They all sat down at once , in a large ring , with the Mouse in the middle . Alice kept her eyes anxiously fixed on it , for she felt sure she would catch a bad cold if she did not get dry very soon . ` Ahem ! ' said the Mouse with an important air , ` are you all ready ? This is the driest thing I know . Silence all round , if you please ! `` William the Conqueror , whose cause was favoured by the pope , was soon submitted to by the English , who wanted leaders , and had been of late much accustomed to usurpation and conquest . Edwin and Morcar , the earls of Mercia and Northumbria -- '' ' ` Ugh ! ' said the Lory , with a shiver . ' I beg your pardon ! ' said the Mouse , frowning , but very politely : ` Did you speak ? ' ` Not I ! ' said the Lory hastily . ' I thought you did , ' said the Mouse . ' -- I proceed . `` Edwin and Morcar , the earls of Mercia and Northumbria , declared for him : and even Stigand , the patriotic archbishop of Canterbury , found it advisable -- '' ' ` Found WHAT ? ' said the Duck . ` Found IT , ' the Mouse replied rather crossly : ` of course you know what `` it '' means . ' ' I know what `` it '' means well enough , when I find a thing , ' said the Duck : ` it 's generally a frog or a worm . The question is , what did the archbishop find ? '
The XXXXX did not notice this question , but hurriedly went on , ' '' -- found it advisable to go with Edgar Atheling to meet William and offer him the crown .
Ahem Duck Mouse Ugh air archbishop cause eyes pope question