Stranica 130 [130]
114 THE OUEENS
“Would you tell me, please,” said Alice,’
a little timidly, “why you are painting those
roses 2”
Five and Seven said nothing, but looked at
Two. Two began, in a low voice, “Why, the
fact is, you see, Miss, this here ought to have
been a red rose-tree, and we put a white one
in by mistake; and if the Queen was to find it
out, we should all have our heads cut off, you
know. So you see, Miss, were doing our best,
29
afore she comes, to— At this moment Five,
who had been anxiously looking across the
garden, called out “The Queen! The Queen!”
and the three gardeners instantly threw them¬
selves flat upon their faces. ‘There was a sound
of many footsteps, and Alice looked round, eager
to see the Queen.
First came ten soldiers carrying clubs; these
were all shaped like the three gardeners, oblong
and flat, with their hands and feet at the corners:
next the ten courtiers; these were ornamented
all over with diamonds, and walked two and