Here one of the guinea-pigs cheered, and was immediately

suppressed by the officers of the court.  (As that is rather a

hard word, I will just explain to you how it was done.  They had

a large canvas bag, which tied up at the mouth with strings:

into this they slipped the guinea-pig, head first, and then sat

upon it.)

  `I'm glad I've seen that done,' thought Alice.  `I've so often

read in the newspapers, at the end of trials, "There was some

attempts at applause, which was immediately suppressed by the

officers of the court," and I never understood what it meant

till now.'

  `If that's all you know about it, you may stand down,'

continued the King.

  `I can't go no lower,' said the Hatter:  `I'm on the floor, as

it is.'

  `Then you may SIT down,' the King replied.

  Here the other guinea-pig cheered, and was suppressed.

  `Come, that finished the guinea-pigs!' thought Alice.  `Now we

shall get on better.'

  `I'd rather finish my tea,' said the Hatter, with an anxious

look at the Queen, who was reading the list of singers.

  `You may go,' said the King, and the Hatter hurriedly left the

court, without even waiting to put his shoes on.

  `--and just take his head off outside,' the Queen added to one

of the officers:  but the Hatter was out of sight before the

officer could get to the door.

  `Call the next witness!' said the King.

  The next witness was the Duchess's cook.  She carried the

pepper-box in her hand, and Alice guessed who it was, even before

she got into the court, by the way the people near the door began

sneezing all at once.

  `Give your evidence,' said the King.

  `Shan't,' said the cook.

  The King looked anxiously at the White Rabbit, who said in a

low voice, `Your Majesty must cross-examine THIS witness.'

  `Well, if I must, I must,' the King said, with a melancholy

air, and, after folding his arms and frowning at the cook till

his eyes were nearly out of sight, he said in a deep voice, `What

are tarts made of?'

  `Pepper, mostly,' said the cook.

  `Treacle,' said a sleepy voice behind her.

  `Collar that Dormouse,' the Queen shrieked out.  `Behead that

Dormouse!  Turn that Dormouse out of court!  Suppress him!  Pinch

him!  Off with his whiskers!'

  For some minutes the whole court was in confusion, getting the ()