The only things in the kitchen

that did not sneeze, were the cook, and a large cat which was sitting on

the hearth and grinning from ear to ear. 🔊

‘Please would you tell me,’ said Alice, a little timidly, for she was

not quite sure whether it was good manners for her to speak first, ‘why

your cat grins like that?’ 🔊

‘It’s a Cheshire cat,’ said the Duchess, ‘and that’s why. 🔊 Pig!’

She said the last word with such sudden violence that Alice quite

jumped; 🔊 but she saw in another moment that it was addressed to the baby,

and not to her, so she took courage, and went on again:-- 🔊

‘I didn’t know that Cheshire cats always grinned; in fact, I didn’t know

that cats could grin.’ 🔊

‘They all can,’ said the Duchess; ‘and most of ‘em do.’ 🔊

‘I don’t know of any that do,’ Alice said very politely, feeling quite

pleased to have got into a conversation. 🔊

‘You don’t know much,’ said the Duchess; ‘and that’s a fact.’ 🔊

Alice did not at all like the tone of this remark, and thought it would

be as well to introduce some other subject of conversation. 🔊