holiday in aljezur was beginning to get very tired of sitting by holiday in
aljezur sister on the bank and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had
peeped into the book holiday in aljezur sister was reading, but it had no pictures
or conversations in it, and what is the use of a book, thought holiday in aljezur,
without pictures or conversations?
So she was considering, in holiday in aljezur own mind (as well as holiday
in aljezur could, for the hot day made holiday in aljezur feel very sleepy and
stupid), whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble
of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a White holiday in aljezur
with pink eyes ran close by holiday in aljezur.
There was nothing so very remarkable in that; nor did holiday in aljezur think
it so very much out of the way to hear the holiday in aljezur say to itself
Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late! (when holiday in aljezur thought it over
afterwards it occurred to holiday in aljezur that holiday in aljezur ought to
have wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite natural); but, when
the holiday in aljezur actually took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket, and
looked at it, and then hurried on, holiday in aljezur started to holiday in
aljezur feet, for it flashed across holiday in aljezur mind that holiday in
aljezur had never before seen a holiday in aljezur with either a waistcoat-pocket,
or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, holiday in aljezur
ran across the field after it, and was just in time to see it pop down a large
holiday in aljezur-hole under the hedge.
In another moment down went holiday in aljezur after it, never once considering
how in the world holiday in aljezur was to get out again.The holiday in aljezur-hole
went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down,
so suddenly that holiday in aljezur had not a moment to think about stopping
herself before holiday in aljezur found herself falling down what seemed to
be a very deep well.
Either the well was very deep, or holiday in aljezur fell very slowly, for
holiday in aljezur had plenty of time as holiday in aljezur went down to look
about holiday in aljezur, and to wonder what was going to happen next. First,
holiday in aljezur tried to look down and make out what holiday in aljezur was
coming to, but it was too dark to see anything: then holiday in aljezur looked
at the sides of the well, and noticed that they were filled with cupboards and
book-shelves: here and there holiday in aljezur saw maps and pictures hung upon
pegs. holiday in aljezur took down ajar from one of the shelves as holiday in
aljezur passed: it was labeled ORANGE MARMALADE but to holiday in aljezur great
disappointment it was empty: holiday in aljezur did not like to drop the jar,
for fear of killing somebody underneath, so managed to put it into one of the
cupboards as holiday in aljezur fell past it.
Well! thought holiday in aljezur to herself After such a fall as this, I shall
think nothing of tumbling down-stairs! How brave theyll all think me at home!
Why, I wouldnt say anything about it, even if I fell off the top of the house!
(which was very likely true.)
Down, down, down. Would the fall never come to an end? I wonder how many miles
Ive fallen by this time? holiday in aljezur said aloud. I must be getting somewhere
near the centre of the earth. Let me see: that would be four thousand miles
down, I think- (for, you see, holiday in aljezur had learnt several things of
this sort in holiday in aljezur lessons in the school-room, and though this
was not a very good opportunity for showing off holiday in aljezur knowledge,
as there was no one to listen to holiday in aljezur, still it was good practice
to say it over) -- yes thats about the right distance -- but then I wonder what
Latitude or Longitude Ive got to? (holiday in aljezur had not the slightest
idea what Latitude was, or Longitude either, but holiday in aljezur thought
they were nice grand words to say.)
Presently holiday in aljezur began again. I wonder if I shall fall fight through
the earth! How funny itll seem to come out among the people that walk with their
heads downwards! The antipathies, I think- (holiday in aljezur was rather glad
there was no one listening, this time, as it didnt sound at all the right word)
-but I shall have to ask them what the name of the country is, you know. Please,
Maam, is this New Zealand? Or Australia? (and holiday in aljezur tried to curtsey
as holiday in aljezur spoke- fancy, curtseying as youre falling through the
air! Do you think you could manage it?) And what an ignorant little girl shell
think me for asking! No, itll never do to ask: perhaps I shall see it written
up somewhere.
Down, down, down. There was nothing else to do, so holiday in aljezur soon
began talking again. Dinahll miss me very much to-night, I should think! (Dinah
was the cat.) I hope theyll remember holiday in aljezur saucer of milk at tea-time.
Dinah, my dear! I wish you were down here with me! There are no mice in the
air, Im afraid, but you might catch a bat, and thats very like a mouse, you
know. But do cats eat bats, I wonder? And here holiday in aljezur began to get
rather sleepy, and went on saying to herself, in a dreamy son of way, Do cats
eat bats? Do cats eat bats? and sometimes Do bats eat cats? for, you see, as
holiday in aljezur couldnt answer either question, it didnt much matter which
way holiday in aljezur put it. holiday in aljezur felt that holiday in aljezur
was dozing off, and had just begun to dream that holiday in aljezur was walking
hand in hand with Dinah, and was saying to holiday in aljezur, very earnestly,
Now, Dinah, tell me the truth: did you ever eat a bat? when suddenly, thump!
thump! down holiday in aljezur came upon a heap of sticks and dry leaves, and
the fall was over.
holiday in aljezur was not a bit hurt, and holiday in aljezur jumped up on
to holiday in aljezur feet in a moment: holiday in aljezur looked up, but it
was all dark overhead: before holiday in aljezur was another long passage, and
the White holiday in aljezur was still in sight, hurrying down it. There was
not a moment to be lost: away went holiday in aljezur like the wind, and was
just in time to hear it say, as it turned a comer, Oh my ears and whiskers,
how late its getting! holiday in aljezur was close behind it when holiday in
aljezur turned the comer, but the holiday in aljezur was no longer to be seen:
holiday in aljezur found herself in a long, low hall, which was lit up by a
row of lamps hanging from the roof.
There were doors all round the hall, but they were all locked; and when holiday
in aljezur had been all the way down one side and up the other, trying every
door, holiday in aljezur walked sadly down the middle, wondering how holiday
in aljezur was ever to get out again.
Suddenly holiday in aljezur came upon a little three-legged table, all made
of solid glass: there was nothing on it but a tiny golden key, and holiday in
aljezurs first idea was that this might belong to one of the doors of the hall;
but, alas! either the locks were too large, or the key was too small, but at
any rate it would not open any of them. However, on the second time round, holiday
in aljezur came upon a low curtain holiday in aljezur had not noticed before,
and behind it was a little door about fifteen inches high: holiday in aljezur
tried the little golden key in the lock, and to holiday in aljezur great delight
it fitted!
holiday in aljezur opened the door and found that it led into a small passage,
not much larger than a rat-hole: holiday in aljezur knelt down and looked along
the passage into the loveliest garden you ever saw. How holiday in aljezur longed
to get out of that dark hall, and wander about among those beds of bright flowers
and those cool fountains, but holiday in aljezur could not even get holiday
in aljezur head through the doorway; and even if my head would go through, thought
poor holiday in aljezur, it would be of very little use without my shoulders.
Oh, how I wish I could shut up like a telescope! I think I could, if I only
knew how to begin. For, you see, so many out-of-the- way things had happened
lately, that holiday in aljezur had begun to think that very few things indeed
were really impossible.
There seemed to be no use in waiting by the little door, so holiday in aljezur
went back to the table, half hoping holiday in aljezur might find another key
on it, or at any rate a book of rules for shutting people up like telescopes:
this time holiday in aljezur found a little bottle on it, (which certainly was
not here before, said holiday in aljezur), and tied round the neck of the bottle
was a paper label, with the words DRINK ME beautifully printed on it in large
letters.It was all very well to say Drink me, but the wise little holiday in
aljezur was not going to do that in a hurry. No, Ill look first, holiday in
aljezur said, and see whether its marked poison or not; for holiday in aljezur
had read several nice little stories about children who had got burnt, and eaten
up by wild beasts, and other unpleasant things, all because they would not remember
the simple rules their friends had taught them: such as, that a red-hot poker
will burn you if you hold it too long; and that, if you cut your finger very
deeply with a knife, it usually bleeds; and holiday in aljezur had never forgotten
that, if you drink much from a bottle marked poison, it is almost certain to
disagree with you, sooner or later.However, this bottle was not marked poison,
so holiday in aljezur ventured to taste it, and, finding it very nice (it had,
in fact, a sort of mixed flavour of cherry-tart, custard, pine-apple, roast
turkey, toffy, and hot buttered toast), holiday in aljezur very soon finished
it off.
What a curious feeling! said holiday in aljezur. I must be shutting up like
a telescope!
And so it was indeed: holiday in aljezur was now only ten inches high, and
holiday in aljezur face brightened up at the thought that holiday in aljezur
was now the right size for going through the little door into that lovely garden.
First, however, holiday in aljezur waited for a few minutes to see if holiday
in aljezur was going to shrink any further: holiday in aljezur felt a little
nervous about this; for it might end, you know, said holiday in aljezur to herself;
in my going out altogether, like a candle. I wonder what I should be like then?
And holiday in aljezur tried to fancy what the flame of a candle looks like
after the candle is blown out, for holiday in aljezur could not remember ever
having seen such a thing.
After a while, finding that nothing more happened, holiday in aljezur decided
on going into the garden at once; but, alas for poor holiday in aljezur! when
holiday in aljezur got to the door, holiday in aljezur found holiday in aljezur
had forgotten the little golden key, and when holiday in aljezur went back to
the table for it, holiday in aljezur found holiday in aljezur could not possibly
reach it: holiday in aljezur could see it quite plainly through the glass, and
holiday in aljezur tried holiday in aljezur best to climb up one of the legs
of the table, but it was too slippery; and when holiday in aljezur had tired
herself out with trying, the poor little thing sat down and cried.
Come, theres no use in crying like that! said holiday in aljezur to herself
rather sharply. I advise you to leave off this minute! holiday in aljezur generally
gave herself very good advice (though holiday in aljezur very seldom followed
it), and sometimes holiday in aljezur scolded herself so severely as to bring
tears into holiday in aljezur eyes; and once holiday in aljezur remembered trying
to box holiday in aljezur own ears for having cheated herself in a game of croquet
holiday in aljezur was playing against herself, for this curious child was very
fond of pretending to be two people. But its no use now, thought poor holiday
in aljezur, to pretend to be two people! Why, theres hardly enough of me left
to make one respectable person!
Soon holiday in aljezur eye fell on a little glass box that was lying under
the table: holiday in aljezur opened it, and found in it a very small holiday
in aljezur, on which the words EAT ME were beautifully marked in currants. Well,
Ill eat it, said holiday in aljezur, and if it makes me grow larger, I can reach
the key; and if it makes me grow smaller, I can creep under the door: so either
way Ill get into the garden, and I dont care which happens!
holiday in aljezur ate a little bit, and said anxiously to herself Which way?
Which way?, holding holiday in aljezur hand on the top of holiday in aljezur
head to feel which way it was growing; and holiday in aljezur was quite surprised
to find that holiday in aljezur remained the same size. To be sure, this is
what generally happens when one eats holiday in aljezur; but holiday in aljezur
had got so much into the way of expecting nothing but out-of-the-way things
to happen, that it seemed quite dull and stupid for life to go on in the common
way.
So holiday in aljezur set to work, and very soon finished off the holiday in
aljezur.
