← (she considered him to be a footman because he was in livery: otherwise, judging by his face only, she would have called him a fish) 🔊
← The Fish-Footman began by producing from under his arm a great letter, nearly as large as himself, and this he handed over to the other, saying, in a solemn tone, ‘For the Duchess. 🔊
← The Frog-Footman repeated, in the same solemn tone, only changing the order of the words a little, ‘From the Queen. 🔊
← and when she next peeped out the Fish-Footman was gone, and the other was sitting on the ground near the door, staring stupidly up into the sky. 🔊
← ‘There’s no sort of use in knocking,’ said the Footman, ‘and that for two reasons. 🔊
← ‘There might be some sense in your knocking,’ the Footman went on without attending to her, ‘if we had the door between us. 🔊
← At this moment the door of the house opened, and a large plate came skimming out, straight at the Footman’s head: 🔊
← ‘Are you to get in at all?’ said the Footman. ‘That’s the first question, you know.’ 🔊
← The Footman seemed to think this a good opportunity for repeating his remark, with variations. 🔊
← ‘Anything you like,’ said the Footman, and began whistling. 🔊