it was the night coming on.'

'I wish _I_ could manage to be glad!' the Queen said. 'Only I
never can remember the rule. You must be very happy, living in
this wood, and being glad whenever you like!'

'Only it is so VERY lonely here!' Alice said in a melancholy
voice; and at the thought of her loneliness two large tears came
rolling down her cheeks.

'Oh, don't go on like that!' cried the poor Queen, wringing her
hands in despair. 'Consider what a great girl you are. Consider
what a long way you've come to-day. Consider what o'clock it is.
Consider anything, only don't cry!'

Alice could not help laughing at this, even in the midst of her tears.
'Can YOU keep from crying by considering things?' she asked.

'That's the way it's done,' the Queen said with great decision:
'nobody can do two things at once, you know. Let's consider your age
to begin with--how old are you?'

'I'm seven and a half exactly.'

'You needn't say "exactually,"' the Queen remarked: 'I can
believe it without that. Now I'll give YOU something to believe.
I'm just one hundred and one, five months and a day.'

'I can't believe THAT!' said Alice.