Through the Looking-Glass

Alice catches the shawl and sees the White Queen running toward her. Alice helps the queen put her shawl back on and, as the queen repeats "bread-and-butter," Alice tries to make conversation. She asks if she's addressing the White Queen, but the queen laments in reply that she wouldn't call this "a-dressing." Not wanting to argue, Alice asks for guidance so she can help. She notices that the queen's clothing and hair are very untidy and offers to straighten the queen's shawl. Alice gently puts the queen's clothes back in order and laughs when the queen offers to hire her as a lady's maid for twopence per week and jam every other day.

Alice turns down the job and says she doesn't like jam. The White Queen points out that Alice can't have the jam anyway—she can only have jam tomorrow and yesterday, but never today. Alice is confused, but the queen kindly explains that when one lives backwards, as she does, one can remember in both directions. Even more confused, Alice asks what the queen remembers. The White Queen says that now, there's a messenger who's being punished. His trial begins next week and he'll commit the crime last. Alice asks what happens if the messenger never commits the crime, and the queen says that'd be great. They argue about the purpose of punishment and the queen suggests that punishments are even better when a person hasn't committed a crime.

Before Alice can suggest that they've made a mistake in their logic, the White Queen starts screaming that her finger is bleeding. The queen explains that she's going to prick it on her brooch. The queen's shawl flies open and though Alice tries to save the day, the White Queen catches the brooch and pricks her finger. Calmly, the White Queen says that it should all make sense to Alice now and when Alice asks why she's not screaming, the queen says she already did that.

The sky begins to get light and Alice observes that the crow flew away. She says she's glad, and the White Queen moans that she wishes she could be happy. Alice remembers that she's actually very lonely and starts to cry. The White Queen tells Alice to consider anything to stop crying. She asks how old Alice is and then admits that she's 105 years, 5 months, and 1 day. Alice laughs and says she can't believe things that are impossible. The queen declares that Alice needs practice. Her shawl flies off again and the queen races after it across a brook. Alice follows.

Alice asks if the White Queen's finger is better but, as the queen answers, Alice finds herself in a dark shop with a Sheep knitting behind the counter. The Sheep asks Alice what she'd like to buy. Alice says she wants to look around before she makes a decision. The sheep points out that Alice can look in many directions, but she can't look all around unless she has eyes in the back of her head. Alice turns to study the shelves. They seem to be full of interesting things but when Alice looks directly at a shelf, it's always empty. In pursuit of something bright, Alice "chases" the object to the top shelf and right through the ceiling. The Sheep tells Alice to stop making her dizzy and Alice notes that the Sheep is knitting with 14 pairs of needles.

The Sheep hands Alice a pair of knitting needles and asks if Alice can row. Alice begins to answer but discovers that the needles have turned into oars and she and the Sheep are in a little boat. The Sheep shouts, "Feather!" but Alice, perplexed, doesn't answer. Her oars occasionally get stuck and the Sheep continues to shout "Feather!" and says that Alice will soon catch a crab. This thought delights Alice, but hearing "Feather" over and over again begins to annoy her. She points out that she's not a bird, but the Sheep calls her a goose.

Alice notices beautiful scented rushes ahead and asks if they can stop and pick some. The Sheep insists it has nothing to do with whether or not the boat stops. Alice stops rowing and the boat drifts into the rushes. She begins to pluck the rushes but realizes, to her annoyance, that the prettiest rushes seem just a little further away than she can reach. The narrator notes that Alice doesn't notice that the rushes in the boat wilt and melt almost immediately. She rows on until one oar gets stuck and won't move. The oar sweeps Alice off her seat, but Alice manages to sort herself out. The Sheep compliments her on catching a crab. Alice cautiously says she would've liked to see the crab, but the Sheep just laughs at her.

The Sheep asks Alice what she wants to buy and suddenly they're back in the dark shop. Alice asks for an egg and the Sheep explains that they sell two for less money than one, but Alice has to eat them both if she buys two. Alice decides to buy one and gives the Sheep money. The Sheep says that she never puts things in other people's hands, sets the egg on a shelf, and walks away. Alice walks toward the egg but the shop seems to expand. She notices branches and crosses a little brook.