Алиса в стране чудес / Alice in Wonderland

“It’s the stupidest tea-party in the world!”

Just as she said this, she noticed that one of the trees had a door.

“That’s very curious!” she thought. “But everything’s curious today. I think I may go in.”

And in she went.

Once more she found herself[53 - she found herself – она оказалась] in the long hall, and close to the little glass table. She took the little golden key, and unlocked the door that led into the garden. She walked down the little passage, and then she found herself in the beautiful garden, among the bright flowers and the cool fountains.

Chapter VIII

The Queen’s Croquet-Ground

A large rose-tree stood near the entrance of the garden: the roses growing on it were white, but there were three gardeners at it. They were painting them red. Alice thought this a very curious thing, and she went nearer to watch them, and when she came up to them she heard the voice, “Look out now[54 - Look out now – Смотри, осторожнее], Five! Don’t splash the paint over me!’

“That’s not my fault,” said Five, in a sulky tone; “Seven jogged my elbow.

”

Seven looked up and said, “That’s not right, Five!”

“Do not talk!” said Five. “Queen said yesterday you deserved to be beheaded!”

“What for?”

“That’s none of your business[55 - That’s none of your business. – Это тебя не касается.], Two!” said Seven.

“Yes, it is his business!” said Five, “and I’ll tell him—he brought the cook tulip-roots[56 - tulip-roots – луковицы тюльпанов]instead of onions.”

Seven noticed Alice. The others looked round also, and all of them bowed low[57 - bowed low – низко поклонились].

“Can you tell me,” said Alice, a little timidly, “why you are painting those roses?”

Five and Seven said nothing, but looked at Two.

Two began in a low voice, “The fact is, you see, Miss, the Queen ordered to plant a red rose-tree, and we planted a white tree by mistake. If the Queen sees it, our heads will be cut off[58 - heads will be cut off – нам отрубят головы], you know. So you see, Miss—”

At this moment Five called out “The Queen! The Queen!” There was a sound of many footsteps, and Alice looked round, she wanted to see the Queen.