He was in the act
of plunging in, when he saw her open her eyes, and at the same moment
begin to float up. He held out his hand, but she repelled it with
disdain, and swimming to a tree, sat down on a low branch, wondering
how ever the poor widow's son could have found his way into Fairyland.
She did not like it. It was an invasion of privilege.
"How did you come here, young Richard?" she asked, from six yards off.
"A goblin brought me."
"Ah! I thought so. A fairy brought me."
"Where is your fairy?"
"Here I am," said Peaseblossom, rising slowly to the surface just by
the tree on which Alice was seated.
"Where is your goblin?" retorted Alice.
"Here I am," bawled Toadstool, rushing out of the water like a salmon,
and casting a summersault in the air before he fell in again with a
tremendous splash. His head rose again close beside Peaseblossom, who
being used to such creatures only laughed.
"Isn't he handsome?" he grinned.
"Yes, very. He wants polishing, though."
"You could do that for yourself, you know. Shall we change?"
"I don't mind. You'll find her rather silly."
"That's nothing. The boy's too sensible for me."
He dived, and rose at Alice's feet. She shrieked with terror. The fairy
floated away like a water-lily towards Richard. "What a lovely
creature!" thought he; but hearing Alice shriek again, he said,
"Don't leave Alice; she's frightened at that queer creature.
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