पृष्ठ 148 / 167

"I wish you wouldn't squeeze so," said the Dormouse, who was

sitting next to her. "I can hardly breathe."

"I can't help it," said Alice very meekly: "I'm growing."

"You've no right to grow here," said the Dormouse.

"Don't talk nonsense," said Alice more boldly: "you know you're

growing too."

"Yes, but I grow at a reasonable pace," said the Dormouse: "not

in that ridiculous fashion." And he got up very sulkily and

crossed over to the other side of the court.

All this time the Queen had never left off staring at the Hatter,

and, just as the Dormouse crossed the court, she said to one of

the officers of the court, "Bring me the list of the singers in

the last concert!" on which the wretched Hatter trembled so, that

he shook both his shoes off.

"Give your evidence," the King repeated angrily, "or I'll have

you executed, whether you're nervous or not."