` That 's the first question , you know . ' It was , no doubt : only Alice did not like to be told so . ` It 's really dreadful , ' she muttered to herself , ` the way all the creatures argue . It 's enough to drive one crazy ! ' The Footman seemed to think this a good opportunity for repeating his remark , with variations . ' I shall sit here , ' he said , ` on and off , for days and days . ' ` But what am I to do ? ' said Alice . ` Anything you like , ' said the Footman , and began whistling . ` Oh , there 's no use in talking to him , ' said Alice desperately : ` he 's perfectly idiotic ! ' And she opened the door and went in . The door led right into a large kitchen , which was full of smoke from one end to the other : the Duchess was sitting on a three-legged stool in the middle , nursing a baby ; the cook was leaning over the fire , stirring a large cauldron which seemed to be full of soup . ` There 's certainly too much pepper in that soup ! ' Alice said to herself , as well as she could for sneezing . There was certainly too much of it in the air . Even the Duchess sneezed occasionally ; and as for the baby , it was sneezing and howling alternately without a moment 's pause . The only things in the kitchen that did not sneeze , were the cook , and a large cat which was sitting on the hearth and grinning from ear to ear . ` Please would you tell me , ' said Alice , a little timidly , for she was not quite sure whether it was good manners for her to speak first , ` why your cat grins like that ? ' ` It 's a Cheshire cat , ' said the Duchess , ` and that 's why . Pig ! '
She said the last word with such sudden violence that Alice quite jumped ; but she saw in another moment that it was addressed to the XXXXX , and not to her , so she took courage , and went on again : -- ' I did n't know that Cheshire cats always grinned ; in fact , I did n't know that cats COULD grin . '
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