their faces. There was a sound of many footsteps, and Alice

looked round, eager to see the Queen.

First came ten soldiers carrying clubs; these were all shaped

like the three gardeners, oblong and flat, with their hands and

feet at the corners: next the ten courtiers; these were

ornamented all over with diamonds, and walked two and two, as the

soldiers did. After these came the royal children; there were

ten of them, and the little dears came jumping merrily along hand

in hand, in couples: they were all ornamented with hearts. Next

came the guests, mostly Kings and Queens, and among them Alice

recognised the White Rabbit: it was talking in a hurried nervous

manner, smiling at everything that was said, and went by without

noticing her. Then followed the Knave of Hearts, carrying the

King's crown on a crimson velvet cushion; and, last of all this

grand procession, came THE KING AND QUEEN OF HEARTS.

Alice was rather doubtful whether she ought not to lie down on

her face like the three gardeners, but she could not remember

ever having heard of such a rule at processions; `and besides,

what would be the use of a procession,' thought she, `if people

had all to lie down upon their faces, so that they couldn't see it?'

So she stood still where she was, and waited.

When the procession came opposite to Alice, they all stopped

and looked at her, and the Queen said severely `Who is this?'

She said it to the Knave of Hearts, who only bowed and smiled in

reply.

`Idiot!' said the Queen, tossing her head impatiently; and,

turning to Alice, she went on, `What's your name, child?'

`My name is Alice, so please your Majesty,' said Alice very

politely; but she added, to herself, `Why, they're only a pack of

cards, after all. I needn't be afraid of them!'

`And who are THESE?' said the Queen, pointing to the three

gardeners who were lying round the rosetree; for, you see, as

they were lying on their faces, and the pattern on their backs

was the same as the rest of the pack, she could not tell whether

they were gardeners, or soldiers, or courtiers, or three of her

own children.

`How should I know?' said Alice, surprised at her own courage.