Down, down, down. Would the fall
NEVER come to an end! 'I wonder
how many miles I've
In another moment down went Alice after it,
never once considering how in the world she was
to get out again.
The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for
some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so
suddenly that Alice had not a moment to think
about stopping herself before she found herself
falling down a very deep well.
Either the well was very deep, or she fell very
slowly, for she had plenty of time as she went
down to look about her and to wonder what was
going to happen next. First, she tried to look down
and make out what she was coming to, but it was
too dark to see anything; then she looked at the
sides of the well, and noticed that they were filled
with cupboards and book-shelves; here and there
she saw maps and pictures hung upon pegs. She
took down a jar from one of the shelves as she
passed; it was labelled 'ORANGE MARMALADE',
but to her great disappointment it was empty: she
did not like to drop the jar for fear of killing
somebody, so managed to put it into one of the
cupboards as she fell past it.
Well!' thought Alice to herself, 'after such a fall as
this, I shall think nothing of tumbling down stairs!
How brave they'll all think me at home! Why, I
wouldn't say anything about it, even if I fell off the
top of the house!' (Which was very likely true.)
fallen by this time?' she said
aloud. 'I must be getting
somewhere near the centre of the
earth. Let me see: that would be
four thousand miles down, I think'
(for, you see, Alice had learnt
several things of this sort in her
lessons in the schoolroom, and
though this was not a VERY good
opportunity for showing off her
knowledge, as there was no one
to listen to her, still it was good
practice to say it over) yes, that's
about the right distance but then I
wonder
what
Latitude
or
Longitude I've got to?' (Alice had
no idea what Latitude was, or
Longitude either, but thought they
were nice grand words to say.)
Presently she began again. 'I
wonder if I shall fall right
THROUGH the earth!
How funny it'll seem to come out
among the people that walk with
their heads downward! The
Antipathies, I think' (she was
rather glad there WAS no one
listening, this time, as it didn't
sound at all the right word) but I
shall have to ask them what the
name of the country is, you know.
Please, Ma'am, is this New
Zealand or Australia?' (and she
tried to curtsey as she spoke fancy
CURTSEYING as you're falling
through the air! Do you think you
could manage it?) 'And what an