Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

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Who Stole The Tarts?

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The King and Queen of Hearts were seated on their throne + when they arrived, with a great crowd assembled about them—all sorts of little + birds and beasts, as well as the whole pack of cards: the Knave was standing before + them, in chains, with a soldier on each side to guard him; and near the King was the + White Rabbit, with a trumpet in one hand and a scroll of parchment in the other. In the + very middle of the court was a + table, with a large dish of tarts upon it. "I wish they'd get the trial done," Alice + thought, "and hand 'round the refreshments!"

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The judge, by the way, was the King and he wore his crown over his great wig. + "That's the jury-box," thought Alice; "and those twelve creatures (some were animals + and some were birds) I suppose they are the jurors."

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Just then the White Rabbit cried out "Silence in the court!"

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"Herald, read the accusation!" said the King.

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On this, the White Rabbit blew three blasts on the trumpet, then unrolled the + parchment-scroll and read as follows:

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+ "The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts,
All on a summer day;
The Knave of Hearts, he stole + those tarts
And took them quite away!"
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"Call the first witness," said the King; and the White Rabbit blew three blasts on + the trumpet and called out, "First witness!"

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The first witness was the Hatter. He came in with a teacup in one hand and a piece of bread and butter in the + other.

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"You ought to have finished," said the King. "When did you begin?"

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The Hatter looked at the March Hare, who had followed him into the court, arm in arm + with the Dormouse. "Fourteenth of March, I think it was," he said.

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"Give your evidence," said the King, "and don't be nervous, or I'll have you + executed on the spot."

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This did not seem to encourage the witness at all; he kept shifting from one foot to + the other, looking uneasily at the Queen, and, in his confusion, he bit a large piece + out of his teacup instead of the bread and butter.

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Just at this moment Alice felt a very curious sensation—she was beginning to + grow larger again.

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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.

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"You're a very poor speaker," said the King.

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"You may go," said the King, and the Hatter hurriedly left the court.

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"Call the next witness!" said the King.

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The next witness was the Duchess's cook. She carried the pepper-box in her hand and + the people near the door began sneezing all at once.

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"Give your evidence," said the King.

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"Sha'n't," said the cook.

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The King looked anxiously at the White Rabbit, who said, in a low voice, "Your + Majesty must cross-examine this witness."

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"Well, if I must, I must," the King said. "What are tarts made of?"

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"Pepper, mostly," said the cook.

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For some minutes the whole court was in confusion and by the time they had settled + down again, the cook had disappeared.

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"Never mind!" said the King, "call the next witness."

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Alice watched the White Rabbit as he fumbled over the list. Imagine her surprise + when he read out, at the top of his shrill little voice, the name "Alice!"

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