[_She backs down stage respectfully as the KING and QUEEN OF HEARTS enter, followed by the KNAVE OF HEARTS carrying the KING'S crown on a crimson velvet cushion, and the WHITE RABBIT and others. When they come opposite to ALICE they stop and look at her._] [_The DUCHESS comes out of her house._] QUEEN [_To the KNAVE._] Who is this? [Illustration] KNAVE [_Bows three times, smiles and giggles._] QUEEN Idiot! What's your name, child? ALICE My name is Alice, so please your Majesty. QUEEN Off with her head! Off-- ALICE Nonsense! KING Consider, my dear, she is only a child. QUEEN Can you play croquet? ALICE Yes. QUEEN Come on then. Get to your places. Where are the mallets? DUCHESS Here. [_The FROG appears with the flamingoes and hedgehogs._] QUEEN Off with his head! [_No one pays any attention._] KNAVE What fun! ALICE What is the fun? KNAVE Why she; it's all her fancy, that. They never execute anyone. ALICE What does one do? QUEEN Get to your places! [_She takes a flamingo, uses its neck as a mallet and a hedgehog as a ball. The FROG doubles himself into an arch. The KING does the same with the followers and the KNAVE offers himself as an arch for ALICE. Even though ALICE does not notice him he holds the arch position. The QUEEN shouts at intervals, "Off with his head, off with her head."_] ALICE Where are the Chess Queens? RABBIT Under sentence of execution. ALICE What for? RABBIT Did you say, "what a pity"? ALICE No, I didn't. I don't think it's at all a pity. I said, "What for?" RABBIT They boxed the Queen's ears. [_ALICE gives a little scream of laughter._] RABBIT Oh, hush! The Queen will hear you! You see they came rather late and the Queen said--Oh dear, the Queen hears me-- [_He hurries away._] ALICE [_Noticing the KNAVE who still pretends to be an arch._] How _can_ you go on thinking so quietly, with your head downwards? KNAVE What does it matter where my body happens to be? My mind goes on working just the same. The fact of it is, the more head downwards I am, the more I keep on inventing new things. KING Did you happen to meet any soldiers, my dear, as you came through the wood? ALICE Yes, I did; several thousand I should think. KING Four thousand, two hundred and seven, that's the exact number. They couldn't send all the horses, you know, because two of them are wanted in the game. And I haven't sent the two messengers, either. ALICE What's the war about? KING The red Chess King has the whole army against us but he can't kill a man who has thirteen hearts. [_The DUCHESS, QUEEN, FROG, and followers go out. The KNAVE and the FIVE-SPOT, SEVEN-SPOT, and NINE-SPOT OF HEARTS stand behind the KING._] [Illustration: KING: I only wish I had such eyes; to be able to see Nobody!] KING Just look along the road and tell me if you can see either of my messengers. ALICE I see nobody on the road. KING