‘A fine day, your Majesty!’ the Duchess began in a low, weak voice. 🔊
‘Now, I give you fair warning,’ shouted the Queen, stamping on the
ground as she spoke; ‘either you or your head must be off, and that in
about half no time! Take your choice!’ 🔊
The Duchess took her choice, and was gone in a moment. 🔊
‘Let’s go on with the game,’ the Queen said to Alice; and Alice was
too much frightened to say a word, but slowly followed her back to the
The other guests had taken advantage of the Queen’s absence, and were
resting in the shade: 🔊 however, the moment they saw her, they hurried
back to the game, the Queen merely remarking that a moment’s delay would
All the time they were playing the Queen never left off quarrelling with
the other players, and shouting ‘Off with his head!’ or ‘Off with her
head!’ 🔊 Those whom she sentenced were taken into custody by the soldiers,
who of course had to leave off being arches to do this, so that by
the end of half an hour or so there were no arches left, 🔊 and all the
players, except the King, the Queen, and Alice, were in custody and