page 6

Alice at Salamanca.

Alice was surprised at the difference in the room in which she found herself from that which she had just left. Here there were comfortable chairs, cosy divans and a great blazing fire, and the walls were decorated with interesting and beautiful pictures. The other quarters were cramped and cold, and only one or two Parisian nudes broke the monotony of the dusty walls.

The Mad Hatter seated himself on the most comfortable chair. The Walrus sank gracefully on to the divan and motioned Alice to do the same. The King remained standing, and he looked so sad that Alice felt sorry for him.

"Won't you sit down," she invited timidly.

The King looked at her blankly.

"I have been deposed," he said dully; "I have no right to be here at all. I am deposed."

The May Hatter tapped his head significantly and fell asleep.

'Why were you deposed?" queried Alice, and blushed at her own boldness.

The King looked past her through the open window, at the inviting stretch of tennis courts.

"There was a constitution," he began.

"Anti Acido builds up the constitution," cried the Mad Hatter, suddenly awakening. The Walrus gave him a dig in the ribs.

"There was a constitution," continued the King sadly. "I wished to change it—to make innovations that would make me a despot. It would have been 'La tout c'est moi,' and I failed."

There was a silence while the King's eyes twinkled with tears, and the Mad Hatter snored in measured crescendo.

"I gave them those tennis courts you see below," the King cried with sudden passion, and Alice following his gaze could see the cracks in the smooth surface below and the grass which was already greenily peeping through, and the ragged grey nets that waved disconsolately in the breeze.

"I gave them my hours. I gave them a typiste of whom to be proud, I gave them all, and I wanted to give them a new constitution which they would not take—and I am no longer King."

Alice felt very sad. She wanted to help.

"Can't you make new constitution for yourself "

The Walrus guffawed, and Alice felt that she had said the wrong thing.

"However der tag will come," muttered the King, "I will be King again."

From the distance came voices, one of which was singing raucously.

The King looked terrified.

"Hide me, hide me," he screamed. "It is the new Cabinet. They will kill me."

The Mad Hatter woke up with a start and sneezed a raspberry.

Alice held the King under the divan, and now Alice could hear the words sung in a woman's voice.

"The Time has Come, the Walrus said,
To Talk of many things,
Of Profs, Club Grants, Silk Undies,
Necking and Gin Slings."

"That is the Countess Julia, the worst plotter of them all," groaned the King from beneath the divan.