Allan in Wonderland

Chapter 6: Pig and pepper

"For the Duke. An invitation from the King." said the voice.
"From the King. An invitation for Duke." said another voice.

As Allan looked at the house, a fish dressed as a footman ran up and rapped wetly on the door. It was opened by a frog. Allan crept closer.


They bowed low and their wigs got tangled. Allan laughed so loudly, he had to run back into the trees. When he came out, the fish had gone.
"I shall sit here till tomorrow... or the next day." Replied the Frog.

Timidly, Allan went up to the door and knocked.
"There's no use knocking," said the Frog. "I'm on the same side as you. Besides, they're making too much noise to hear."


"How will I get in?" asked Allan.
"Are you to get in at all?" said the Frog. "That's the question."
"Hopeless!" thought Allan and marched straight into a large kitchen. A grumpy Duke sat in the middle holding a baby, a cat at his feet. Pepper filled the air.


Allan sneezed. "Why is your cat grinning?" he asked the Duke.
"It's a Cheshire cat," the Duke replied briskly.
"I didn't know cats could grin," Allan said.
"They all can," said the Duke, "and most of 'em do."
"I don't know any that do," said Allan.
"You don't know much and that's a fact."


All of a sudden, the Cook began throwing pans at the Duke, who simply ignored him and sang a lullaby to the howling baby.

Speak roughly
to your little girl
And scold her
when she sneezes.
She only does it to annoy
Because she knows
it teases.

"Here!" he finished suddenly, flinging the baby at Allan. "You look after it. I must get ready for the King."


Allan caught the baby and left before they were bit by flying frying-pan. The baby grunted and Allan glanced down. To his surprise, it was turning into a pig.

"Oh!" he cried and let it go. Allan was thinking it was more beautiful as a pig, when he saw the Cheshire Cat grinning at him.


"Cheshire Cat," he said, shyly, "where should I go now?"
"Well, that way is a Hatterness," said the Cat, waving a paw," and that way is a March Hare. Both mad."
"But I don't want to visit mad people," Allan said.
"We're all mad here." said the Cat, fading away.