way of expecting nothing but
out-of-the-way things to happen, that it seemed quite dull and stupid
for life to go on in the common way.

So she set to work, and very soon finished off the cake.

* * * * *

CHAPTER II

[Sidenote: _Pool of Tears_]

"CURIOUSER and curiouser!" cried Alice (she was so much
surprised, that for a moment she quite forgot how to speak good
English); "now I'm opening out like the largest telescope that ever was!
Good-bye, feet!" (for when she looked down at her feet, they seemed to
be almost out of sight, they were getting so far off). "Oh, my poor
little feet, I wonder who will put on your shoes and stockings for you
now, dears? I'm sure _I_ sha'n't be able! I shall be a great deal too
far off to trouble myself about you: you must manage the best way you
can--but I must be kind to them," thought Alice, "or perhaps they won't
walk the way I want to go! Let me see: I'll give them a new pair of
boots every Christmas."

And she went on planning to herself how she would manage it. "They must
go by the carrier," she thought; "and how funny it'll seem, sending
presents to one's own feet! And how odd the directions will look!

Alice's Right Foot, Esq.
Hearthrug,
near the Fender,
(with Alice's love).

Oh dear, what nonsense I'm talking!"

Just then her head struck against the roof of the hall: in fact she was
now rather more than nine feet high, and she at once took up the little
golden key and hurried off to the garden door.

Poor Alice! It was as much as she could do, lying down on one side, to
look through into the garden with one eye; but to get through was more
hopeless than ever: she sat down and began to cry again.

"You ought to be ashamed of yourself," said Alice, "a great girl like
you" (she might well say this), "to go on crying in this way! Stop this
moment, I tell you!" But she went on all the same, shedding gallons of
tears, until there was a large pool all round her, about four inches
deep and reaching half down the hall.

[Illustration: CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER]

After a time she heard a little pattering of feet in the distance, and
she hastily dried her eyes to see what was coming. It was the White
Rabbit returning, splendidly dressed, with a pair of white kid gloves in
one hand and a large fan in the other: he came trotting along in a great
hurry, muttering to himself