'
Everything was happening so oddly that she didn't feel a bit
surprised at finding the Red Queen and the White Queen sitting close
to her, one on each side: she would have like very much to ask them
how they came there, but she feared it would not be quite civil.
However, there would be no harm, she thought, in asking if the game
was over. `Please, would you tell me -- ' she began, looking timidly
at the Red Queen.
`Speak when you're spoken to!' The Queen sharply interrupted her.
`But if everybody obeyed that rule,' said Alice, who was always
ready for a little argument, `and if you only spoke when you were
spoken to, and the other person always waited for YOU to begin, you
see nobody would ever say anything, so that -- '
`Ridiculous!' cried the Queen. `Why, don't you see, child -- '
here she broke off with a frown, and, after thinking for a minute,
suddenly changed the subject of the conversation. `What do you mean
by `If you really are a Queen"? What right have you to all yourself
so? You can't be a Queen, you know, till you've passed the proper
examination. And the sooner we begin it, the better.'
`I only said "if"!' poor Alice pleaded in a piteous tone.
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