Алиса в стране чудес / Alice in Wonderland

“I’ll never go there again!” said Alice. “It’s the stupidest tea-party in the world!”

Just as she said this, she noticed that one of the trees had a door.

“That’s very curious!” she thought. “But everything’s curious today. I think I may go in.”

And in she went.

Once more she found herself[53 - she found herself – она оказалась] in the long hall, and close to the little glass table. She took the little golden key, and unlocked the door that led into the garden. She walked down the little passage, and then she found herself in the beautiful garden, among the bright flowers and the cool fountains.

Chapter VIII

The Queen’s Croquet-Ground

A large rose-tree stood near the entrance of the garden: the roses growing on it were white, but there were three gardeners at it. They were painting them red. Alice thought this a very curious thing, and she went nearer to watch them, and when she came up to them she heard the voice, “Look out now[54 - Look out now – Смотри, осторожнее], Five! Don’t splash the paint over me!’

“That’s not my fault,” said Five, in a sulky tone; “Seven jogged my elbow.”

Seven looked up and said, “That’s not right, Five!”

“Do not talk!” said Five. “Queen said yesterday you deserved to be beheaded!”

“What for?”

“That’s none of your business[55 - That’s none of your business. – Это тебя не касается.], Two!” said Seven.

“Yes, it is his business!” said Five, “and I’ll tell him—he brought the cook tulip-roots[56 - tulip-roots – луковицы тюльпанов]instead of onions.”

Seven noticed Alice. The others looked round also, and all of them bowed low[57 - bowed low – низко поклонились].

“Can you tell me,” said Alice, a little timidly, “why you are painting those roses?”

Five and Seven said nothing, but looked at Two. Two began in a low voice, “The fact is, you see, Miss, the Queen ordered to plant a red rose-tree, and we planted a white tree by mistake. If the Queen sees it, our heads will be cut off[58 - heads will be cut off – нам отрубят головы], you know. So you see, Miss—”

At this moment Five called out “The Queen! The Queen!” There was a sound of many footsteps, and Alice looked round, she wanted to see the Queen.

First came ten soldiers with clubs[59 - карточные масти: clubs – трефы, diamonds – бубны, hearts – червы, spades – пики]; these were all like the three gardeners, oblong and flat, with their hands and feet at the corners. Next came the ten courtiers[60 - courtiers – придворные] with diamonds. After these came the royal children; there were ten of them. Next came the guests, Kings and Queens, and among them Alice recognised the White Rabbit. Then followed the Knave of Hearts[61 - Knave of Hearts – Червонный Валет], he was carrying the King’s crown on a crimson velvet cushion; and, last of all this grand procession, came The King and Queen Of Hearts[62 - The King and Queen Of Hearts – Король и Королева Червей].

Alice stood where she was and waited.

When the procession came opposite to Alice, they all stopped and looked at her, and the Queen said severely “Who is this?” She said it to the Knave of Hearts, who only bowed and smiled in reply.

“Idiot!” said the Queen; and she turned to Alice, “What’s your name, child?”

“My name is Alice, your Majesty,” said Alice very politely; but she added, to herself, “They’re only a pack of cards. No need to be afraid of them!”

“And who are these?” the Queen pointed to the three gardeners.

“How could I know?” said Alice. “It’s not my business.”

The Queen turned crimson with fury, and screamed “Off with her head[63 - Off with her head! – Отрубить ей голову!]! Off!”

“Nonsense!” said Alice, very loudly and decidedly, and the Queen was silent.

The King laid his hand upon her arm, and timidly said “My dear: she is only a child!”

The Queen turned angrily. Then she turned to the rose-tree, and asked, “What were you doing here?”

“Your Majesty,” said Two, in a very humble tone, “we were trying—”

“I see!” said the Queen, who was looking at the roses. “Off with their heads!”

And the procession moved on, three of the soldiers went to the unfortunate gardeners, who ran to Alice for protection.

“I shall save you!” said Alice, and she put them into a large flower-pot that stood near. Three soldiers wandered about for a minute or two, and then quietly marched away.

“What about their heads?” shouted the Queen.

“Their heads are gone, your Majesty!” the soldiers shouted in reply.

“That’s right!” shouted the Queen. “Can you play croquet?”

The soldiers were silent, and looked at Alice.

“Yes!” shouted Alice.

“Come on, then!” roared the Queen, and Alice joined the procession.

“It’s—It’s a very fine day!” said a timid voice. It was the White Rabbit, who was peeping anxiously into her face.

“Very,” said Alice, “where’s the Duchess?”

“Hush! Hush!” said the Rabbit in a low, hurried tone. He put his mouth close to her ear and whispered “She’s under sentence of execution[64 - She’s under sentence of execution. – Она приговорена к казни.].”

“What for?” said Alice.

“Did you say ‘What a pity!’?” the Rabbit asked.

“No, I didn’t,” said Alice: “I don’t think it’s a pity. I said ‘What for?’”

“She boxed the Queen’s ears[65 - she boxed the Queen’s ears – она надавала Королеве оплеух],” the Rabbit began. Alice laughed.

“Oh, hush!” the Rabbit whispered in a frightened tone. “The Queen will hear you! You see, she came late, and the Queen said—”

“Get to your places!” shouted the Queen in a voice of thunder. It was a very curious croquet-ground! It was all ridges and furrows[66 - ridges and furrows – рытвины и борозды]; the balls were hedgehogs, the mallets were flamingoes, and the soldiers were the arches.

The players all played at once, nobody was waiting for his turn. They were quarrelling all the while, and fighting for the hedgehogs. The Queen was furious and shouting “Off with his head!” or “Off with her head!” once in a minute.

Alice noticed a curious appearance in the air. It was a grin, and Alice said to herself “It’s the Cheshire Cat: now I have somebody to talk to.”