The Duchess took her choice, and was gone in a moment. 'Let's go on with
the game,' the Queen said to Alice; and Alice was too much frightened
to say a word, but slowly followed her back to the croquet-ground. The
other guests had taken advantage of the Queen's absence, and were
resting in the shade: however, the moment they saw her, they hurried
back to the game, the Queen merely remarking that a moment's delay would
cost them their lives. All the time they were playing the Queen never
left off quarrelling with the other players, and shouting 'Off with his
head!' or 'Off with her head!' Those whom she sentenced were taken
into custody by the soldiers, who of course had to leave off being
arches to do this, so that by the end of half an hour or so there were
no arches left, and all the players, except the King, the Queen, and
Alice, were in custody and under sentence of execution. Then the Queen
left off, quite out of breath, and said to Alice
Beautiful vintage shoes!
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