Алиса в стране чудес
The Pool of Tears
‘Yououghttobeashamedofyourself,’saidAlice, ‘agreatgirllikeyou,’(shemightwellsaythis), ‘togooncryinginthisway!Stopthismoment,Itellyou!’ Butshewentonallthesame,sheddinggallonsoftears,untiltherewasalargepoolallroundher, aboutfourinchesdeepandreachinghalfdownthehall.
Afteratimesheheardalittlepatteringoffeetinthedistance,andshehastilydriedhereyestoseewhatwascoming. ItwastheWhiteRabbitreturning, splendidlydressed,withapairofwhitekidglovesinonehandandalargefanintheother: hecametrottingalonginagreathurry,mutteringtohimselfashecame, ‘Oh!theDuchess,theDuchess!Oh!won’tshebesavageifI’vekeptherwaiting!’ Alicefeltsodesperatethatshewasreadytoaskhelpofanyone;so,whentheRabbitcamenearher,shebegan,inalow,timidvoice, ‘Ifyouplease,sir—’ TheRabbitstartedviolently,droppedthewhitekidglovesandthefan,andskurriedawayintothedarknessashardashecouldgo.
Alicetookupthefanandgloves,and,asthehallwasveryhot,shekeptfanningherselfallthetimeshewentontalking: ‘Dear,dear!Howqueereverythingisto-day! Andyesterdaythingswentonjustasusual. IwonderifI’vebeenchangedinthenight? Letmethink:wasIthesamewhenIgotupthismorning? IalmostthinkIcanrememberfeelingalittledifferent. ButifI’mnotthesame,thenextquestionis,WhointheworldamI? Ah,that’sthegreatpuzzle!’ Andshebeganthinkingoverallthechildrensheknewthatwereofthesameageasherself,toseeifshecouldhavebeenchangedforanyofthem.
‘I’msureI’mnotAda,’shesaid,‘forherhairgoesinsuchlongringlets,andminedoesn’tgoinringletsatall; andI’msureIcan’tbeMabel,forIknowallsortsofthings,andshe,oh!sheknowssuchaverylittle!
