‘If you knew Time as well as I do,’ said the Hatter, ‘you wouldn’t talk

about wasting it. It’s him.’ 🔊

‘I don’t know what you mean,’ said Alice. 🔊

‘Of course you don’t!’ the Hatter said, tossing his head contemptuously.

‘I dare say you never even spoke to Time!’ 🔊

‘Perhaps not,’ Alice cautiously replied: ‘but I know I have to beat time

when I learn music.’ 🔊

‘Ah! that accounts for it,’ said the Hatter. 🔊 ‘He won’t stand beating. 🔊

Now, if you only kept on good terms with him, he’d do almost anything

you liked with the clock. 🔊 For instance, suppose it were nine o’clock in

the morning, just time to begin lessons: 🔊 you’d only have to whisper a

hint to Time, and round goes the clock in a twinkling! Half-past one,

time for dinner!’ 🔊

(‘I only wish it was,’ the March Hare said to itself in a whisper.) 🔊

‘That would be grand, certainly,’ said Alice thoughtfully: ‘but then--I

shouldn’t be hungry for it, you know.’ 🔊