Well, and so they didn’t know how in the world they were to get dry again. But the Dodo----who was a very wise bird----told them the right way was to have a Caucus-Race. And what do you think _that_ was? _You don’t know?_ Well, you _are_ an ignorant child! Now, be very attentive, and I’ll soon cure you of your ignorance! First, you must have a _racecourse_. It ought to be a _sort_ of circle, but it doesn’t much matter _what_ shape it is, so long as it goes a good way round, and joins on to itself again. Then, you must put all the _racers_ on the course, here and there: it doesn’t matter _where_, so long as you don’t crowd them too much together. Then, you needn’t say “One, two, three, and away!” but let them all set off running just when they like, and leave off just when they like. So all these creatures, Alice and all, went on running round and round, till they were all quite dry again. And then the Dodo said _everybody_ had won, and _everybody_ must have prizes! Of course _Alice_ had to give them their prizes. And she had nothing to give them but a few comfits she happened to have in her pocket. And there was just one a-piece, all round. And there was no prize for Alice! So what do you think they did? Alice had nothing left but her thimble. Now look at the picture, and you’ll see what happened. [Illustration] “Hand it over here!” said the Dodo. Then the Dodo took the thimble and handed it back to Alice, and said “We beg your acceptance of this elegant thimble!” And then all the other creatures cheered. Wasn’t _that_ a curious sort of present to give her? Suppose they wanted to give _you_ a birthday-present, would you rather they should go to your toy-cupboard, and pick out your nicest doll, and say “Here, my love, here’s a lovely birthday-present for you!” or would you like them to give you something _new_, something that _didn’t_ belong to you before? V. BILL, THE LIZARD. Now I’m going to tell you about Alice’s Adventures in the White Rabbit’s house. Do you remember how the Rabbit dropped his gloves and his fan, when he was so frightened at hearing Alice’s voice, that seemed to come down from the sky? Well, of course he couldn’t go to visit the Duchess _without_ his gloves and his fan: so, after a bit, he came back again to look for them. By this time the Dodo and all the other curious creatures had gone away, and Alice was wandering about all alone. So what do you think he did? Actually he thought she was his housemaid, and began ordering her about! “Mary Ann!” he said. “Go home this very minute, and fetch me a pair of gloves and a fan! Quick, now!” Perhaps he couldn’t see very clearly with his pink eyes: for I’m sure Alice doesn’t look very _like_ a housemaid, _does_ she? However she was a very good-natured little girl: so she wasn’t a bit offended, but ran off to the Rabbit’s house as quick as she could.