The Horse, who had put his head out of the window, quietly drew
it in and said, 'It's only a brook we have to jump over.'
Everybody seemed satisfied with this, though Alice felt a little
nervous at the idea of trains jumping at all. 'However, it'll
take us into the Fourth Square, that's some comfort!' she said to
herself. In another moment she felt the carriage rise straight
up into the air, and in her fright she caught at the thing
nearest to her hand, which happened to be the Goat's beard.

* * * * * * *

* * * * * *

* * * * * * *

But the beard seemed to melt away as she touched it, and she
found herself sitting quietly under a tree--while the Gnat (for
that was the insect she had been talking to) was balancing itself
on a twig just over her head, and fanning her with its wings.

It certainly was a VERY large Gnat: 'about the size of a
chicken,' Alice thought. Still, she couldn't feel nervous with
it, after they had been talking together so long.

'--then you don't like all insects?' the Gnat went on, as
quietly as if nothing had happened.

'I like them when they can talk,' Alice said. 'None of them
ever talk, where _I_ come from.'