Where there was only one door,
however, there was no difficulty about choosing. Richard walked
straight through it; and from the greater fear of being left behind,
Alice faced the lesser fear of going on. In a moment they were in total
darkness. Alice clung to Richard's arm, and murmured, almost against
her will, "Dear Richard!" It was strange that fear should speak like
love; but it was in Fairyland. It was strange, too, that as soon as she
spoke thus, Richard should fall in love with her all at once. But what
was more curious still was, that, at the same moment, Richard saw her
face. In spite of her fear, which had made her pale, she looked very
lovely.
"Dear Alice!" said Richard, "how pale you look!"
"How can you tell that, Richard, when all is as black as pitch?"
"I can see your face. It gives out light. Now I see your hands. Now I
can see your feet. Yes, I can see every spot where you are going
to--No, don't put your foot there. There is an ugly toad just there."
The fact was, that the moment he began to love Alice, his eyes began to
send forth light. What he thought came from Alice's face, really came
from his eyes. All about her and her path he could see, and every
minute saw better; but to his own path he was blind. He could not see
his hand when he held it straight before his face, so dark was it. But
he could see Alice, and that was better than seeing the way--ever so
much.
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