The Pool of Tears
‘Curiouserandcuriouser!’ criedAlice(shewassomuchsurprised,thatforthemomentshequiteforgothowtospeakgoodEnglish); ‘nowI’mopeningoutlikethelargesttelescopethateverwas! Good-bye,feet!’ (forwhenshelookeddownatherfeet,theyseemedtobealmostoutofsight,theyweregettingsofaroff). ‘Oh,mypoorlittlefeet,Iwonderwhowillputonyourshoesandstockingsforyounow,dears? I’msureIshan’tbeable! Ishallbeagreatdealtoofarofftotroublemyselfaboutyou:youmustmanagethebestwayyoucan; —butImustbekindtothem,’thoughtAlice,‘orperhapstheywon’twalkthewayIwanttogo! Letmesee:I’llgivethemanewpairofbootseveryChristmas.’
Andshewentonplanningtoherselfhowshewouldmanageit. ‘Theymustgobythecarrier,’shethought; ‘andhowfunnyit’llseem,sendingpresentstoone’sownfeet! Andhowoddthedirectionswilllook!
Alice’sRightFoot,Esq.
Hearthrug,Nearthefender,(withAlice’slove).
Ohdear,whatnonsenseI’mtalking!’
Justthenherheadstruckagainsttheroofofthehall:infactshewasnowmorethanninefeethigh, andsheatoncetookupthelittlegoldenkeyandhurriedofftothegardendoor.
PoorAlice! Itwasasmuchasshecoulddo,lyingdownononeside,tolookthroughintothegardenwithoneeye; buttogetthroughwasmorehopelessthanever: shesatdownandbegantocryagain.