She waited for some time without hearing anything more: 🔊 at last came a
rumbling of little cartwheels, and the sound of a good many voices
all talking together: 🔊 she made out the words: ‘Where’s the other
ladder?-- 🔊Why, I hadn’t to bring but one; Bill’s got the other-- 🔊Bill!
fetch it here, lad!-- 🔊Here, put ‘em up at this corner--No, tie ‘em
together first--they don’t reach half high enough yet-- 🔊Oh! they’ll
do well enough; don’t be particular-- 🔊Here, Bill! catch hold of this
rope-- 🔊Will the roof bear?--Mind that loose slate-- 🔊Oh, it’s coming
down! 🔊 Heads below!’ (a loud crash)-- 🔊‘Now, who did that?--It was Bill, I
fancy-- 🔊Who’s to go down the chimney?--Nay, I shan’t! 🔊 You do it!--That I
won’t, then!-- 🔊Bill’s to go down-- 🔊Here, Bill! the master says you’re to
‘Oh! So Bill’s got to come down the chimney, has he?’ said Alice to
herself. 🔊 ‘Shy, they seem to put everything upon Bill! 🔊 I wouldn’t be in
Bill’s place for a good deal: 🔊 this fireplace is narrow, to be sure; but