‘Hold your tongue, Ma!’ said the young Crab, a little

snappishly. ‘You’re enough to try the patience of an oyster!’ 🔊

‘I wish I had our Dinah here, I know I do!’ said Alice aloud, addressing

nobody in particular. ‘She’d soon fetch it back!’ 🔊

‘And who is Dinah, if I might venture to ask the question?’ said the

Lory. 🔊

Alice replied eagerly, for she was always ready to talk about her pet:

‘Dinah’s our cat. 🔊 And she’s such a capital one for catching mice you

can’t think! 🔊 And oh, I wish you could see her after the birds! Why,

she’ll eat a little bird as soon as look at it!’ 🔊

This speech caused a remarkable sensation among the party. Some of the

birds hurried off at once: 🔊 one old Magpie began wrapping itself up very

carefully, remarking, ‘I really must be getting home; the night-air

doesn’t suit my throat!’ 🔊 and a Canary called out in a trembling voice to

its children, ‘Come away, my dears! It’s high time you were all in bed!’ 🔊

On various pretexts they all moved off, and Alice was soon left alone. 🔊