She felt very curious to know what it was all about , and crept a little way out of the wood to listen . The Fish-Footman began by producing from under his arm a great letter , nearly as large as himself , and this he handed over to the other , saying , in a solemn tone , ` For the Duchess . An invitation from the Queen to play croquet . ' The Frog-Footman repeated , in the same solemn tone , only changing the order of the words a little , ` From the Queen . An invitation for the Duchess to play croquet . ' Then they both bowed low , and their curls got entangled together . Alice laughed so much at this , that she had to run back into the wood for fear of their hearing her ; and when she next peeped out the Fish-Footman was gone , and the other was sitting on the ground near the door , staring stupidly up into the sky . Alice went timidly up to the door , and knocked . ` There 's no sort of use in knocking , ' said the Footman , ` and that for two reasons . First , because I 'm on the same side of the door as you are ; secondly , because they 're making such a noise inside , no one could possibly hear you . ' And certainly there was a most extraordinary noise going on within -- a constant howling and sneezing , and every now and then a great crash , as if a dish or kettle had been broken to pieces . ` Please , then , ' said Alice , ` how am I to get in ? ' ` There might be some sense in your knocking , ' the Footman went on without attending to her , ` if we had the door between us . For instance , if you were INSIDE , you might knock , and I could let you out , you know . ' He was looking up into the sky all the time he was speaking , and this Alice thought decidedly uncivil . ` But perhaps he ca n't help it , ' she said to herself ; ` his eyes are so VERY nearly at the top of his head . But at any rate he might answer questions . -- How am I to get in ? ' she repeated , aloud . ' I shall sit here , ' the Footman remarked , 'till tomorrow -- ' At this moment the door of the house opened , and a large plate came skimming out , straight at the Footman 's head : it just grazed his nose , and broke to pieces against one of the trees behind him . '
-- or next day , maybe , ' the Footman continued in the same XXXXX , exactly as if nothing had happened .
dish head invitation kettle one order rate side sneezing tone