CHAPTERI.DowntheRabbit-Hole
Alicewasbeginningtogetverytiredofsittingbyhersisteronthebank,andofhavingnothingtodo:
onceortwiceshehadpeepedintothebookhersisterwasreading,butithadnopicturesorconversationsinit,“andwhatistheuseofabook,”thoughtAlice“withoutpicturesorconversations?”
Soshewasconsideringinherownmind(aswellasshecould,forthehotdaymadeherfeelvery
søvnig
sleepyandstupid),whetherthepleasureofmakingadaisy-chainwouldbeworththetroubleofgettingupandpickingthedaisies,whensuddenlyaWhiteRabbitwithpinkeyesranclosebyher.Therewasnothingsoveryremarkableinthat;
nordidAlicethinkitsoverymuchoutofthewaytoheartheRabbitsaytoitself,“Ohdear!
Ohdear!
Ishallbelate!”
(whenshethoughtitoverafterwards,itoccurredtoherthatsheoughttohavewonderedatthis,butatthetimeitallseemedquitenatural);
butwhentheRabbitactuallytookawatchoutofitswaistcoat-pocket,andlookedatit,andthenhurriedon,Alicestartedtoherfeet,foritflashedacrosshermindthatshehadneverbeforeseenarabbitwitheitherawaistcoat-pocket,orawatchtotakeoutofit,andburningwith
nysgerrighed
curiosity,sheranacrossthefieldafterit,andheldigvis
fortunatelywasjustintimetoseeitpopdownalargerabbit-holeunderthehedge.InanothermomentdownwentAliceafterit,neveronceconsideringhowintheworldshewastogetoutagain.
Therabbit-holewentstraightonlikea
tunnel
tunnelforsomeway,andthendyppet
dippedsuddenlydown,sosuddenlythatAlicehadnotamomenttothinkaboutstoppingherselfbeforeshefoundherselffallingdownaverydeepwell.Eitherthewellwasverydeep,orshefellveryslowly,forshehadplentyoftimeasshewentdowntolookaboutherandtowonderwhatwasgoingtohappennext.
First,shetriedtolookdownandmakeoutwhatshewascomingto,butitwastoodarktoseeanything;
thenshelookedatthesidesofthewell,andnoticedthattheywerefilledwithcupboardsandbook-shelves;
hereandthereshesawmapsandpictureshunguponpegs.
Shetookdowna
krukke
jarfromoneoftheshelvesasshepassed;itwaslabelled“ORANGEMARMALADE”,buttohergreat
skuffelse
disappointmentitwasempty:shedidnotliketodropthejarforfearofkillingsomebody
under
underneath,somanagedtoputitintooneofthecupboardsasshefellpastit.“Well!”
thoughtAlicetoherself,“aftersuchafallasthis,Ishallthinknothingoftumblingdownstairs!
Howbravethey’llallthinkmeathome!
Why,Iwouldn’tsayanythingaboutit,evenifIfelloffthetopofthehouse!”
(Whichwasverylikelytrue.)
Down,down,down.
Wouldthefallnevercometoanend?
“IwonderhowmanymilesI’vefallenbythistime?”
shesaid
højt
aloud.“Imustbegettingsomewherenearthe
centrum
centreoftheearth.Letmesee:
thatwouldbefourthousandmilesdown,Ithink—”
(for,yousee,Alicehadlearntseveralthingsofthissortinherlessonsintheschoolroom,andthoughthiswasnotaverygoodopportunityforshowingoffherknowledge,astherewasnoonetolistentoher,stillitwasgoodpracticetosayitover)“—yes,that’sabouttherightdistance—butthenIwonderwhatLatitudeorLongitudeI’vegotto?”
(AlicehadnoideawhatLatitudewas,orLongitudeeither,butthoughttheywerenicegrandwordstosay.)
Presentlyshebeganagain.
“IwonderifIshallfallrightthroughtheearth!
Howfunnyit’llseemtocomeoutamongthepeoplethatwalkwiththeirheads
nedad
downward!TheAntipathies,Ithink—”
(shewasrathergladtherewasnoonelistening,thistime,asitdidn’tsoundatalltherightword)“—butIshallhavetoaskthemwhatthenameofthecountryis,youknow.
Please,Ma’am,isthisNewZealandorAustralia?”
(andshetriedtocurtseyasshespoke—fancycurtseyingasyou’refallingthroughtheair!
Doyouthinkyoucouldmanageit?)
“Andwhatan
uvidende
ignorantlittlegirlshe’llthinkmeforasking!No,it’llneverdotoask:
perhapsIshallseeitwrittenupsomewhere.”
Down,down,down.
Therewasnothingelsetodo,soAlicesoonbegantalkingagain.
“Dinah’llmissmeverymuchto-night,Ishouldthink!”
(Dinahwasthecat.)
“Ihopethey’llrememberher
tallerken
saucerofmilkattea-time.Dinahmydear!
Iwishyouweredownherewithme!
Therearenomiceintheair,I’mafraid,butyoumightcatchabat,andthat’sverylikeamouse,youknow.
Butdocatseatbats,Iwonder?”
AndhereAlicebegantogetrather
søvnig
sleepy,andwentonsayingtoherself,inadrømmende
dreamysortofway,“Docatseatbats?Docatseatbats?”
andsometimes,“Dobatseatcats?”
for,yousee,asshecouldn’tanswereitherquestion,itdidn’tmuchmatterwhichwaysheputit.
Shefeltthatshewasdozingoff,andhadjustbeguntodreamthatshewaswalkinghandinhandwithDinah,andsayingtoherveryearnestly,“Now,Dinah,tellmethetruth:
didyouevereatabat?”
whensuddenly,thump!
thump!
downshecameupona
bunke
heapofsticksanddryleaves,andthefallwasover.Alicewasnotabithurt,andshejumpedupontoherfeetinamoment:
shelookedup,butitwasalldarkoverhead;
beforeherwasanotherlong
passage
passage,andtheWhiteRabbitwasstillinsight,hurryingdownit.Therewasnotamomenttobelost:
awaywentAlicelikethewind,andwasjustintimetohearitsay,asitturnedacorner,“Ohmyearsandwhiskers,howlateit’sgetting!”
Shewasclosebehinditwhensheturnedthecorner,buttheRabbitwasnolongertobeseen:
shefoundherselfinalong,lowhall,whichwas
oplyst
litupbyarowoflampshangingfromtheroof.Thereweredoorsallroundthehall,buttheywerealllocked;
andwhenAlicehadbeenallthewaydownonesideanduptheother,tryingeverydoor,shewalkedsadlydownthemiddle,wonderinghowshewasevertogetoutagain.
Suddenlyshecameuponalittlethree-leggedtable,allmadeofsolidglass;
therewasnothingonitexceptatinygoldenkey,andAlice’sfirstthoughtwasthatitmightbelongtooneofthedoorsofthehall;
but,alas!
eitherthelocksweretoolarge,orthekeywastoosmall,butatanyrateitwouldnotopenanyofthem.
However,onthesecondtimeround,shecameuponalow
gardin
curtainshehadnotnoticedbefore,andbehinditwasalittledooraboutfifteenincheshigh:shetriedthelittlegoldenkeyinthelock,andtohergreat
glæde
delightitfitted!Aliceopenedthedoorandfoundthatitledintoasmall
passage
passage,notmuchlargerthanarat-hole:she
knælede
kneltdownandlookedalongthepassageintotheloveliestgardenyoueversaw.Howshelongedtogetoutofthatdarkhall,and
vandre
wanderaboutamongthosebedsofbrightflowersandthosecoolfountains,butshecouldnotevengetherheadthroughthedoorway;“andevenifmyheadwouldgothrough,”thoughtpoorAlice,“itwouldbeofverylittleusewithoutmyshoulders.
Oh,howIwishIcouldshutuplikea
teleskop
telescope!IthinkIcould,ifIonlyknewhowtobegin.”
For,yousee,somanyout-of-the-waythingshadhappenedlately,thatAlicehadbeguntothinkthatveryfewthingsindeedwerereallyimpossible.
Thereseemedtobenouseinwaitingbythelittledoor,soshewentbacktothetable,halfhopingshemightfindanotherkeyonit,oratanyrateabookofrulesforshuttingpeopleupliketelescopes:
thistimeshefoundalittlebottleonit,(“whichcertainlywasnotherebefore,”saidAlice,)androundtheneckofthebottlewasapaperlabel,withthewords“DRINKME,”
smukt
beautifullyprintedonitinlargeletters.Itwasallverywelltosay“Drinkme,”butthewiselittleAlicewasnotgoingtodothatinahurry.
“No,I’lllookfirst,”shesaid,“andseewhetherit’smarked‘poison’ornot”;
forshehadreadseveralnicelittlehistoriesaboutchildrenwhohadgotburnt,andeatenupbywildbeastsandother
ubehagelige
unpleasantthings,allbecausetheywouldnotrememberthesimplerulestheirfriendshadtaughtthem:suchas,thatared-hotpokerwillburnyouifyouholdittoolong;
andthatifyoucutyourfingerverydeeplywithaknife,itusuallybleeds;
andshehadneverforgottenthat,ifyoudrinkmuchfromabottlemarked“poison,”itisalmostcertainto
uenig
disagreewithyou,soonerorlater.However,thisbottlewasnotmarked“poison,”soAlice
vovede
venturedtotasteit,andfindingitverynice,(ithad,infact,asortofmixedflavourofcherry-tart,custard,ananas
pine-apple,roastturkey,toffee,andhotbutteredtoast,)sheverysoonfinisheditoff.“Whatacuriousfeeling!”
saidAlice;
“Imustbeshuttinguplikeatelescope.”
Andsoitwasindeed:
shewasnowonlytenincheshigh,andherfacebrightenedupatthethoughtthatshewasnowtherightsizeforgoingthroughthelittledoorintothatlovelygarden.
First,however,shewaitedforafewminutestoseeifshewasgoingto
krympe
shrinkanyfurther:shefeltalittlenervousaboutthis;
“foritmightend,youknow,”saidAlicetoherself,“inmygoingout
helt
altogether,likeacandle.IwonderwhatIshouldbelikethen?”
Andshetriedtofancywhattheflameofa
stearinlys
candleislikeafterthestearinlys
candleisblownout,forshecouldnotremembereverhavingseensuchathing.Afterawhile,findingthatnothingmorehappened,shedecidedongoingintothegardenatonce;
but,alasforpoorAlice!
whenshegottothedoor,shefoundshehadforgottenthelittlegoldenkey,andwhenshewentbacktothetableforit,shefoundshecouldnotpossiblyreachit:
shecouldseeitquite
tydeligt
plainlythroughtheglass,andshetriedherbesttoclimbuponeofthelegsofthetable,butitwastooglat
slippery;andwhenshehadtiredherselfoutwithtrying,thepoorlittlethingsatdownandcried.
“Come,there’snouseincryinglikethat!”
saidAlicetoherself,rather
skarpt
sharply;“Iadviseyoutoleaveoffthisminute!”
She
generelt
generallygaveherselfverygoodadvice,(thoughsheverysjældent
seldomfollowedit),andsometimessheskældte
scoldedherselfsoseverelyastobringtearsintohereyes;andoncesherememberedtryingtoboxherownearsforhavingcheatedherselfinagameofcroquetshewasplayingagainstherself,forthiscuriouschildwasvery
glad
fondofpretendingtobetwopeople.“Butit’snousenow,”thoughtpoorAlice,“topretendtobetwopeople!
Why,there’shardlyenoughofmelefttomakeone
respektabel
respectableperson!”Soonhereyefellonalittleglassboxthatwaslyingunderthetable:
sheopenedit,andfoundinitaverysmallcake,onwhichthewords“EATME”were
smukt
beautifullymarkedincurrants.“Well,I’lleatit,”saidAlice,“andifitmakesmegrow
større
larger,Icanreachthekey;andifitmakesmegrow
mindre
smaller,Icancreepunderthedoor;soeitherwayI’llgetintothegarden,andIdon’tcarewhichhappens!”
Sheatealittlebit,andsaidanxiouslytoherself,“Whichway?
Whichway?”,holdingherhandonthetopofherheadtofeelwhichwayitwasgrowing,andshewasquitesurprisedtofindthatsheremainedthesamesize:
tobesure,this
generelt
generallyhappenswhenoneeatscake,butAlicehadgotsomuchintothewayofexpectingnothingbutout-of-the-waythingstohappen,thatitseemedquitedullandstupidforlifetogooninthecommonway.Kapitel
CHAPTERII.ThePoolofTears“Curiouserandcuriouser!”
criedAlice(shewassomuchsurprised,thatforthemomentshequiteforgothowtospeakgoodEnglish);
“nowI’mopeningoutlikethe
største
largesttelescopethateverwas!Good-bye,feet!”
(forwhenshelookeddownatherfeet,theyseemedtobealmostoutofsight,theyweregettingsofaroff).
“Oh,mypoorlittlefeet,Iwonderwhowillputonyourshoesandstockingsforyounow,dears?
I’msureIshan’tbeable!
Ishallbeagreatdealtoofarofftotroublemyselfaboutyou:
youmustmanagethebestwayyoucan;—butImustbekindtothem,”thoughtAlice,“orperhapstheywon’twalkthewayIwanttogo!
Letmesee:
I’llgivethemanewpairofbootseveryChristmas.”
Andshewentonplanningtoherselfhowshewouldmanageit.
“Theymustgobythecarrier,”shethought;
“andhowfunnyit’llseem,sendingpresentstoone’sownfeet!
Andhowoddthedirectionswilllook!
Ohdear,whatnonsenseI’mtalking!”
Justthenherheadstruckagainsttheroofofthehall:
infactshewasnowmorethanninefeethigh,andsheatoncetookupthelittlegoldenkeyandhurriedofftothegardendoor.
PoorAlice!
Itwasasmuchasshecoulddo,lyingdownononeside,tolookthroughintothegardenwithoneeye;
buttogetthroughwasmorehopelessthanever:
shesatdownandbegantocryagain.
“Yououghttobeashamedofyourself,”saidAlice,“agreatgirllikeyou,”(shemightwellsaythis),“togooncryinginthisway!
Stopthismoment,Itellyou!”
Butshewentonallthesame,sheddinggallonsoftears,untiltherewasalargepoolallroundher,aboutfourinchesdeepandreachinghalfdownthehall.
Afteratimesheheardalittlepatteringoffeetinthedistance,andshehastilydriedhereyestoseewhatwascoming.
ItwastheWhiteRabbitreturning,splendidlydressed,withapairofwhitekidglovesinonehandandalargefanintheother:
hecametrottingalonginagreathurry,mutteringtohimselfashecame,“Oh!
the
Hertuginden
Duchess,theDuchess!Oh!
won’tshebe
vild
savageifI’vekeptherwaiting!”Alicefeltsodesperatethatshewasreadytoaskhelpofanyone;
so,whentheRabbitcamenearher,shebegan,inalow,timidvoice,“Ifyouplease,sir—”
TheRabbitstarted
voldsomt
violently,droppedthewhitekidglovesandthefan,andskurriedawayintothedarknessashardashecouldgo.Alicetookupthefanandgloves,and,asthehallwasveryhot,shekeptfanningherselfallthetimeshewentontalking:
“Dear,dear!
Howqueereverythingisto-day!
Andyesterdaythingswentonjustasusual.
IwonderifI’vebeenchangedinthenight?
Letmethink:
wasIthesamewhenIgotupthismorning?
IalmostthinkIcanrememberfeelingalittledifferent.
ButifI’mnotthesame,thenextquestionis,WhointheworldamI?
Ah,that’sthegreatpuzzle!”
Andshebeganthinkingoverallthechildrensheknewthatwereofthesameageasherself,toseeifshecouldhavebeenchangedforanyofthem.
“I’msureI’mnotAda,”shesaid,“forherhairgoesinsuchlongringlets,andminedoesn’tgoinringletsatall;
andI’msureIcan’tbeMabel,forIknowallsortsofthings,andshe,oh!
sheknowssuchaverylittle!
Besides,she’sshe,andI’mI,and—ohdear,howpuzzlingitallis!
I’lltryifIknowallthethingsIusedtoknow.
Letmesee:
fourtimesfiveistwelve,andfourtimessixisthirteen,andfourtimessevenis—ohdear!
Ishallnevergettotwentyatthatrate!
However,theMultiplicationTabledoesn’tsignify:
let’stry
Geografi
Geography.LondonisthecapitalofParis,andParisisthecapitalofRome,andRome—no,that’sallwrong,I’mcertain!
ImusthavebeenchangedforMabel!
I’lltryandsay‘Howdoththelittle—’”andshecrossedherhandsonherlapasifsheweresayinglessons,andbegantorepeatit,buthervoicesoundedhoarseandstrange,andthewordsdidnotcomethesameastheyusedtodo:—.
“Howdoththelittle
krokodille
crocodileImprovehisshiningtail,Andhælde
pourthewatersoftheNileOneverygoldenscale!“Howcheerfullyheseemstogrin,How
pænt
neatlyspreadhisclaws,AndwelcomelittlefishesinWithblidt
gentlysmilingjaws!”“I’msurethosearenottherightwords,”saidpoorAlice,andhereyesfilledwithtearsagainasshewenton,“ImustbeMabelafterall,andIshallhavetogoandliveinthatpokylittlehouse,andhavenexttonotoystoplaywith,andoh!
eversomanylessonstolearn!
No,I’vemadeupmymindaboutit;
ifI’mMabel,I’llstaydownhere!
It’llbenousetheirputtingtheirheadsdownandsaying‘Comeupagain,dear!’Ishallonlylookupandsay‘WhoamIthen?
Tellmethatfirst,andthen,ifIlikebeingthatperson,I’llcomeup:
ifnot,I’llstaydownheretillI’msomebodyelse’—but,ohdear!”
criedAlice,withasuddenburstoftears,“Idowishtheywouldputtheirheadsdown!
Iamsoverytiredofbeingallalonehere!”
Asshesaidthisshelookeddownatherhands,andwassurprisedtoseethatshehadputononeoftheRabbit’slittlewhitekidgloveswhileshewastalking.
“HowcanIhavedonethat?”
shethought.
“Imustbegrowingsmallagain.”
Shegotupandwenttothetableto
måle
measureherselfbyit,andfoundthat,asnearlyasshecouldguess,shewasnowabouttwofeethigh,andwasgoingonkrympe
shrinkingrapidly:shesoonfoundoutthatthecauseofthiswasthefanshewasholding,andshedroppedithastily,justintimetoavoid
krympe
shrinkingawayaltogether.“Thatwasa
smal
narrowescape!”