Just about as much right, said the Duchess, as pigs have to fly; and
the m
But here, to Alice s great surprise, the Duchess s voice died away,
even in the middle of her favourite word moral, and the arm that was
linked into hers began to tremble. Alice looked up, and there stood the
Queen in front of them, with her arms folded, frowning like a
thunderstorm.
A fine day, your Majesty! the Duchess began in a low, weak voice.
Now, I give you fair warning, shouted the Queen, stamping on the
ground as she spoke; either you or your head must be off, and that in
about half no time! Take your choice!
The Duchess took her choice, and was gone in a moment.
Let s go on with the game, the Queen said to Alice; and Alice was too
much frightened to say a word, but slowly followed her back to the
croquet-ground.
The other guests had taken advantage of the Queen s absence, and were
resting in the shade: however, the moment they saw her, they hurried
back to the game, the Queen merely remarking that a moment s delay
would cost them their lives.
All the time they were playing the Queen never left off quarrelling
with the other players, and shouting Off with his head! or Off with
her head! Those whom she sentenced were taken into custody by the
soldiers, who of course had to leave off being arches to do this, so
that by the end of half an hour or so there were no arches left, and
all the players, except the King, the Queen, and Alice, were in custody
and under sentence of execution.
Then the Queen left off, quite out of breath, and said to Alice, Have
you seen the Mock Turtle yet?
No, said Alice. I don t even know what a Mock Turtle is.
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