Lewis Carroll

The Nursery "Alice" Lewis Carroll

"Oh dear, oh dear!" said the Rabbit. "I shall be too late!" What would it be too late for, I wonder? Well, you see, it had to go and visit the Duchess (you'll see a picture of the Duchess, soon, sitting in her kitchen): and the Duchess was a very cross old lady: and the Rabbit knew she'd be very angry indeed if he kept her waiting. So the poor thing was as frightened as frightened could be (Don't you see how he's trembling? Just shake the book a little, from side to side, and you'll soon see him tremble), because he thought the Duchess would have his head cut off, for a punishment. That was what the Queen of Hearts used to do, when she was angry with people (you'll see a picture of her, soon): at least she used to order their heads to be cut off, and she always thought it was done, though they never really did it.