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30. let this be a lesson to you never to lose temper!" "Hold your tongue, Ma!" said the young Crab, a little snappishly. "You're enough to try the patience of an oyster!"

"I wish I had our Dinah here, I know I do! " said Alice aloud, addressing nobody in particular. " soon fetch it back!"

"And who is Dinah, if I might venture to ask the question?" said the Lory.

Alice replied eagerly, for she was always ready to talk about her pet, "Dinah's our cat. And she's such a capital one for catching mice, you ca'n't think! And oh! I wish you could see her after the birds! Why, she'll eat a little bird as soon as look at it!"

This answer caused a remarkable sensation among the party: some of the birds hurried off at once; one old magpie began wrapping itself up very carefully, remarking, "I really must be getting home; the night air does not suit my throat," and a canary called out in a trembling voice to its children, "come away from her, my dears, she's no fit company for you!" On various pretexts, they all moved off, and Alice was soon left alone.