answers.
If you knew Time as well as I do, said the Hatter, you wouldn t talk
about wasting _it_. It s _him_.
I don t know what you mean, said Alice.
Of course you don t! the Hatter said, tossing his head
contemptuously. I dare say you never even spoke to Time!
Perhaps not, Alice cautiously replied: but I know I have to beat
time when I learn music.
Ah! that accounts for it, said the Hatter. He won t stand beating.
Now, if you only kept on good terms with him, he d do almost anything
you liked with the clock. For instance, suppose it were nine o clock in
the morning, just time to begin lessons: you d only have to whisper a
hint to Time, and round goes the clock in a twinkling! Half-past one,
time for dinner!
( I only wish it was, the March Hare said to itself in a whisper.)
That would be grand, certainly, said Alice thoughtfully: but then I
shouldn t be hungry for it, you know.
Not at first, perhaps, said the Hatter: but you could keep it to
half-past one as long as you liked.
Is that the way _you_ manage? Alice asked.
The Hatter shook his head mournfully. Not I! he replied. We
quarrelled last March just before _he_ went mad, you know (pointing
with his tea spoon at the March Hare,) it was at the great concert
given by the Queen of Hearts, and I had to sing
Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!
How I wonder what you re at!
You know the song, perhaps?
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