Lewis Carroll: Through the Looking Glass

CHAPTER 9: Queen Alice (continued)

The snoring got more distinct every minute, and sounded more like a tune: at last she could even make out the words, and she listened so eagerly that, when the two great heads vanished from her lap, she hardly missed them.

She was standing before an arched doorway over which were the words QUEEN ALICE in large letters, and on each side of the arch there was a bell-handle; one was marked `Visitors' Bell,' and the other `Servants' Bell.'

`I'll wait till the song's over,' thought Alice, `and then I'll ring--the--WHICH bell must I ring?' she went on, very much puzzled by the names. `I'm not a visitor, and I'm not a servant. There OUGHT to be one marked "Queen," you know--'

Just then the door opened a little way, and a creature with a long beak put its head out for a moment and said `No admittance till the week after next!' and shut the door again with a bang.

Alice knocked and rang in vain for a long time, but at last, a very old Frog, who was sitting under a tree, got up and hobbled slowly towards her: he was dressed in bright yellow, and had enormous boots on.

`What is it, now?' the Frog said in a deep hoarse whisper.

Alice turned round, ready to find fault with anybody. `Where's the servant whose business it is to answer the door?' she began angrily.

`Which door?' said the Frog.

Alice almost stamped with irritation at the slow drawl in which he spoke. `THIS door, of course!'

The Frog looked at the door with his large dull eyes for a minute: then he went nearer and rubbed it with his thumb, as if he were trying whether the paint would come off; then he looked at Alice.

`To answer the door?' he said. `What's it been asking of?' He was so hoarse that Alice could scarcely hear him.