| `Take off your hat,' the King
said to the Hatter.
`It isn't mine,' said the Hatter.
`Stolen!' the King exclaimed, turning to the jury, who instantly made
a memorandum of the fact.
`I keep them to sell,' the Hatter added as an explanation; `I've none
of my own. I'm a hatter.'
Here the Queen put on her spectacles, and began staring at the Hatter,
who turned pale and fidgeted.
`Give your evidence,' said the King; `and don't be nervous, or I'll
have you executed on the spot.'
This did not seem to encourage the witness at all: he kept shifting
from one foot to the other, looking uneasily at the Queen, and in his confusion
he bit a large piece out of his teacup instead of the bread-and-butter.
Just at this moment Alice felt a very curious sensation, which puzzled
her a good deal until she made out what it was: she was beginning to grow
larger again, and she thought at first she would get up and leave the court;
but on second thoughts she decided to remain where she was as long as there
was room for her.
`I wish you wouldn't squeeze so.' said the Dormouse, who was sitting
next to her. `I can hardly breathe.'
`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. |