CHAPTERI.DowntheRabbit-Hole
Alicewasbeginningtogetverytiredofsittingbyhersisteronthebank,andofhavingnothingtodo:
onceortwiceshehadpeepedintothebookhersisterwasreading,butithadnopicturesorconversationsinit,“andwhatistheuseofabook,”thoughtAlice“withoutpicturesorconversations?”
Soshewasconsideringinherownmind(aswellasshecould,forthehotdaymadeherfeelverysleepyandstupid),whetherthepleasureofmakingadaisy-chainwouldbeworththetroubleofgettingupandpickingthedaisies,whensuddenlyaWhiteRabbitwith
गुलाबी
pinkeyesranclosebyher.Therewasnothingsoveryremarkableinthat;
nordidAlicethinkitsoverymuchoutofthewaytoheartheRabbitsaytoitself,“Ohdear!
Ohdear!
Ishallbelate!”
(whenshethoughtitover
बाद
afterwards,itoccurredtoherthatsheoughttohavewonderedatthis,butatthetimeitallseemedquiteस्वाभाविक
natural);butwhentheRabbitactuallytookawatchoutofitswaistcoat-pocket,andlookedatit,andthenhurriedon,Alicestartedtoherfeet,foritflashedacrosshermindthatshehadneverbeforeseenarabbitwitheitherawaistcoat-pocket,orawatchtotakeoutofit,andburningwithcuriosity,sheranacrossthefieldafterit,andfortunatelywasjustintimetoseeit
पॉप
popdownalargerabbit-holeunderthehedge.InanothermomentdownwentAliceafterit,neveronceconsideringhowintheworldshewastogetoutagain.
Therabbit-holewentstraightonlikea
सुरंग
tunnelforsomeway,andthendippedsuddenlydown,sosuddenlythatAlicehadnotamomenttothinkaboutstoppingherselfbeforeshefoundherselffallingdownaverydeepwell.Eitherthewellwasverydeep,orshefellveryslowly,forshehadplentyoftimeasshewentdowntolookaboutherandtowonderwhatwasgoingtohappennext.
First,shetriedtolookdownandmakeoutwhatshewascomingto,butitwastoodarktoseeanything;
thenshelookedatthesidesofthewell,andnoticedthattheywerefilledwithcupboardsandbook-shelves;
hereandthereshesawmapsandpictureshunguponpegs.
Shetookdownajarfromoneoftheshelvesasshepassed;
itwaslabelled“ORANGEMARMALADE”,buttohergreatdisappointmentitwasempty:
shedidnotliketodropthejarforfearofkillingsomebody
नीचे
underneath,somanagedtoputitintooneofthecupboardsasshefellpastit.“Well!”
thoughtAlicetoherself,“aftersuchafallasthis,Ishallthinknothingoftumblingdown
सीढ़ियों
stairs!Howbravethey’llallthinkmeathome!
Why,Iwouldn’tsayanythingaboutit,evenifIfelloffthetopofthehouse!”
(Whichwasverylikelytrue.)
Down,down,down.
Wouldthefallnevercometoanend?
“IwonderhowmanymilesI’vefallenbythistime?”
shesaidaloud.
“Imustbegettingsomewherenearthe
केंद्र
centreoftheearth.Letmesee:
thatwouldbefourthousandmilesdown,Ithink—”
(for,yousee,Alicehadlearntseveralthingsofthissortinherlessonsintheschoolroom,andthoughthiswasnotaverygood
अवसर
opportunityforshowingoffherज्ञान
knowledge,astherewasnoonetolistentoher,stillitwasgoodpracticetosayitover)“—yes,that’sabouttherightdistance—butthenIwonderwhatLatitudeorLongitudeI’vegotto?”(AlicehadnoideawhatLatitudewas,orLongitudeeither,butthoughttheywerenicegrandwordstosay.)
Presentlyshebeganagain.
“IwonderifIshallfallrightthroughtheearth!
Howfunnyit’llseemtocomeout
बीच
amongthepeoplethatwalkwiththeirheadsdownward!TheAntipathies,Ithink—”
(shewasrathergladtherewasnoonelistening,thistime,asitdidn’tsoundatalltherightword)“—butIshallhavetoaskthemwhatthenameofthecountryis,youknow.
Please,Ma’am,isthisNewZealandorAustralia?”
(andshetriedtocurtseyasshespoke—fancycurtseyingasyou’refallingthroughtheair!
Doyouthinkyoucould
प्रबंधित
manageit?)“Andwhatanignorantlittlegirlshe’llthinkmeforasking!
No,it’llneverdotoask:
perhapsIshallseeitwrittenupsomewhere.”
Down,down,down.
Therewasnothingelsetodo,soAlicesoonbegantalkingagain.
“Dinah’llmissmeverymuchto-night,Ishouldthink!”
(Dinahwasthecat.)
“Ihopethey’llrememberhersaucerofmilkattea-time.
Dinahmydear!
Iwishyouweredownherewithme!
Therearenomiceintheair,I’mafraid,butyoumightcatcha
चमगादड़
bat,andthat’sverylikeaचूहे
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!
downshecameuponaheapofsticksand
सूखी
dryleaves,andthefallwasover.Alicewasnotabithurt,andshejumpedupontoherfeetinamoment:
shelookedup,butitwasalldarkoverhead;
beforeherwasanotherlongpassage,andtheWhiteRabbitwasstillin
दृष्टि
sight,hurryingdownit.Therewasnotamomenttobelost:
awaywentAlicelikethewind,andwasjustintimetohearitsay,asitturneda
कोने
corner,“Ohmyearsandwhiskers,howlateit’sgetting!”Shewasclosebehinditwhensheturnedthe
कोने
corner,buttheRabbitwasnolongertobeseen:shefoundherselfinalong,low
हॉल
hall,whichwaslitupbyaपंक्ति
rowoflampshangingfromtheछत
roof.Thereweredoorsallroundthe
हॉल
hall,buttheywerealllocked;andwhenAlicehadbeenallthewaydownonesideanduptheother,tryingeverydoor,shewalkedsadlydownthemiddle,wonderinghowshewasevertogetoutagain.
Suddenlyshecameuponalittlethree-leggedtable,allmadeof
ठोस
solidglass;therewasnothingonitexceptatinygoldenkey,andAlice’sfirstthoughtwasthatitmightbelongtooneofthedoorsofthe
हॉल
hall;but,alas!
eitherthelocksweretoolarge,orthekeywastoosmall,butatany
दर
rateitwouldnotopenanyofthem.However,onthesecondtimeround,shecameuponalowcurtainshehadnotnoticedbefore,andbehinditwasalittledooraboutfifteenincheshigh:
shetriedthelittlegoldenkeyinthelock,andtohergreatdelightitfitted!
Aliceopenedthedoorandfoundthatitledintoasmallpassage,notmuchlargerthanarat-hole:
shekneltdownandlookedalongthepassageintotheloveliest
बगीचे
gardenyoueversaw.Howshelongedtogetoutofthatdark
हॉल
hall,andwanderaboutamongthosebedsofउज्ज्वल
brightflowersandthosecoolfountains,butshecouldnotevengetherheadthroughthedoorway;“andevenifmyheadwouldgothrough,”thoughtpoorAlice,“itwouldbeofverylittleusewithoutmyshoulders.
Oh,howIwishIcouldshutuplikeatelescope!
IthinkIcould,ifIonlyknewhowtobegin.”
For,yousee,somanyout-of-the-waythingshadhappened
हाल
lately,thatAlicehadbeguntothinkthatveryfewthingsindeedwerereallyimpossible.Thereseemedtobenouseinwaitingbythelittledoor,soshewentbacktothetable,halfhopingshemightfindanotherkeyonit,oratany
दर
rateabookofrulesforshuttingpeopleupliketelescopes:thistimeshefoundalittlebottleonit,(“whichcertainlywasnotherebefore,”saidAlice,)androundtheneckofthebottlewasapaperlabel,withthewords“DRINKME,”beautifullyprintedonitinlargeletters.
Itwasallverywelltosay“Drinkme,”butthe
बुद्धिमान
wiselittleAlicewasnotgoingtodothatinahurry.“No,I’lllookfirst,”shesaid,“andseewhetherit’smarked‘poison’ornot”;
forshehadreadseveralnicelittlehistoriesaboutchildrenwhohadgotburnt,andeatenupbywildbeastsandotherunpleasantthings,allbecausetheywouldnotrememberthesimplerulestheirfriendshadtaughtthem:
suchas,thatared-hotpokerwillburnyouifyouholdittoolong;
andthatifyoucutyour
उंगली
fingerverydeeplywithaknife,itusuallybleeds;andshehadneverforgottenthat,ifyoudrinkmuchfromabottlemarked“poison,”itisalmostcertaintodisagreewithyou,
जल्दी
soonerorlater.However,thisbottlewasnotmarked“poison,”soAliceventuredtotasteit,andfindingitverynice,(ithad,infact,asortof
मिश्रित
mixedflavourofcherry-tart,custard,pine-apple,roastturkey,toffee,andhotbutteredटोस्ट
toast,)sheverysoonfinisheditoff.“Whata
जिज्ञासु
curiousfeeling!”saidAlice;
“Imustbeshuttinguplikeatelescope.”
Andsoitwas
वास्तव
indeed:shewasnowonlytenincheshigh,andherfacebrightenedupatthethoughtthatshewasnowtherightsizeforgoingthroughthelittledoorintothatlovely
बगीचे
garden.First,however,shewaitedforafewminutestoseeifshewasgoingtoshrinkanyfurther:
shefeltalittlenervousaboutthis;
“foritmightend,youknow,”saidAlicetoherself,“inmygoingoutaltogether,likeacandle.
IwonderwhatIshouldbelikethen?”
Andshetriedto
कल्पना
fancywhattheflameofacandleislikeafterthecandleisblownout,forshecouldnotremembereverhavingseensuchathing.Afterawhile,findingthatnothingmorehappened,shedecidedongoingintothe
बगीचे
gardenatonce;but,alasforpoorAlice!
whenshegottothedoor,shefoundshehadforgottenthelittlegoldenkey,andwhenshewentbacktothetableforit,shefoundshecouldnot
संभवतः
possiblyreachit:shecouldseeitquiteplainlythroughtheglass,andshetriedherbestto
चढ़ने
climbuponeofthelegsofthetable,butitwastooslippery;andwhenshehadtiredherselfoutwithtrying,thepoorlittlethingsatdownandcried.
“Come,there’snouseincryinglikethat!”
saidAlicetoherself,rathersharply;
“Iadviseyoutoleaveoffthisminute!”
Shegenerallygaveherselfverygood
सलाह
advice,(thoughsheveryseldomfollowedit),andsometimesshescoldedherselfsoseverelyastobringtearsintohereyes;andoncesherememberedtryingtoboxherownearsforhavingcheatedherselfinagameofcroquetshewasplayingagainstherself,forthis
जिज्ञासु
curiouschildwasveryfondofpretendingtobetwopeople.“Butit’snousenow,”thoughtpoorAlice,“to
दिखावा
pretendtobetwopeople!Why,there’s
मुश्किल
hardlyenoughofmelefttomakeonerespectableperson!”Soonhereyefellonalittleglassboxthatwaslyingunderthetable:
sheopenedit,andfoundinitaverysmall
केक
cake,onwhichthewords“EATME”werebeautifullymarkedincurrants.“Well,I’lleatit,”saidAlice,“andifitmakesmegrowlarger,Icanreachthekey;
andifitmakesmegrowsmaller,Icancreepunderthedoor;
soeitherwayI’llgetintothe
बगीचे
garden,andIdon’tcarewhichhappens!”Sheatealittlebit,andsaidanxiouslytoherself,“Whichway?
Whichway?”,holdingherhandonthetopofherheadtofeelwhichwayitwasgrowing,andshewasquitesurprisedtofindthatsheremainedthesamesize:
tobesure,thisgenerallyhappenswhenoneeats
केक
cake,butAlicehadgotsomuchintothewayofexpectingnothingbutout-of-the-waythingstohappen,thatitseemedquitedullandstupidforlifetogooninthecommonway.CHAPTERII.ThePoolofTears
“Curiouserandcuriouser!”
criedAlice(shewassomuchsurprised,thatforthemomentshequiteforgothowtospeakgoodEnglish);
“nowI’mopeningoutlikethelargesttelescopethateverwas!
Good-bye,feet!”
(forwhenshelookeddownatherfeet,theyseemedtobealmostoutof
दृष्टि
sight,theyweregettingsofaroff).“Oh,mypoorlittlefeet,Iwonderwhowillputonyourshoesandstockingsforyounow,dears?
I’msureIshan’tbeable!
Ishallbeagreatdealtoofarofftotroublemyselfaboutyou:
youmust
प्रबंधित
managethebestwayyoucan;—butImustbekindtothem,”thoughtAlice,“orperhapstheywon’twalkthewayIwanttogo!Letmesee:
I’llgivethemanew
जोड़ी
pairofbootseveryChristmas.”Andshewentonplanningtoherselfhowshewould
प्रबंधित
manageit.“Theymustgobythecarrier,”shethought;
“andhowfunnyit’llseem,sendingpresentstoone’sownfeet!
Andhow
अजीब
oddthedirectionswilllook!Ohdear,whatnonsenseI’mtalking!”
Justthenherheadstruckagainstthe
छत
roofofthehall:infactshewasnowmorethanninefeethigh,andsheatoncetookupthelittlegoldenkeyandhurriedofftothe
बगीचे
gardendoor.PoorAlice!
Itwasasmuchasshecoulddo,lyingdownononeside,tolookthroughintothe
बगीचे
gardenwithoneeye;buttogetthroughwasmorehopelessthanever:
shesatdownandbegantocryagain.
“Yououghttobe
शर्मिंदा
ashamedofyourself,”saidAlice,“agreatgirllikeyou,”(shemightwellsaythis),“togooncryinginthisway!Stopthismoment,Itellyou!”
Butshewentonallthesame,sheddinggallonsoftears,untiltherewasalargepoolallroundher,aboutfourinchesdeepandreachinghalfdownthe
हॉल
hall.Afteratimesheheardalittlepatteringoffeetinthedistance,andshehastilydriedhereyestoseewhatwascoming.
ItwastheWhiteRabbitreturning,splendidlydressed,witha
जोड़ी
pairofwhitekidglovesinonehandandalargefanintheother:hecametrottingalonginagreathurry,mutteringtohimselfashecame,“Oh!
theDuchess,theDuchess!
Oh!
won’tshebesavageifI’vekeptherwaiting!”
Alicefeltso
हताश
desperatethatshewasreadytoaskhelpofanyone;so,whentheRabbitcamenearher,shebegan,inalow,timidvoice,“Ifyouplease,sir—”
TheRabbitstartedviolently,droppedthewhitekidglovesandthefan,andskurriedawayintothe
अंधेरे
darknessashardashecouldgo.Alicetookupthefanandgloves,and,asthe
हॉल
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
दर
rate!However,theMultiplicationTabledoesn’tsignify:
let’stryGeography.
Londonisthe
राजधानी
capitalofParis,andParisistheराजधानी
capitalofRome,andRome—no,that’sallwrong,I’mcertain!ImusthavebeenchangedforMabel!
I’lltryandsay‘Howdoththelittle—’”andshecrossedherhandsonherlapasifsheweresayinglessons,andbegantorepeatit,buthervoicesoundedhoarseandstrange,andthewordsdidnotcomethesameastheyusedtodo:—.
“HowdoththelittlecrocodileImprovehisshining
पूंछ
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,witha
अचानक
suddenburstoftears,“Idowishtheywouldputtheirheadsdown!Iamsoverytiredofbeingallalonehere!”
Asshesaidthisshelookeddownatherhands,andwassurprisedtoseethatshehadputononeoftheRabbit’slittlewhitekidgloveswhileshewastalking.
“HowcanIhavedonethat?”
shethought.
“Imustbegrowingsmallagain.”
Shegotupandwenttothetabletomeasureherselfbyit,andfoundthat,asnearlyasshecouldguess,shewasnowabouttwofeethigh,andwasgoingonshrinkingrapidly:
shesoonfoundoutthatthecauseofthiswasthefanshewasholding,andshedroppedithastily,justintimeto
बचने
avoidshrinkingawayaltogether.“Thatwasanarrowescape!”