4 – The Cheshire Cat
There was a boy outside the door, with a large letter in his hand. (He was dressed like a boy, but his face was very like a fish, Alice thought.) The Fish-Boy knocked at the door, and a second later a large plate came flying out of an open window.
‘A letter from the Duchess,’ the Fish-Boy shouted. He pushed he letter under the door and went away.
Alice went up the door and knocked, but there was a lot of noise inside and nobody answered. So she opened the door and walked in.
She found herself in a kitchen, which was full of smoke. There was a very angry cook by the fire, and in the middle of the room sat the Duchess, holding a screaming baby. Every few minutes a plate crashed to the floor. There was also a large cat, which was sitting on a chair and grinning from ear to ear.
‘Please,’ Alice said politely to the Duchess, ‘why does your cat grin like that?’
‘It’s a Cheshire Cat,’ said the Duchess. ‘That’s why.’
