CHAPTERI.DowntheRabbit-Hole
Alicewasbeginningtogetverytiredofsittingbyhersisteronthebank,andofhavingnothingtodo:
onceortwiceshehadpeepedintothebookhersisterwasreading,butithadnopicturesorconversationsinit,“andwhatistheuseofabook,”thoughtAlice“withoutpicturesorconversations?”
Soshewasconsideringinherownmind(aswellasshecould,forthehotdaymadeherfeelverysleepyandstupid),whetherthepleasureofmakingadaisy-chainwouldbeworththetroubleofgettingupandpickingthedaisies,whensuddenlyaWhite
Kaninchen
Rabbitwithpinkeyesranclosebyher.Therewasnothingsoveryremarkableinthat;
nordidAlicethinkitsoverymuchoutofthewaytohearthe
Kaninchen
Rabbitsaytoitself,“Ohdear!Ohdear!
Ishallbelate!”
(whenshethoughtitoverafterwards,itoccurredtoherthatsheoughttohavewonderedatthis,butatthetimeitallseemedquitenatural);
butwhenthe
Kaninchen
Rabbitactuallytookawatchoutofitswaistcoat-pocket,andlookedatit,andthenhurriedon,Alicestartedtoherfeet,foritflashedacrosshermindthatshehadneverbeforeseenakaninchen
rabbitwitheitherawaistcoat-pocket,orawatchtotakeoutofit,andburningwithcuriosity,sheranacrossthefieldafterit,andfortunatelywasjustintimetoseeitpop
popdownalargerabbit-holeunderthehedge.InanothermomentdownwentAliceafterit,neveronceconsideringhowintheworldshewastogetoutagain.
Therabbit-holewentstraightonlikeatunnelforsomeway,andthendippedsuddenlydown,sosuddenlythatAlicehadnotamomenttothinkaboutstoppingherselfbeforeshefoundherselffallingdownaverydeepwell.
Eitherthewellwasverydeep,orshefellvery
langsam
slowly,forshehadplentyoftimeasshewentdowntolookaboutherandtowonderwhatwasgoingtohappennext.First,shetriedtolookdownandmakeoutwhatshewascomingto,butitwastoodarktoseeanything;
thenshelookedatthesidesofthewell,andnoticedthattheywerefilledwithcupboardsandbook-shelves;
hereandthereshesawmapsandpictureshunguponpegs.
Shetookdownajarfromoneoftheshelvesasshepassed;
itwaslabelled“ORANGEMARMALADE”,buttohergreatdisappointmentitwasempty:
shedidnotliketodropthejarforfearofkillingsomebodyunderneath,somanagedtoputitintooneofthecupboardsasshefellpastit.
“Well!”
thoughtAlicetoherself,“aftersuchafallasthis,Ishallthinknothingoftumblingdownstairs!
How
mutig
bravethey’llallthinkmeathome!Why,Iwouldn’tsayanythingaboutit,evenifIfelloffthetopofthehouse!”
(Whichwasverylikelytrue.)
Down,down,down.
Wouldthefallnevercometoanend?
“IwonderhowmanymilesI’vefallenbythistime?”
shesaidaloud.
“Imustbegettingsomewherenearthecentreoftheearth.
Letmesee:
thatwouldbefourthousandmilesdown,Ithink—”
(for,yousee,Alicehadlearntseveralthingsofthissortinherlessonsintheschoolroom,andthoughthiswasnotaverygood
gelegenheit
opportunityforshowingoffherwissen
knowledge,astherewasnoonetolistentoher,stillitwasgoodpracticetosayitover)“—yes,that’sabouttherightdistance—butthenIwonderwhatLatitudeorLongitudeI’vegotto?”(AlicehadnoideawhatLatitudewas,orLongitudeeither,butthoughttheywerenicegrandwordstosay.)
Presentlyshebeganagain.
“IwonderifIshallfallrightthroughtheearth!
Howfunnyit’llseemtocomeout
unter
amongthepeoplethatwalkwiththeirheadsdownward!TheAntipathies,Ithink—”
(shewasrathergladtherewasnoonelistening,thistime,asitdidn’tsoundatalltherightword)“—butIshallhavetoaskthemwhatthenameofthecountryis,youknow.
Please,Ma’am,isthisNewZealandorAustralia?”
(andshetriedtocurtseyasshespoke—fancycurtseyingasyou’refallingthroughtheair!
Doyouthinkyoucouldmanageit?)
“Andwhatanignorantlittlegirlshe’llthinkmeforasking!
No,it’llneverdotoask:
perhapsIshallseeitwrittenupsomewhere.”
Down,down,down.
Therewasnothingelsetodo,soAlicesoonbegantalkingagain.
“Dinah’llmissmeverymuchto-night,Ishouldthink!”
(Dinahwasthecat.)
“Ihopethey’llrememberhersaucerofmilkattea-time.
Dinahmydear!
Iwishyouweredownherewithme!
Therearenomiceintheair,I’mafraid,butyoumightcatchabat,andthat’sverylikea
maus
mouse,youknow.Butdocatseatbats,Iwonder?”
AndhereAlicebegantogetrathersleepy,andwentonsayingtoherself,inadreamysortofway,“Docatseatbats?
Docatseatbats?”
andsometimes,“Dobatseatcats?”
for,yousee,asshecouldn’tanswereitherquestion,itdidn’tmuchmatterwhichwaysheputit.
Shefeltthatshewasdozingoff,andhadjustbeguntodreamthatshewaswalkinghandinhandwithDinah,andsayingtoherveryearnestly,“Now,Dinah,tellmethetruth:
didyouevereatabat?”
whensuddenly,thump!
thump!
downshecameuponaheapofsticksanddryleaves,andthefallwasover.
Alicewasnotabithurt,andshejumpedupontoherfeetinamoment:
shelookedup,butitwasalldarkoverhead;
beforeherwasanotherlongpassage,andtheWhite
Kaninchen
Rabbitwasstillinsight,hurryingdownit.Therewasnotamomenttobelost:
awaywentAlicelikethewind,andwasjustintimetohearitsay,asitturneda
ecke
corner,“Ohmyearsandwhiskers,howlateit’sgetting!”Shewasclosebehinditwhensheturnedthe
ecke
corner,buttheRabbitwasnolongertobeseen:shefoundherselfinalong,low
halle
hall,whichwaslitupbyareihe
rowoflampshangingfromthedach
roof.Thereweredoorsallroundthe
saal
hall,buttheywerealllocked;andwhenAlicehadbeenallthewaydownonesideanduptheother,tryingeverydoor,shewalkedsadlydownthemiddle,wonderinghowshewasevertogetoutagain.
Suddenlyshecameuponalittlethree-leggedtable,allmadeofsolidglass;
therewasnothingonitexceptatinygoldenkey,andAlice’sfirstthoughtwasthatitmight
gehören
belongtooneofthedoorsofthehalle
hall;but,alas!
eitherthelocksweretoolarge,orthekeywastoosmall,butatanyrateitwouldnotopenanyofthem.
However,onthesecondtimeround,shecameuponalowcurtainshehadnotnoticedbefore,andbehinditwasalittledooraboutfifteenincheshigh:
shetriedthelittlegoldenkeyinthelock,andtohergreatdelightitfitted!
Aliceopenedthedoorandfoundthatitledintoasmallpassage,notmuchlargerthanarat-hole:
shekneltdownandlookedalongthepassageintotheloveliest
garten
gardenyoueversaw.Howshelongedtogetoutofthatdark
saal
hall,andwanderaboutamongthosebedsofbrightflowersandthosecoolfountains,butshecouldnotevengetherheadthroughthedoorway;“andevenifmyheadwouldgothrough,”thoughtpoorAlice,“itwouldbeofverylittleusewithoutmyshoulders.
Oh,howIwishIcouldshutuplikeatelescope!
IthinkIcould,ifIonlyknewhowtobegin.”
For,yousee,somanyout-of-the-waythingshadhappened
in letzter zeit
lately,thatAlicehadbeguntothinkthatveryfewthingstat
indeedwerereallyimpossible.Thereseemedtobenouseinwaitingbythelittledoor,soshewentbacktothetable,halfhopingshemightfindanotherkeyonit,oratanyrateabookofrulesforshuttingpeopleupliketelescopes:
thistimeshefoundalittle
flasche
bottleonit,(“whichcertainlywasnotherebefore,”saidAlice,)androundtheneckoftheflasche
bottlewasapaperlabel,withthewords“DRINKME,”beautifullyprintedonitinlargeletters.Itwasallverywelltosay“Drinkme,”butthe
weise
wiselittleAlicewasnotgoingtodothatinahurry.“No,I’lllookfirst,”shesaid,“andseewhetherit’smarked‘poison’ornot”;
forshehadreadseveralnicelittlehistoriesaboutchildrenwhohadgotburnt,andeatenupbywildbeastsandotherunpleasantthings,allbecausetheywouldnotrememberthesimplerulestheirfriendshadtaughtthem:
suchas,thatared-hotpokerwillburnyouifyouholdittoolong;
andthatifyoucutyour
finger
fingerverydeeplywithaknife,itusuallybleeds;andshehadnever
vergessen
forgottenthat,ifyoudrinkmuchfromaflasche
bottlemarked“poison,”itisalmostcertaintodisagreewithyou,soonerorlater.However,this
flasche
bottlewasnotmarked“poison,”soAliceventuredtotasteit,andfand
findingitverynice,(ithad,infact,asortofmixedflavourofcherry-tart,custard,pine-apple,roastturkey,toffee,andhotbutteredtoast
toast,)sheverysoonfinisheditoff.“Whatacuriousfeeling!”
saidAlice;
“Imustbeshuttinguplikeatelescope.”
Andsoitwas
tat
indeed:shewasnowonlytenincheshigh,andherfacebrightenedupatthethoughtthatshewasnowtheright
größe
sizeforgoingthroughthelittledoorintothatlovelygarten
garden.First,however,shewaitedforafewminutestoseeifshewasgoingtoshrinkanyfurther:
shefeltalittlenervousaboutthis;
“foritmightend,youknow,”saidAlicetoherself,“inmygoingoutaltogether,likeacandle.
IwonderwhatIshouldbelikethen?”
Andshetriedtofancywhattheflameofacandleislikeafterthecandleisblownout,forshecouldnotremembereverhavingseensuchathing.
Afterawhile,findingthatnothingmorehappened,shedecidedongoingintothe
garten
gardenatonce;but,alasforpoorAlice!
whenshegottothedoor,shefoundshehad
vergessen
forgottenthelittlegoldenkey,andwhenshewentbacktothetableforit,shefoundshecouldnotpossiblyreachit:shecouldseeitquiteplainlythroughtheglass,andshetriedherbestto
klettern
climbuponeofthelegsofthetable,butitwastooslippery;andwhenshehadtiredherselfoutwithtrying,thepoorlittlethingsatdownandcried.
“Come,there’snouseincryinglikethat!”
saidAlicetoherself,rathersharply;
“Iadviseyoutoleaveoffthisminute!”
Shegenerallygaveherselfverygoodadvice,(thoughsheveryseldomfollowedit),andsometimesshescoldedherselfsoseverelyastobringtearsintohereyes;
andoncesherememberedtryingtoboxherownearsforhaving
betrogen
cheatedherselfinagameofcroquetshewasplayingagainstherself,forthiscuriouschildwasveryfondofpretendingtobetwopeople.“Butit’snousenow,”thoughtpoorAlice,“topretendtobetwopeople!
Why,there’s
kaum
hardlyenoughofmelefttomakeonerespectableperson!”Soonhereyefellonalittleglassboxthatwaslyingunderthetable:
sheopenedit,andfoundinitaverysmall
kuchen
cake,onwhichthewords“EATME”werebeautifullymarkedincurrants.“Well,I’lleatit,”saidAlice,“andifitmakesmegrowlarger,Icanreachthekey;
andifitmakesmegrowsmaller,Icancreepunderthedoor;
soeitherwayI’llgetintothe
garten
garden,andIdon’tcarewhichhappens!”Sheatealittlebit,andsaidanxiouslytoherself,“Whichway?
Whichway?”,holdingherhandonthetopofherheadtofeelwhichwayitwasgrowing,andshewasquite
überrascht
surprisedtofindthatsheblieb
remainedthesamesize:tobesure,thisgenerallyhappenswhenoneeats
kuchen
cake,butAlicehadgotsomuchintothewayofexpectingnothingbutout-of-the-waythingstohappen,thatitseemedquitedullandstupidforlifetogooninthecommonway.CHAPTERII.ThePoolofTears
“Curiouserandcuriouser!”
criedAlice(shewassomuch
überrascht
surprised,thatforthemomentshequiteforgothowtospeakgoodEnglish);“nowI’mopeningoutlikethelargesttelescopethateverwas!
Good-bye,feet!”
(forwhenshelookeddownatherfeet,theyseemedtobealmostoutofsight,theyweregettingsofaroff).
“Oh,mypoorlittlefeet,Iwonderwhowillputonyourshoesandstockingsforyounow,dears?
I’msureIshan’tbeable!
Ishallbeagreatdealtoofarofftotroublemyselfaboutyou:
youmustmanagethebestwayyoucan;—butImustbekindtothem,”thoughtAlice,“orperhapstheywon’twalkthewayIwanttogo!
Letmesee:
I’llgivethemanew
paar
pairofbootseveryChristmas.”Andshewentonplanningtoherselfhowshewouldmanageit.
“Theymustgobythecarrier,”shethought;
“andhowfunnyit’llseem,sendingpresentstoone’sownfeet!
Andhow
seltsam
oddthedirectionswilllook!Ohdear,what
unsinn
nonsenseI’mtalking!”Justthenherheadstruckagainstthe
dach
roofofthehall:infactshewasnowmorethanninefeethigh,andsheatoncetookupthelittlegoldenkeyandhurriedofftothegardendoor.
PoorAlice!
Itwasasmuchasshecoulddo,lyingdownononeside,tolookthroughintothe
garten
gardenwithoneeye;buttogetthroughwasmorehopelessthanever:
shesatdownandbegantocryagain.
“Yououghttobeashamedofyourself,”saidAlice,“agreatgirllikeyou,”(shemightwellsaythis),“togooncryinginthisway!
Stopthismoment,Itellyou!”
Butshewentonallthesame,sheddinggallonsoftears,untiltherewasalarge
pool
poolallroundher,aboutfourinchesdeepandreachinghalfdownthehalle
hall.Afteratimesheheardalittlepatteringoffeetinthedistance,andshehastily
trocknete
driedhereyestoseewhatwascoming.ItwastheWhite
Kaninchen
Rabbitreturning,splendidlydressed,withapaar
pairofwhitekidglovesinonehandandalargeventilator
fanintheother:hecametrottingalonginagreathurry,mutteringtohimselfashecame,“Oh!
theDuchess,theDuchess!
Oh!
won’tshebesavageifI’vekeptherwaiting!”
Alicefeltso
verzweifelt
desperatethatshewasreadytoaskhelpofanyone;so,whenthe
Kaninchen
Rabbitcamenearher,shebegan,inalow,timidvoice,“Ifyouplease,sir—”The
Kaninchen
Rabbitstartedviolently,droppedthewhitekidglovesandtheventilator
fan,andskurriedawayintothedunkelheit
darknessashardashecouldgo.Alicetookupthefanandgloves,and,asthe
halle
hallwasveryhot,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!
Ishallnevergettotwentyatthat
geschwindigkeit
rate!However,theMultiplicationTabledoesn’tsignify:
let’stryGeography.
Londonisthe
hauptstadt
capitalofParis,andParisisthehauptstadt
capitalofRome,andRome—no,that’sallwrong,I’mcertain!ImusthavebeenchangedforMabel!
I’lltryandsay‘Howdoththelittle—’”andshecrossedherhandsonherlapasifsheweresayinglessons,andbeganto
wiederholen
repeatit,buthervoicesoundedhoarseandstrange,andthewordsdidnotcomethesameastheyusedtodo:—.“HowdoththelittlecrocodileImprovehisshining
schwanz
tail,AndpourthewatersoftheNileOneverygoldenscale!“Howcheerfullyheseemstogrin,Howneatlyspreadhisclaws,AndwelcomelittlefishesinWithgentlysmilingjaws!”
“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,andwas
überrascht
surprisedtoseethatshehadputononeoftheRabbit’slittlewhitekidgloveswhileshewastalking.“HowcanIhavedonethat?”
shethought.
“Imustbegrowingsmallagain.”
Shegotupandwenttothetabletomeasureherselfbyit,andfoundthat,asnearlyasshecouldguess,shewasnowabouttwofeethigh,andwasgoingonshrinkingrapidly:
shesoonfoundoutthatthecauseofthiswasthe
ventilator
fanshewasholding,andshedroppedithastily,justintimetovermeiden
avoidshrinkingawayaltogether.“Thatwasanarrowescape!”