Page:Complete Works of Lewis Carroll.djvu/146

126 There was a general clapping of hands at this: it was the first really clever thing the King had said that day.

"That proves his guilt, o£ course," said the Queen : "so, off with"

"It doesn't prove anything o£ the sort!" said Alice. "Why, you don't even know what they're about!"

"Read them," said the King.

The White Rabbit put on his spectacles. "Where shall I begin, please your Majesty?" he asked.

"Begin at the beginning," the King said, very gravely, "and go on till you come to the end: then stop."

There was dead silence in the court, whilst the White Rabbit read out these verses: —