style="font-size:15px;"> “Oh, a song, please, if the Mock Turtle would be so kind,” Alice replied, so fast that the Gryphon said, in a rather offended tone, “Hm! Sing her “Turtle Soup,” then, old fellow.[158]”
The Mock Turtle sighed deeply, and began to sing.
Suddenly a cry “The trial’s beginning!” was heard in the distance.
“Come on!” cried the Gryphon, and, taking Alice by the hand, hurried off, without waiting for the end of the song.
“What trial is it?” Alice tried to ask as she ran; but the Gryphon only answered “Come on!” and they ran faster.
Chapter 11. Who Stole the Tarts?
When they arrived, the King and Queen of Hearts were sitting on their throne. Around them was a great crowd – different little birds and creatures, as well as the whole pack of cards: the Knave was standing before them, he was in chains and on each his side there was a soldier; and near the King was the White Rabbit. In the very middle of the court was a table, with a large dish of tarts on it: they looked so delicious, that Alice felt quite hungry looking at them. – “I hope the trial will be finished soon,” she thought, “and everybody can have the refreshments!” But it seemed impossible, so she began looking at everything about her, to pass away the time.
Alice had never been in a court of justice before, but she had read about them in books, and she was glad that she knew the name of nearly everything there. “That’s the judge,” she said to herself, “because he is wearing a great wig.”
The judge, by the way, was the King; and his crown was put on over the wig.
“And that’s the jury-box,” thought Alice, “and those twelve creatures,” (she called them “creatures,”, because some of them were animals, and some were birds,) “I suppose they are the jurors.” She felt very proud of her knowledge.
The twelve jurors were busy writing something. “What are they doing?” Alice whispered to the Gryphon.
“They’re writing down their names,” the Gryphon whispered in reply, “because they are afraid of forgetting them before the end of the trial.”
“Stupid things!” Alice began in a loud voice, but she stopped immediately because the White Rabbit cried out, “Silence in the court!” and the King put on his spectacles and looked round.
“Herald, read the accusation!” said the King.
And the White Rabbit began to read: —
“The Queen of Hearts,
she made some tarts,
All on a summer day:
The Knave of Hearts,
he stole those tarts,
And took them quite away!”
“Give your verdict,” the King said to the jury.
“Not yet, not yet!” the Rabbit hastily interrupted.
“Call the first witness,” said the King; and the White Rabbit called out, “First witness!”
The first witness was the Hatter. He came in with a teacup in one hand and a piece of bread-and-butter in the other. “I beg pardon, your Majesty,” he began, “for bringing these things here: but I haven’t finished my tea yet.”
“It’s not good,” said the King. “When did you begin?”
The Hatter looked at the March Hare, who was in the court too with the Dormouse. “Fourteenth of March, I think it was,” he said.
“Fifteenth,” said the March Hare.
“Sixteenth,” added the Dormouse.
“Write that down,” the King said to the jury, and the jury eagerly wrote down all three dates.
“Take off your hat,” the King said to the Hatter.
“It isn’t mine,” said the Hatter. “I sell them,” the Hatter added as an explanation; “I’ve no hats of my own. I’m a hatter.”
Here the Queen put on her spectacles, and began staring at the Hatter, who became pale.
“Give your evidence,” said the King; “and don’t be nervous, or you’ll be executed right now.”
These words frightened the witness even more so that he bit a large piece out of his teacup instead of the bread-and-butter.
Just at this moment Alice had a very curious feeling, which puzzled her greatly until she understood what it was: she was beginning to grow larger again, and at first she wanted to get up and leave the court; but then she decided to stay where she was.
“Give your evidence,” the King repeated angrily, “or you’ll be executed, whether you’re nervous or not.[159]”
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