Page:MU KPB 050 Alice's adventures in Wonderland - by Lewis Carroll.pdf/101

 the Duchess. An invitation from the Queen to play croquet.” The Frog-Footman re­peated, in the same solemn tone, only changing the order of the words a little, “From the Queen. An invitation for the Duchess to play croquet.”

Then they both bowed low, and their curls got entangled together.

Alice laughed so much at this, that she had to run back into the wood for fear of their hearing her; and, when she next peeped out, the Fish-Footman was gone, and the other was sitting on the ground near the door, staring stupidly up into the sky.

Alice went timidly up to the door and knocked.

“There’s no use in knocking,” said the Footman, “and that for two reasons. First, because I’m on the same side of the door as you are; secondly, because they’re making such a noise inside, no one could possibly hear you.” And certainly there was a most extraordinary noise going on within—a con­stant howling and sneezing, and every now and then a great crash, as if a dish or kettle had been broken to pieces.