I can t help it, said Alice very meekly: I m growing.
You ve no right to grow _here_, said the Dormouse.
Don t talk nonsense, said Alice more boldly: you know you re growing
too.
Yes, but _I_ grow at a reasonable pace, said the Dormouse: not in
that ridiculous fashion. And he got up very sulkily and crossed over
to the other side of the court.
All this time the Queen had never left off staring at the Hatter, and,
just as the Dormouse crossed the court, she said to one of the officers
of the court, Bring me the list of the singers in the last concert!
on which the wretched Hatter trembled so, that he shook both his shoes
off.
Give your evidence, the King repeated angrily, or I ll have you
executed, whether you re nervous or not.
I m a poor man, your Majesty, the Hatter began, in a trembling voice,
and I hadn t begun my tea not above a week or so and what with the
bread-and-butter getting so thin and the twinkling of the tea
The twinkling of the _what?_ said the King.
It _began_ with the tea, the Hatter replied.
Of course twinkling begins with a T! said the King sharply. Do you
take me for a dunce? Go on!
I m a poor man, the Hatter went on, and most things twinkled after
that only the March Hare said
I didn t! the March Hare interrupted in a great hurry.
You did! said the Hatter.
I deny it! said the March Hare.
75