The first witness was the Hatter. He came in with a teacup in one hand and a piece of bread-and-butter in the other hand. ‘I’m very sorry, Your Majesty,’ he said. ‘I was in the middle of tea when the trial began.’
‘Take off your hat,’ the King said.
‘It isn’t mine,’ said the Hatter.
‘Stolen! Write that down,’ the King said to the jury.
‘I keep hats to sell,’ explained the Hatter. ‘I don’t have a hat myself. I’m a Hatter.’
‘Give your evidence,’ said the King, ‘or we’ll cut your head off.’
The Hatter’s face turned white. ‘I’m a poor man, Your Majesty,’ he began in a shaking voice.
Just then Alice had a strange feeling. After a minute or two she understood what it was.
‘Don’t push like that,’ said the Dormouse, who was sitting next to her. ‘I’m nearly falling off my seat.’
‘I’m very sorry,’ Alice said politely. ‘I’m getting bigger and taller, you see,’
‘Well, you can’t do that here,’ said the Dormouse crossly, and he got up and moved to another seat.
The Hatter was still giving evidence, but nobody could understand a word of it. The King looked at the Queen, and the Queen looked at the executioner.
