Алиса в Стране чудес. Алиса в Зазеркалье / Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Through the Looking Glass

The next thing was to eat the comfits: this caused some noise and confusion, as the large birds complained that they could not taste theirs, and the small ones choked and had to be patted on the back. However, it was over at last, and they sat down again in a ring, and begged the Mouse to tell them something more.

�You promised to tell me your history, you know,’ said Alice, �and why it is you hate – C and D,’ she added in a whisper, half afraid that it would be offended again.

�Mine is a long and a sad tale!’ said the Mouse, turning to Alice, and sighing.

�It is a long tail, certainly,’ said Alice, looking down with wonder at the Mouse’s tail; �but why do you call it sad?’ And she kept on puzzling about it while the Mouse was speaking, so that her idea of the tale was something like this—

�Fury said to a

mouse, That he

met in the

house,

“Let us

both go to

law: I will

prosecute

you.

I’ll take no

denial; We

must have a

trial: For

really this

morning I’ve

nothing

to do.”

Said the

mouse to the

cur, “Such

a trial,

dear Sir,

With

no jury

or judge,

would be

wasting

our

breath.”

“I’ll be

judge, I’ll

be jury,”

Said

cunning

old Fury:

“I’ll

try the

whole

cause,

and

condemn

you

to

death.

�You are not attending!’ said the Mouse to Alice severely. �What are you thinking of?’

�I beg your pardon,’ said Alice very humbly, �you had got to the fifth bend, I think?’

�I had NOT!’ cried the Mouse, sharply and very angrily.

�A knot!’ said Alice, always ready to make herself useful, and looking anxiously about her. �Oh, do let me help to undo it!’

�I shall do nothing of the sort,’ said the Mouse, getting up and walking away.

�I didn’t mean it!’ pleaded poor Alice. �But you’re so easily offended, you know!’

The Mouse only growled in reply.

�Please come back and finish your story!’ Alice called after it; and the others all joined in chorus, �Yes, please do!’ but the Mouse only shook its head impatiently, and walked a little quicker.