Alice crashes a tea-party where it is always six o’clock: riddles with no answers, a Hatter who quarrelled with Time, and a Dormouse who cannot stay awake. (Abridged.)
Narrator There was a table set out under a tree in front of the house, and the March Hare and the Hatter were having tea at it: a Dormouse was sitting between them, fast asleep, and the other two were using it as a cushion, resting their elbows on it, and talking over its head. Alice Very uncomfortable for the Dormouse, Narrator thought Alice; Alice only, as it’s asleep, I suppose it doesn’t mind. Narrator The table was a large one, but the three were all crowded together at one corner of it: The Hatter 大喊 No room! No room!Narrator they cried out when they saw Alice coming. Alice indignant There’s plenty of room!Narrator said Alice indignantly, and she sat down in a large arm-chair at one end of the table. The March Hare Have some wine, Narrator the March Hare said in an encouraging tone. Narrator Alice looked all round the table, but there was nothing on it but tea. Alice I don’t see any wine, Narrator she remarked. The March Hare There isn’t any, Narrator said the March Hare. Alice 生气 Then it wasn’t very civil of you to offer it,Narrator said Alice angrily. The March Hare It wasn’t very civil of you to sit down without being invited, Narrator said the March Hare. Alice I didn’t know it was your table, Narrator said Alice; Alice it’s laid for a great many more than three. The Hatter Your hair wants cutting, Narrator said the Hatter. He had been looking at Alice for some time with great curiosity, and this was his first speech. Alice You should learn not to make personal remarks, Narrator Alice said with some severity; Alice it’s very rude. Narrator The Hatter opened his eyes very wide on hearing this; but all he said was, The Hatter 好奇 Why is a raven like a writing-desk?Alice 兴奋 Come, we shall have some fun now!Narrator thought Alice. Alice I’m glad they’ve begun asking riddles.—I believe I can guess that, Narrator she added aloud. The March Hare Do you mean that you think you can find out the answer to it? Narrator said the March Hare. Alice Exactly so, Narrator said Alice. The March Hare Then you should say what you mean, Narrator the March Hare went on. Alice 紧张 I do,Narrator Alice hastily replied; Alice at least—at least I mean what I say—that’s the same thing, you know. The Hatter Not the same thing a bit! Narrator said the Hatter. The Hatter You might just as well say that ‘I see what I eat’ is the same thing as ‘I eat what I see’! The March Hare You might just as well say, Narrator added the March Hare, The March Hare that ‘I like what I get’ is the same thing as ‘I get what I like’! The Dormouse You might just as well say, Narrator added the Dormouse, who seemed to be talking in his sleep, The Dormouse sleepy that ‘I breathe when I sleep’ is the same thing as ‘I sleep when I breathe’!The Hatter Have you guessed the riddle yet? Narrator the Hatter said, turning to Alice again. Alice No, I give it up, Narrator Alice replied: Alice what’s the answer? The Hatter I haven’t the slightest idea, Narrator said the Hatter. The March Hare Nor I, Narrator said the March Hare. Narrator Alice sighed wearily. Alice 叹气 I think you might do something better with the time,Narrator she said, Alice than waste it in asking riddles that have no answers. The Hatter If you knew Time as well as I do, Narrator said the Hatter, The Hatter you wouldn’t talk about wasting it. It’s him. Alice I don’t know what you mean, Narrator said Alice. The Hatter 嘲讽 Of course you don’t!Narrator the Hatter said, tossing his head contemptuously. The Hatter I dare say you never even spoke to Time! The Hatter We quarrelled last March—just before he went mad, you know— Narrator (pointing with his tea spoon at the March Hare,) The Hatter —it was at the great concert given by the Queen of Hearts, and I had to sing ‘Twinkle, twinkle, little bat! How I wonder what you’re at!’ You know the song, perhaps? Alice I’ve heard something like it, Narrator said Alice. The Hatter Well, I’d hardly finished the first verse, Narrator said the Hatter, The Hatter when the Queen jumped up and bawled out, ‘He’s murdering the time! Off with his head!’ Alice 倒吸气 How dreadfully savage!Narrator exclaimed Alice. The Hatter 叹气 And ever since that,Narrator the Hatter went on in a mournful tone, The Hatter he won’t do a thing I ask! It’s always six o’clock now. Narrator A bright idea came into Alice’s head. Alice Is that the reason so many tea-things are put out here? Narrator she asked. The Hatter Yes, that’s it, Narrator said the Hatter with a sigh: The Hatter it’s always tea-time, and we’ve no time to wash the things between whiles. Alice But what happens when you come to the beginning again? Narrator Alice ventured to ask. The March Hare Suppose we change the subject, Narrator the March Hare interrupted, yawning. The March Hare I’m getting tired of this. I vote the young lady tells us a story. Alice I’m afraid I don’t know one, Narrator said Alice, rather alarmed at the proposal. The Hatter 大喊 Then the Dormouse shall!Narrator they both cried. The March Hare Wake up, Dormouse! Narrator And they pinched it on both sides at once. The Dormouse 虚弱 I wasn’t asleep,Narrator he said in a hoarse, feeble voice: The Dormouse I heard every word you fellows were saying. The Dormouse Once upon a time there were three little sisters, Narrator the Dormouse began in a great hurry; The Dormouse and their names were Elsie, Lacie, and Tillie; and they lived at the bottom of a well— Alice What did they live on? Narrator said Alice, who always took a great interest in questions of eating and drinking. The Dormouse They lived on treacle, Narrator said the Dormouse, after thinking a minute or two. The March Hare Take some more tea, Narrator the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly. Alice offended I’ve had nothing yet,Narrator Alice replied in an offended tone, Alice so I can’t take more. The Hatter You mean you can’t take less, Narrator said the Hatter: The Hatter it’s very easy to take more than nothing. Alice Nobody asked your opinion, Narrator said Alice. The Hatter 笑着 Who’s making personal remarks now?Narrator the Hatter asked triumphantly. Alice Really, now you ask me, Narrator said Alice, very much confused, Alice I don’t think— The Hatter Then you shouldn’t talk, Narrator said the Hatter. Narrator This piece of rudeness was more than Alice could bear: she got up in great disgust, and walked off; the Dormouse fell asleep instantly, and neither of the others took the least notice of her going, though she looked back once or twice, half hoping that they would call after her: the last time she saw them, they were trying to put the Dormouse into the teapot. Alice 生气 At any rate I’ll never go there again!Narrator said Alice as she picked her way through the wood. Alice It’s the stupidest tea-party I ever was at in all my life!
Narrator
Alice
The Hatter
The March Hare
The Dormouse
