everything’s curious today\nI think I may as well go in at once.” And\nOnce more she found herself in the long hall, and close to the little\n“Now, I’ll manage better this time,” she said to herself,\nand began by taking the little golden key, and unlocking the door that\n“_You’d_ better not talk!” said Five\n“I heard the Queen say only\nyesterday you deserved to be beheaded!”\n“What for?” said the one who had spoken first\n“That’s none of _your_ business, Two!” said Seven\n“Would you tell me,” said Alice, a little timidly, “why you are\npainting those roses?”\nFive and Seven said nothing, but looked at Two\nThe Queen!” and the three gardeners instantly threw\nthemselves flat upon their faces\nThere was a sound of many footsteps,\nand Alice looked round, eager to see the Queen\n“How should _I_ know?” said Alice, surprised at her own courage\n“Nonsense!” said Alice, very loudly and decidedly, and the Queen was\n“Leave off that!” screamed the Queen\n“You shan’t be beheaded!” said Alice, and she put them into a large\nflower-pot that stood near\nThe three soldiers wandered about for a\nminute or two, looking for them, and then quietly marched off after the\n“Are their heads off?” shouted the Queen\n“Their heads are gone, if it please your Majesty!” the soldiers shouted\n“That’s right!” shouted the Queen\n“Can you play croquet?”\nThe soldiers were silent, and looked at Alice, as the question was\nevidently meant for her\n“Come on, then!” roared the Queen, and Alice joined the procession,\nwondering very much what would happen next\n“It’s—it’s a very fine day!” said a timid voice at her side\nwalking by the White Rabbit, who was peeping anxiously into her face\n“Very,” said Alice: “—where’s the Duchess?”\nHush!” said the Rabbit in a low, hurried tone\n“Did you say ‘What a pity!’?” the Rabbit asked\n“No, I didn’t,” said Alice: “I don’t think it’s at all a pity\n“She boxed the Queen’s ears—” the Rabbit began\n“Oh, hush!” the Rabbit whispered in a frightened\nAlice waited till the eyes appeared, and then nodded\nThe Cat seemed to think that there\nwas enough of it now in sight, and no more of it appeared\n“Who _are_ you talking to?” said the King, going up to Alice, and\nlooking at the Cat’s head with great curiosity\n“Don’t be impertinent,” said the King, “and don’t look at me like\nthat!” He got behind Alice as he spoke\n“A cat may look at a king,” said Alice\nhave this cat removed!”\nThe Queen had only one way of settling all difficulties, great or\n