Alice’s Evidence

           ‘Here! ’criedAlice, quiteforgettingintheflurryofthemomenthowlargeshehadgrowninthelastfewminutes,andshejumpedupinsuchahurrythatshetippedoverthejury-boxwiththeedgeofherskirt, upsettingallthejurymenontotheheadsofthecrowdbelow, andtheretheylaysprawlingabout,remindingherverymuchofaglobeofgoldfishshehadaccidentallyupsettheweekbefore. 

           ‘Oh,Ibegyourpardon! ’sheexclaimedinatoneofgreatdismay,andbeganpickingthemupagainasquicklyasshecould, fortheaccidentofthegoldfishkeptrunninginherhead,andshehadavaguesortofideathattheymustbecollectedatonceandputbackintothejury-box,ortheywoulddie. 

           ‘Thetrialcannotproceed,’saidtheKinginaverygravevoice,‘untilallthejurymenarebackintheirproperplaces—all,’ herepeatedwithgreatemphasis,lookinghardatAliceashesaiddo. 

           Alicelookedatthejury-box,andsawthat,inherhaste,shehadputtheLizardinheaddownwards,andthepoorlittlethingwaswavingitstailaboutinamelancholyway,beingquiteunabletomove. Shesoongotitoutagain,andputitright; ‘notthatitsignifiesmuch,’shesaidtoherself; ‘Ishouldthinkitwouldbequiteasmuchuseinthetrialonewayupastheother.’ 

           Assoonasthejuryhadalittlerecoveredfromtheshockofbeingupset,andtheirslatesandpencilshadbeenfoundandhandedbacktothem,theysettoworkverydiligentlytowriteoutahistoryoftheaccident,allexcepttheLizard,whoseemedtoomuchovercometodoanythingbutsitwithitsmouthopen,gazingupintotheroofofthecourt. 

           ‘Whatdoyouknowaboutthisbusiness? ’theKingsaidtoAlice. 

           ‘Nothing,’saidAlice.