The other two dancers were fat, and very soon out of breath. `Four times round is enough for one dance,' Tweedledum panted out, and they left off dancing as suddenly as they had begun: the music stopped at the same moment.

Then they let go of Alice's hands, and stood looking at her for a minute: there was a rather awkward pause, as Alice didn't know how to begin a conversation with people she had just been dancing with. `It would never do to say "How d'ye do?" now,' she said to herself: `we seem to have got beyond that, somehow!'

`I hope you're not much tired?' she said at last.

`Nohow. And thank you very much for asking,' said Tweedledum.

`So much obliged!' added Tweedledee. `You like poetry?'

`Ye-es, pretty well--some poetry,' Alice said doubtfully. `Would you tell me which road leads out of the wood?'

`What shall I repeat to her?' said Tweedledee, looking round at Tweedledum with great solemn eyes, and not noticing Alice's question.

`"The Walrus and the Carpenter" is the longest,' Tweedledum replied, giving his brother an affectionate hug.

Tweedledee began instantly:

Here Alice ventured to interrupt him. `If it's very long,' she said, as politely as she could, `would you please tell me first which road--'

Tweedledee smiled gently, and began again:

`The sun was shining on the sea,
   Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
   The billows smooth and bright--
And this was odd, because it was
   The middle of the night.

The moon was shining sulkily,
   Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
   After the day was done--
"It's very rude of him", she said,
   "To come and spoil the fun!"

The sea was wet as wet could be,
   The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
   No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead--
   There were no birds to fly.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
   Were walking close at hand:
They wept like anything to see
   Such quantities of sand:
"If this were only cleared away,"
   They said, "it would be grand!"

"If seven maids with seven mops
   Swept it for half a year,
Do you suppose," the Walrus said,
   "That they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Carpenter,
   And shed a bitter tear.

"O Oysters, come and walk with us!"
   The Walrus did beseech.
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
   Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
   To give a hand to each."

The eldest Oyster looked at him,
   But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
   And shook his heavy head--
Meaning to say he did not choose
   To leave the oyster-bed.

But four young Oysters hurried up,
   All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
   Their shoes were clean and neat--
And this was odd, because, you know,
   They hadn't any feet.