Алиса в зазеркалье
Looking-Glass Insects
‘AndyetIdon’tknow,’theGnatwentoninacarelesstone:‘onlythinkhowconvenientitwouldbeifyoucouldmanagetogohomewithoutit!Forinstance,ifthegovernesswantedtocallyoutoyourlessons,shewouldcallout"comehere—"andthereshewouldhavetoleaveoff,becausetherewouldn’tbeanynameforhertocall,andofcourseyouwouldn’thavetogo,youknow.’
‘Thatwouldneverdo,I’msure,’saidAlice:‘thegovernesswouldneverthinkofexcusingmelessonsforthat.Ifshecouldn’tremembermyname,she’dcallme"Miss!"astheservantsdo.’
‘Well.ifshesaid"Miss,"anddidn’tsayanythingmore,’theGnatremarked,‘ofcourseyou’dmissyourlessons.That’sajoke.Iwishyouhadmadeit.’
‘WhydoyouwishIhadmadeit?’Aliceasked.‘It’saverybadone.’
ButtheGnatonlysigheddeeply,whiletwolargetearscamerollingdownitscheeks.
‘Youshouldn’tmakejokes,’Alicesaid,‘ifitmakesyousounhappy.’
Thencameanotherofthosemelancholylittlesighs,andthistimethepoorGnatreallyseemedtohavesigheditselfaway,for,whenAlicelookedup,therewasnothingwhatevertobeseenonthetwig,and,asshewasgettingquitechillywithsittingstillsolong,shegotupandwalkedon.
Sheverysooncametoanopenfield,withawoodontheothersideofit:itlookedmuchdarkerthanthelastwood,andAlicefeltalittletimidaboutgoingintoit.