Lewis Carroll: Through the Looking Glass

CHAPTER 9: Queen Alice (continued)

`Can YOU do sums?' Alice said, turning suddenly on the White Queen, for she didn't like being found fault with so much.

The Queen gasped and shut her eyes. `I can do Addition,' `if you give me time--but I can do Subtraction, under ANY circumstances!'

`Of course you know your A B C?' said the Red Queen.

`To be sure I do.' said Alice.

`So do I,' the White Queen whispered: `we'll often say it over together, dear. And I'll tell you a secret--I can read words of one letter! Isn't THAT grand! However, don't be discouraged. You'll come to it in time.'

Here the Red Queen began again. `Can you answer useful questions?' she said. `How is bread made?'

`I know THAT!' Alice cried eagerly. `You take some flour--'

`Where do you pick the flower?' the White Queen asked. `In a garden, or in the hedges?'

`Well, it isn't PICKED at all,' Alice explained: `it's GROUND--'

`How many acres of ground?' said the White Queen. `You mustn't leave out so many things.'

`Fan her head!' the Red Queen anxiously interrupted. `She'll be feverish after so much thinking.' So they set to work and fanned her with bunches of leaves, till she had to beg them to leave off, it blew her hair about so.

`She's all right again now,' said the Red Queen. `Do you know Languages? What's the French for fiddle-de-dee?'

`Fiddle-de-dee's not English,' Alice replied gravely.

`Who ever said it was?' said the Red Queen.