Page:Complete Works of Lewis Carroll.djvu/140

120 ALICE S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND The miserable Hatter dropped his teacup and bread- and-butter, and went down on one knee. "I'm a poor man, your Majesty," he began. "You're a very poor speaker ^' said the King. '^^'-'■'^^^/■^^'^ ^ Here one of the guinea-pigs cheered, and was immedi- ately suppressed by the officers of the court. (As that is rather a hard word, I will just explain to you how it was done. They had a large canvas bag, which tied up at the mouth with strings : into this they slipped the guinea-pig, head first, and then sat upon it.) "I'm glad I've seen that done," thought Alice. "I've so often read in the newspapers, at the end of trials, *There was some attempt at applause, which was immediately suppressed by the officers of the court,' and I never un- derstood what it meant till now." "If that's all you know about it, you may stand down," continued the King. "I ca'n't go no lower," said the Hatter: "I'm on the floor, as it is." "Then you may sit down," the King replied. I