‘Don’t talk nonsense,’ said Alice more boldly: ‘you know you’re growing

too.’ 🔊

‘Yes, but I grow at a reasonable pace,’ said the Dormouse: ‘not in that

ridiculous fashion.’ 🔊 And he got up very sulkily and crossed over to the

other side of the court. 🔊

All this time the Queen had never left off staring at the Hatter, 🔊 and,

just as the Dormouse crossed the court, she said to one of the officers

of the court, ‘Bring me the list of the singers in the last concert!’ 🔊 on

which the wretched Hatter trembled so, that he shook both his shoes off. 🔊

‘Give your evidence,’ the King repeated angrily, ‘or I’ll have you

executed, whether you’re nervous or not.’ 🔊

‘I’m a poor man, your Majesty,’ the Hatter began, in a trembling voice, 🔊

‘--and I hadn’t begun my tea--not above a week or so--and what with the

bread-and-butter getting so thin--and the twinkling of the tea--’ 🔊

‘The twinkling of the what?’ said the King. 🔊

‘It began with the tea,’ the Hatter replied. 🔊

‘Of course twinkling begins with a T!’ said the King sharply. ‘Do you

take me for a dunce? Go on!’ 🔊