Oldal 188 [188]
172 WHO STOLE
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.
“Youre a very poor speaker,” said the King.
Here one of the guinea-pigs cheered, and was
immediately 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, bead first, and then sat upon it.)
"Im glad I’ve seen that done,’ thought Alice.
“T’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 understood what it
meant till now.”
“Tf that’s all you know about it, you may
stand down,’ continued the King.
“T can’t go no lower,’ said the Hatter: “Im
on the floor, as it is.”
“Then you may sit down,” the King replied.