Page:Alices adventures in Cambridge.djvu/58

 "Do you play croquet?" she asked in a harsh voice.

"A little," said Alice; "that is,—"

"You've been cutting," roared the Queen, stamping her foot. "Off with her head!"

"Not yet! Not yet! your Majesty," said the Black Knight. "You forget we haven't begun the game yet."

"Take your places!" shouted the Queen.

Instantly everyone began to rush about in wild confusion. Alice soon found herself with a large fountain-pen for a mallet in her hand, standing in front of a hoop which was evidently meant to be a wicket, though it didn't seem to have any connection with the rest of the hoops which were scattered all over the grass with no attempt at order. As for the ball, it was nowhere to be seen, and Alice was wondering what she ought to do, when the King came up to her with a note­book in his hand.

"Have you gone through this wicket?" he asked.

"No," Alice replied; "I can't find any [ 52 ]