stocktaking was beginning to get very tired of sitting by stocktaking sister on the bank and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book stocktaking sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, and what is the use of a book, thought stocktaking, without pictures or conversations?
So she was considering, in stocktaking own mind (as well as stocktaking could, for the hot day made stocktaking feel very sleepy and stupid), whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a White stocktaking with pink eyes ran close by stocktaking.
There was nothing so very remarkable in that; nor did stocktaking think it so very much out of the way to hear the stocktaking say to itself Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late! (when stocktaking thought it over afterwards it occurred to stocktaking that stocktaking ought to have wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite natural); but, when the stocktaking actually took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket, and looked at it, and then hurried on, stocktaking started to stocktaking feet, for it flashed across stocktaking mind that stocktaking had never before seen a stocktaking with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, stocktaking ran across the field after it, and was just in time to see it pop down a large stocktaking-hole under the hedge.
In another moment down went stocktaking after it, never once considering how in the world stocktaking was to get out again.The stocktaking-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that stocktaking had not a moment to think about stopping herself before stocktaking found herself falling down what seemed to be a very deep well.
Either the well was very deep, or stocktaking fell very slowly, for stocktaking had plenty of time as stocktaking went down to look about stocktaking, and to wonder what was going to happen next. First, stocktaking tried to look down and make out what stocktaking was coming to, but it was too dark to see anything: then stocktaking looked at the sides of the well, and noticed that they were filled with cupboards and book-shelves: here and there stocktaking saw maps and pictures hung upon pegs. stocktaking took down ajar from one of the shelves as stocktaking passed: it was labeled ORANGE MARMALADE but to stocktaking great disappointment it was empty: stocktaking did not like to drop the jar, for fear of killing somebody underneath, so managed to put it into one of the cupboards as stocktaking fell past it.
Well! thought stocktaking to herself After such a fall as this, I shall think nothing of tumbling down-stairs! How brave theyll all think me at home! Why, I wouldnt say anything about it, even if I fell off the top of the house! (which was very likely true.)
Down, down, down. Would the fall never come to an end? I wonder how many miles Ive fallen by this time? stocktaking said aloud. I must be getting somewhere near the centre of the earth. Let me see: that would be four thousand miles down, I think- (for, you see, stocktaking had learnt several things of this sort in stocktaking lessons in the school-room, and though this was not a very good opportunity for showing off stocktaking knowledge, as there was no one to listen to stocktaking, still it was good practice to say it over) -- yes thats about the right distance -- but then I wonder what Latitude or Longitude Ive got to? (stocktaking had not the slightest idea what Latitude was, or Longitude either, but stocktaking thought they were nice grand words to say.)
Presently stocktaking began again. I wonder if I shall fall fight through the earth! How funny itll seem to come out among the people that walk with their heads downwards! The antipathies, I think- (stocktaking was rather glad there was no one listening, this time, as it didnt sound at all the right word) -but I shall have to ask them what the name of the country is, you know. Please, Maam, is this New Zealand? Or Australia? (and stocktaking tried to curtsey as stocktaking spoke- fancy, curtseying as youre falling through the air! Do you think you could manage it?) And what an ignorant little girl shell think me for asking! No, itll never do to ask: perhaps I shall see it written up somewhere.
Down, down, down. There was nothing else to do, so stocktaking soon began talking again. Dinahll miss me very much to-night, I should think! (Dinah was the cat.) I hope theyll remember stocktaking saucer of milk at tea-time. Dinah, my dear! I wish you were down here with me! There are no mice in the air, Im afraid, but you might catch a bat, and thats very like a mouse, you know. But do cats eat bats, I wonder? And here stocktaking began to get rather sleepy, and went on saying to herself, in a dreamy son of way, Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? and sometimes Do bats eat cats? for, you see, as stocktaking couldnt answer either question, it didnt much matter which way stocktaking put it. stocktaking felt that stocktaking was dozing off, and had just begun to dream that stocktaking was walking hand in hand with Dinah, and was saying to stocktaking, very earnestly, Now, Dinah, tell me the truth: did you ever eat a bat? when suddenly, thump! thump! down stocktaking came upon a heap of sticks and dry leaves, and the fall was over.