Lewis Carroll: Through the Looking Glass

CHAPTER 7: The Lion and the Unicorn (continued)

The Unicorn looked dreamily at Alice, and said `Talk, child.'

Alice could not help her lips curling up into a smile as she began: `Do you know, I always thought Unicorns were fabulous monsters, too! I never saw one alive before!'

`Well, now that we HAVE seen each other,' said the Unicorn, `if you'll believe in me, I'll believe in you. Is that a bargain?'

`Yes, if you like,' said Alice.

`Come, fetch out the plum-cake, old man!' the Unicorn went on, turning from her to the King. `None of your brown bread for me!'

`Certainly--certainly!' the King muttered, and beckoned to Haigha. `Open the bag!' he whispered. `Quick! Not that one-- that's full of hay!'

Haigha took a large cake out of the bag, and gave it to Alice to hold, while he got out a dish and carving-knife. How they all came out of it Alice couldn't guess. It was just like a conjuring-trick, she thought.

The Lion had joined them while this was going on: he looked very tired and sleepy, and his eyes were half shut. `What's this!' he said, blinking lazily at Alice, and speaking in a deep hollow tone that sounded like the tolling of a great bell.

`Ah, what IS it, now?' the Unicorn cried eagerly. `You'll never guess! I couldn't.'

The Lion looked at Alice wearily. `Are you animal--vegetable --or mineral?' he said, yawning at every other word.

`It's a fabulous monster!' the Unicorn cried out, before Alice could reply.

`Then hand round the plum-cake, Monster,' the Lion said, lying down and putting his chin on this paws. `And sit down, both of you,' (to the King and the Unicorn): `fair play with the cake, you know!'