“Ah!” cried the girl crossly, “I wonder what is in this pail.  Mamma has promised me a pretty red sash if I do but carry it safely to Grandfather Goodfield, who lives under the hill by the great dark forest yonder, but oh! it has grown so heavy, and my feet have grown so tired.  I must go quickly and I must not even peep inside.  Just listen! such a funny noise.”  Alice held the pail close to the great lion’s ear,—­“Buzz z z z z z z” came a muffled sound.  “Oh, I wonder what can be inside!” she said.

“Do not wonder, little maid,” said the great lion, “but hurry thy little feet as thy mother hath bidden thee, else the sun will be in his bed ere thy journey be ended, and thy little bed will be empty and thy mother’s heart will be heavy with watching.”

So Alice hastened on.  Soon again her little feet were lagging; and once more her eyes turned curiously upon the pail she carried and again she said, “Oh, I wonder, I wonder, I wonder.”  “Why do you wonder, little maid?” said a deep, gruff voice.  On looking up once more Alice saw close beside her, not her friend the tawny lion, but a shaggy black bear.  At first she was afraid; but the great beast, looking kindly upon her, placed his great paw softly on her arm and once more said, “Why do you wonder, Alice?”

“Ah!” cried the girl crossly, “I wonder what is in this pail.  Mamma has promised me a pretty red sash if I do but carry it safely to Grandfather Goodfield, who lives under the hill by the great dark forest yonder, but oh! it has grown so heavy, and my feet have grown so tired.  I must go quickly, and I must not even peep inside.  Just listen! such a funny noise.”  Alice held the pail close to the great bear’s ear,—­“Buzz z z z z z z z” came a muffled sound.  “Oh, I wonder what can be inside!” she said.

“Do not wonder, little maid,” said the great bear, “but hurry thy little feet as thy mother hath bidden thee, else the sun will be in his bed ere thy journey be ended, and thy little bed will be empty and thy mother’s heart will be heavy with watching.”

So Alice hastened on.  Soon again her feet were lagging and once more her eyes turned curiously upon the pail she carried and again she said, “Oh, I wonder, I wonder, I wonder.”  “Why do you wonder, little maid?” said a harsh strong voice.  On looking up, Alice saw close beside her, not her friend the shaggy bear, but a gaunt gray wolf.  At first she was afraid, but the great beast, looking kindly upon her, placed his great paw softly on her arm and once more said, “Why do you wonder, Alice?”

“Ah!” cried the girl crossly, “I wonder what is in this pail.  Mamma has promised me a pretty red sash if I do but carry it safely to Grandfather Goodfield, who lives under the hill by the great dark forest yonder, but oh! it has grown so heavy and my feet have grown so tired.  I must go quickly and I must not even peep inside.  Just listen! such a funny noise.”  Alice held the pail close to the great wolf’s ear,—­“Buzz z z z z z z z” came a muffled sound.  “Oh, I wonder what can be inside!” she said.