_You d_ better not talk! said Five. I heard the Queen say only
yesterday you deserved to be beheaded!
What for? said the one who had spoken first.
That s none of _your_ business, Two! said Seven.
Yes, it _is_ his business! said Five, and I ll tell him it was for
bringing the cook tulip-roots instead of onions.
Seven flung down his brush, and had just begun Well, of all the unjust
things when his eye chanced to fall upon Alice, as she stood watching
them, and he checked himself suddenly: the others looked round also,
and all of them bowed low.
Would you tell me, said Alice, a little timidly, why you are
painting those roses?
Five and Seven said nothing, but looked at Two. Two began in a low
voice, Why the fact is, you see, Miss, this here ought to have been a
_red_ rose-tree, and we put a white one in by mistake; and if the Queen
was to find it out, we should all have our heads cut off, you know. So
you see, Miss, we re doing our best, afore she comes, to At this
moment Five, who had been anxiously looking across the garden, called
out The Queen! The Queen! and the three gardeners instantly threw
themselves flat upon their faces. There was a sound of many footsteps,
and Alice looked round, eager to see the Queen.
First came ten soldiers carrying clubs; these were all shaped like the
three gardeners, oblong and flat, with their hands and feet at the
corners: next the ten courtiers; these were ornamented all over with
diamonds, and walked two and two, as the soldiers did. After these came
the royal children; there were ten of them, and the little dears came
jumping merrily along hand in hand, in couples: they were all
ornamented with hearts. Next came the guests, mostly Kings and Queens,
and among them Alice recognised the White Rabbit: it was talking in a
hurried nervous manner, smiling at everything that was said, and went
by without noticing her. Then followed the Knave of Hearts, carrying
the King s crown on a crimson velvet cushion; and, last of all this
grand procession, came THE KING AND QUEEN OF HEARTS.
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