Alice was more and more puzzled , but she thought there was no use in saying anything more till the Pigeon had finished . ` As if it was n't trouble enough hatching the eggs , ' said the Pigeon ; ` but I must be on the look-out for serpents night and day ! Why , I have n't had a wink of sleep these three weeks ! ' ` I 'm very sorry you 've been annoyed , ' said Alice , who was beginning to see its meaning . ` And just as I 'd taken the highest tree in the wood , ' continued the Pigeon , raising its voice to a shriek , ` and just as I was thinking I should be free of them at last , they must needs come wriggling down from the sky ! Ugh , Serpent ! ' ` But I 'm NOT a serpent , I tell you ! ' said Alice . ` I 'm a -- I 'm a -- ' ` Well ! WHAT are you ? ' said the Pigeon . ' I can see you 're trying to invent something ! ' ` I -- I 'm a little girl , ' said Alice , rather doubtfully , as she remembered the number of changes she had gone through that day . ' A likely story indeed ! ' said the Pigeon in a tone of the deepest contempt . ` I 've seen a good many little girls in my time , but never ONE with such a neck as that ! No , no ! You 're a serpent ; and there 's no use denying it . I suppose you 'll be telling me next that you never tasted an egg ! ' ' I HAVE tasted eggs , certainly , ' said Alice , who was a very truthful child ; ` but little girls eat eggs quite as much as serpents do , you know . ' '
I do n't believe it , ' said the XXXXX ; ` but if they do , why then they 're a kind of serpent , that 's all I can say . '
Pigeon child contempt girl girls serpent story time trouble use