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"What trial is it?" Alice panted as she ran; but the Gryphon only

answered "Come on!" and ran the faster, while more and more

faintly came, carried on the breeze that followed them, the

melancholy words:-

"Soo-oop of the e-e-evening, Beautiful, beautiful Soup!"

CHAPTER XI. Who Stole the Tarts?

The King and Queen of Hearts were seated on their throne when

they arrived, with a great crowd assembled about them-all sorts

of little birds and beasts, as well as the whole pack of cards:

the Knave was standing before them, in chains, with a soldier on

each side to guard him; and near the King was the White Rabbit,

with a trumpet in one hand, and a scroll of parchment in the

other. In the very middle of the court was a table, with a large

dish of tarts upon it: they looked so good, that it made Alice

quite hungry to look at them-"I wish they'd get the trial done,"

she thought, "and hand round the refreshments!" But there seemed

to be no chance of this, so she began looking at everything about

her, to pass away the time.