At last the Mouse, who seemed to be a person of authority among them,

called out, ‘Sit down, all of you, and listen to me! 🔊 I’ll soon make you

dry enough!’ They all sat down at once, in a large ring, with the Mouse

in the middle. 🔊 Alice kept her eyes anxiously fixed on it, for she felt

sure she would catch a bad cold if she did not get dry very soon. 🔊

‘Ahem!’ said the Mouse with an important air, ‘are you all ready? 🔊 This

is the driest thing I know. Silence all round, if you please! 🔊 “William

the Conqueror, whose cause was favoured by the pope, was soon submitted

to by the English, who wanted leaders, and had been of late much

accustomed to usurpation and conquest. 🔊 Edwin and Morcar, the earls of

Mercia and Northumbria--”’ 🔊

‘Ugh!’ said the Lory, with a shiver. 🔊

‘I beg your pardon!’ said the Mouse, frowning, but very politely: ‘Did

you speak?’

‘Not I!’ said the Lory hastily. 🔊

‘I thought you did,’ said the Mouse. ‘--I proceed. 🔊