8. The Qween Of Hearts
Alice walked through the wood, away from the March Hare’s house. Suddenly, she saw a tree
with a door in it.
"How strange'." she said. “But then, everything is strange today."
She went through the door. She was in the long room with the glass table again. This time, she
took the key and unlocked the tiny door first. Then she ate one of the cakes from the rabbit's
house.
"Now I’m small enough to go into the garden at last!” she said, and she went through the door.
There were a lot of people in the garden. First, Alice saw three gardeners. They looked like
playing cards with black spades on them. Then ten soldiers walked across the grass. They had black
clubs on them. Then the royal children ran across the garden. They were playing cards, too, and
they had red hearts on them. The Knave of Hearts came* next, and then Alice saw the White
Rabbit, and the King and Queen of Hearts.
Alice stood still and waited. The King and Queen stopped in front of her. The gardeners quickly
lay* down on their faces.
"Who is this?” asked the Queen of Hearts. "What's your name, child?”
"My name is Alice, your Majesty,” Alice said. “I mustn’t be afraid," she thought. “They’re only a
pack of cards.”
“And who are these?” said the Queen of Hearts. She pointed to the gardeners.
“I don't know,” said Alice. “It’s not my business!"
The Queen was so angry that her face turned red. “Cut off her head!" she shouted.
Alice wasn’t scared. “Don’t be so silly!" she said to the Queen. "You can’t cut my head off!”
“Calm down, dear," said the King to the Queen. “She’s only a child."
"Very well," said the Queen. “Can you play croquet?"
“Yes,” said Alice.
“Come on, then!” shouted the Queen. “Take your places!"
Alice looked around and saw that everyone was ready to play. It was a very strange game. The
balls were hedgehogs, and the mallets were flamingoes. The soldiers stood on their hands and feet
to make hoops.
It was very difficult to play croquet with a flamingo. The pink birds didn’t want to stay still.
People shouted at each other and ran around the garden. The Queen got very angry and shouted
"Cut off his head!” or "Cut off her head!” every few minutes.
Alice wanted to get away, but she didn't know where to go.