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30 A .CAUCUS-RACE
Alice thought the whole thing very absurd,
but they all looked so grave that she did not
dare to laugh; and as she could not think of
anything to say, she simply bowed, and took the
thimble, looking as solemn as she could.
The next thing was to eat the comfits: this
caused some noise and confusion, as the large
birds complained that they could not taste theirs,
and the small ones choked and had to be patted
on the back. However, it was over at last, and
they sat down again in a ring, and begged the
Mouse to tell them something more.
“You promised to tell me your history, you
know,’ said Alice, “and why it is you hate—C
and D,” she added in a whisper, half afraid that
it would be offended again.
“Mine is a long and a sad tale!” said the
Mouse, turning to Alice, and sighing.
“Tt as a long tail, certamly, said Alice,
looking down with wonder at the Mouse's tail;
“but why do you call it sad?” And she kept on
puzzling about it while the Mouse was speaking,