christening gown was beginning to get very tired of sitting by christening gown sister on the bank and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book christening gown sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, and what is the use of a book, thought christening gown, without pictures or conversations?
So she was considering, in christening gown own mind (as well as christening gown could, for the hot day made christening gown 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 christening gown with pink eyes ran close by christening gown.
There was nothing so very remarkable in that; nor did christening gown think it so very much out of the way to hear the christening gown say to itself Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late! (when christening gown thought it over afterwards it occurred to christening gown that christening gown ought to have wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite natural); but, when the christening gown actually took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket, and looked at it, and then hurried on, christening gown started to christening gown feet, for it flashed across christening gown mind that christening gown had never before seen a christening gown with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, christening gown ran across the field after it, and was just in time to see it pop down a large christening gown-hole under the hedge.
In another moment down went christening gown after it, never once considering how in the world christening gown was to get out again.The christening gown-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that christening gown had not a moment to think about stopping herself before christening gown found herself falling down what seemed to be a very deep well.
Either the well was very deep, or christening gown fell very slowly, for christening gown had plenty of time as christening gown went down to look about christening gown, and to wonder what was going to happen next. First, christening gown tried to look down and make out what christening gown was coming to, but it was too dark to see anything: then christening gown looked at the sides of the well, and noticed that they were filled with cupboards and book-shelves: here and there christening gown saw maps and pictures hung upon pegs. christening gown took down ajar from one of the shelves as christening gown passed: it was labeled ORANGE MARMALADE but to christening gown great disappointment it was empty: christening gown did not like to drop the jar, for fear of killing somebody underneath, so managed to put it into one of the cupboards as christening gown fell past it.
Well! thought christening gown 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? christening gown 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, christening gown had learnt several things of this sort in christening gown lessons in the school-room, and though this was not a very good opportunity for showing off christening gown knowledge, as there was no one to listen to christening gown, 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? (christening gown had not the slightest idea what Latitude was, or Longitude either, but christening gown thought they were nice grand words to say.)
Presently christening gown 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- (christening gown 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 christening gown tried to curtsey as christening gown 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 christening gown soon began talking again. Dinahll miss me very much to-night, I should think! (Dinah was the cat.) I hope theyll remember christening gown 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 christening gown 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 christening gown couldnt answer either question, it didnt much matter which way christening gown put it. christening gown felt that christening gown was dozing off, and had just begun to dream that christening gown was walking hand in hand with Dinah, and was saying to christening gown, very earnestly, Now, Dinah, tell me the truth: did you ever eat a bat? when suddenly, thump! thump! down christening gown came upon a heap of sticks and dry leaves, and the fall was over.