and down in an agony of terror.  `Oh, there goes his PRECIOUS

nose'; as an unusually large saucepan flew close by it, and very

nearly carried it off.

  `If everybody minded their own business,' the Duchess said in a

hoarse growl, `the world would go round a deal faster than it

does.'

  `Which would NOT be an advantage,' said Alice, who felt very

glad to get an opportunity of showing off a little of her

knowledge.  `Just think of what work it would make with the day

and night!  You see the earth takes twenty-four hours to turn

round on its axis--'

  `Talking of axes,' said the Duchess, `chop off her head!'

  Alice glanced rather anxiously at the cook, to see if she meant

to take the hint; but the cook was busily stirring the soup, and

seemed not to be listening, so she went on again:  `Twenty-four

hours, I THINK; or is it twelve?  I--'

  `Oh, don't bother ME,' said the Duchess; `I never could abide

figures!'  And with that she began nursing her child again,

singing a sort of lullaby to it as she did so, and giving it a

violent shake at the end of every line:

        `Speak roughly to your little boy,

          And beat him when he sneezes:

        He only does it to annoy,

          Because he knows it teases.'

                    CHORUS.

    (In which the cook and the baby joined):--

                `Wow! wow! wow!'

  While the Duchess sang the second verse of the song, she kept

tossing the baby violently up and down, and the poor little thing

howled so, that Alice could hardly hear the words:--

        `I speak severely to my boy,

          I beat him when he sneezes;

        For he can thoroughly enjoy

          The pepper when he pleases!'

                    CHORUS.

                `Wow! wow! wow!'

  `Here! you may nurse it a bit, if you like!' the Duchess said

to Alice, flinging the baby at her as she spoke.  `I must go and ()