Page:Lewis Carroll - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.djvu/16

 Imperious Prima flashes forth

Her edict "to begin it"—

In gentler tone Secunda hopes

"There will be nonsense in it!"—

While Tertia interrupts the tale

Not more than once a minute.

Anon, to sudden silence won,

In fancy they pursue

The dream-child moving through a land

Of wonders wild and new,

In friendly chat with bird or beast—

And half believe it true.

And ever, as the story drained

The wells of fancy dry,

And faintly strove that weary one

To put the subject by,

"The rest next time—" "It is next time!"

The happy voices cry.