The Rabbit Sends in a Little Bill
ItwastheWhiteRabbit,trottingslowlybackagain,andlookinganxiouslyaboutasitwent,asifithadlostsomething; andshehearditmutteringto "TheDuchess!TheDuchess!Ohmydearpaws!Ohmyfurandwhiskers! She’llgetmeexecuted,assureasferretsareferrets! WherecanIhavedroppedthem,Iwonder? "Aliceguessedinamomentthatitwaslookingforthefanandthepairofwhitekid-gloves,andsheverygood-naturedlybeganhuntingaboutforthem, buttheywerenowheretobeseen—everythingseemedtohavechangedsinceherswiminthepool; andthegreathall,withtheglasstableandthelittledoor,hadvanishedcompletely.
VerysoontheRabbitnoticedAlice,asshewenthuntingabout,andcalledouttoher,inanangrytone, "Why,MaryAnn,whatareyoudoingouthere? Runhomethismoment,andfetchmeapairofglovesandafan! Quick,now! "AndAlicewassomuchfrightenedthatsheranoffatonceinthedirectionitpointedto,withouttryingtoexplainthemistakeithadmade.
"Hetookmeforhishousemaid,"shesaidtoherselfassheran. "Howsurprisedhe’llbewhenhefindsoutwhoIam! ButI’dbettertakehimhisfanandgloves—thatis,ifIcanfindthem. "Asshesaidthis,shecameuponaneatlittlehouse,onthedoorofwhichwasabrightbrassplatewiththename "W.RABBIT"engraveduponit. Shewentinwithoutknocking,andhurriedupstairs, ingreatfearlestsheshouldmeettherealMaryAnn,andbeturnedoutofthehousebeforeshehadfoundthefanandgloves.
"Howqueeritseems,"Alicesaidtoherself,"tobegoingmessagesforarabbit! IsupposeDinah’llbesendingmeonmessagesnext! "Andshebeganfancyingthesortofthingthatwouldhappen: