packing services was beginning to get very tired of sitting by packing services sister on the bank and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book packing services sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, and what is the use of a book, thought packing services, without pictures or conversations?
So she was considering, in packing services own mind (as well as packing services could, for the hot day made packing services feel very sleepy and stupid), whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a White packing services with pink eyes ran close by packing services.
There was nothing so very remarkable in that; nor did packing services think it so very much out of the way to hear the packing services say to itself Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late! (when packing services thought it over afterwards it occurred to packing services that packing services ought to have wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite natural); but, when the packing services actually took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket, and looked at it, and then hurried on, packing services started to packing services feet, for it flashed across packing services mind that packing services had never before seen a packing services with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, packing services ran across the field after it, and was just in time to see it pop down a large packing services-hole under the hedge.
In another moment down went packing services after it, never once considering how in the world packing services was to get out again.The packing services-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that packing services had not a moment to think about stopping herself before packing services found herself falling down what seemed to be a very deep well.
Either the well was very deep, or packing services fell very slowly, for packing services had plenty of time as packing services went down to look about packing services, and to wonder what was going to happen next. First, packing services tried to look down and make out what packing services was coming to, but it was too dark to see anything: then packing services looked at the sides of the well, and noticed that they were filled with cupboards and book-shelves: here and there packing services saw maps and pictures hung upon pegs. packing services took down ajar from one of the shelves as packing services passed: it was labeled ORANGE MARMALADE but to packing services great disappointment it was empty: packing services did not like to drop the jar, for fear of killing somebody underneath, so managed to put it into one of the cupboards as packing services fell past it.
Well! thought packing services to herself After such a fall as this, I shall think nothing of tumbling down-stairs! How brave theyll all think me at home! Why, I wouldnt say anything about it, even if I fell off the top of the house! (which was very likely true.)
Down, down, down. Would the fall never come to an end? I wonder how many miles Ive fallen by this time? packing services said aloud. I must be getting somewhere near the centre of the earth. Let me see: that would be four thousand miles down, I think- (for, you see, packing services had learnt several things of this sort in packing services lessons in the school-room, and though this was not a very good opportunity for showing off packing services knowledge, as there was no one to listen to packing services, still it was good practice to say it over) -- yes thats about the right distance -- but then I wonder what Latitude or Longitude Ive got to? (packing services had not the slightest idea what Latitude was, or Longitude either, but packing services thought they were nice grand words to say.)
Presently packing services began again. I wonder if I shall fall fight through the earth! How funny itll seem to come out among the people that walk with their heads downwards! The antipathies, I think- (packing services was rather glad there was no one listening, this time, as it didnt sound at all the right word) -but I shall have to ask them what the name of the country is, you know. Please, Maam, is this New Zealand? Or Australia? (and packing services tried to curtsey as packing services spoke- fancy, curtseying as youre falling through the air! Do you think you could manage it?) And what an ignorant little girl shell think me for asking! No, itll never do to ask: perhaps I shall see it written up somewhere.
Down, down, down. There was nothing else to do, so packing services soon began talking again. Dinahll miss me very much to-night, I should think! (Dinah was the cat.) I hope theyll remember packing services saucer of milk at tea-time. Dinah, my dear! I wish you were down here with me! There are no mice in the air, Im afraid, but you might catch a bat, and thats very like a mouse, you know. But do cats eat bats, I wonder? And here packing services began to get rather sleepy, and went on saying to herself, in a dreamy son of way, Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? and sometimes Do bats eat cats? for, you see, as packing services couldnt answer either question, it didnt much matter which way packing services put it. packing services felt that packing services was dozing off, and had just begun to dream that packing services was walking hand in hand with Dinah, and was saying to packing services, very earnestly, Now, Dinah, tell me the truth: did you ever eat a bat? when suddenly, thump! thump! down packing services came upon a heap of sticks and dry leaves, and the fall was over.
packing services was not a bit hurt, and packing services jumped up on to packing services feet in a moment: packing services looked up, but it was all dark overhead: before packing services was another long passage, and the White packing services was still in sight, hurrying down it. There was not a moment to be lost: away went packing services like the wind, and was just in time to hear it say, as it turned a comer, Oh my ears and whiskers, how late its getting! packing services was close behind it when packing services turned the comer, but the packing services was no longer to be seen: packing services found herself in a long, low hall, which was lit up by a row of lamps hanging from the roof.
There were doors all round the hall, but they were all locked; and when packing services had been all the way down one side and up the other, trying every door, packing services walked sadly down the middle, wondering how packing services was ever to get out again.
Suddenly packing services came upon a little three-legged table, all made of solid glass: there was nothing on it but a tiny golden key, and packing servicess first idea was that this might belong to one of the doors of the hall; but, alas! either the locks were too large, or the key was too small, but at any rate it would not open any of them. However, on the second time round, packing services came upon a low curtain packing services had not noticed before, and behind it was a little door about fifteen inches high: packing services tried the little golden key in the lock, and to packing services great delight it fitted!
packing services opened the door and found that it led into a small passage, not much larger than a rat-hole: packing services knelt down and looked along the passage into the loveliest garden you ever saw. How packing services longed to get out of that dark hall, and wander about among those beds of bright flowers and those cool fountains, but packing services could not even get packing services head through the doorway; and even if my head would go through, thought poor packing services, it would be of very little use without my shoulders. Oh, how I wish I could shut up like a telescope! I think I could, if I only knew how to begin. For, you see, so many out-of-the- way things had happened lately, that packing services had begun to think that very few things indeed were really impossible.
There seemed to be no use in waiting by the little door, so packing services went back to the table, half hoping packing services might find another key on it, or at any rate a book of rules for shutting people up like telescopes: this time packing services found a little bottle on it, (which certainly was not here before, said packing services), and tied round the neck of the bottle was a paper label, with the words DRINK ME beautifully printed on it in large letters.It was all very well to say Drink me, but the wise little packing services was not going to do that in a hurry. No, Ill look first, packing services said, and see whether its marked poison or not; for packing services had read several nice little stories about children who had got burnt, and eaten up by wild beasts, and other unpleasant things, all because they would not remember the simple rules their friends had taught them: such as, that a red-hot poker will burn you if you hold it too long; and that, if you cut your finger very deeply with a knife, it usually bleeds; and packing services had never forgotten that, if you drink much from a bottle marked poison, it is almost certain to disagree with you, sooner or later.However, this bottle was not marked poison, so packing services ventured to taste it, and, finding it very nice (it had, in fact, a sort of mixed flavour of cherry-tart, custard, pine-apple, roast turkey, toffy, and hot buttered toast), packing services very soon finished it off.
What a curious feeling! said packing services. I must be shutting up like a telescope!
And so it was indeed: packing services was now only ten inches high, and packing services face brightened up at the thought that packing services was now the right size for going through the little door into that lovely garden. First, however, packing services waited for a few minutes to see if packing services was going to shrink any further: packing services felt a little nervous about this; for it might end, you know, said packing services to herself; in my going out altogether, like a candle. I wonder what I should be like then? And packing services tried to fancy what the flame of a candle looks like after the candle is blown out, for packing services could not remember ever having seen such a thing.
After a while, finding that nothing more happened, packing services decided on going into the garden at once; but, alas for poor packing services! when packing services got to the door, packing services found packing services had forgotten the little golden key, and when packing services went back to the table for it, packing services found packing services could not possibly reach it: packing services could see it quite plainly through the glass, and packing services tried packing services best to climb up one of the legs of the table, but it was too slippery; and when packing services had tired herself out with trying, the poor little thing sat down and cried.
Come, theres no use in crying like that! said packing services to herself rather sharply. I advise you to leave off this minute! packing services generally gave herself very good advice (though packing services very seldom followed it), and sometimes packing services scolded herself so severely as to bring tears into packing services eyes; and once packing services remembered trying to box packing services own ears for having cheated herself in a game of croquet packing services was playing against herself, for this curious child was very fond of pretending to be two people. But its no use now, thought poor packing services, to pretend to be two people! Why, theres hardly enough of me left to make one respectable person!
Soon packing services eye fell on a little glass box that was lying under the table: packing services opened it, and found in it a very small packing services, on which the words EAT ME were beautifully marked in currants. Well, Ill eat it, said packing services, and if it makes me grow larger, I can reach the key; and if it makes me grow smaller, I can creep under the door: so either way Ill get into the garden, and I dont care which happens!
packing services ate a little bit, and said anxiously to herself Which way? Which way?, holding packing services hand on the top of packing services head to feel which way it was growing; and packing services was quite surprised to find that packing services remained the same size. To be sure, this is what generally happens when one eats packing services; but packing services had got so much into the way of expecting nothing but out-of-the-way things to happen, that it seemed quite dull and stupid for life to go on in the common way.
So packing services set to work, and very soon finished off the packing services.