So you
see, Miss, we are hard at work to get it paint-ed, so that she may
not--" Just then Five, who had stood and watched the gate for some time,
called out, "The Queen! the Queen!" and the three men at once threw
them-selves flat up-on their fa-ces. Al-ice heard the tramp of feet and
looked round, glad if at last she could see the Queen.
[Illustration]
First came ten sol-diers with clubs; these were all shaped like the
three men at the rose tree, long and flat like cards, with their hands
and feet at the cor-ners; next came ten men who were trimmed with
di-a-monds and walked two and two like the sol-diers. The ten chil-dren
of the King and Queen came next; and the little dears came with a skip
and a jump hand in hand by twos. They were trimmed with hearts.
Next came the guests, most of whom were Kings and Queens. Al-ice saw
the White Rab-bit, with them. He did not seem at ease though he smiled
at all that was said. He didn't see Al-ice as he went by. Then came the
Knave of Hearts with the King's crown on a red vel-vet cush-ion; and
last of all came The King and Queen of Hearts.
[Illustration]
At first Al-ice thought it might be right for her to lie down on her
face like the three men at the rose tree, "but what would be the use of
such a fine show," she thought, "if all had to lie down so that they
couldn't see it?" So she stood where she was and wait-ed.
When they came to where she stood, they all stopped and looked at her,
and the Queen said in a stern voice, "Who is this?" She spoke to the
Knave of Hearts, who bowed and smiled but did not speak.
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