody in particular. She d soon fetch it back!
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