"How can you tell? I've got a stock on."

"I said the Queen had. Besides, when you put your face up to
mine just now- "

"Hush! Besides, you were looking me in the eyes all the time,
so- "

"And, if I was, do you blame me?"

"I'm not in the witness-box now, counsel."

"No, but you're sitting on Pomfret's rug, and Pomfret is but
the- "
She began to laugh helplessly.

"Come along, Alice," I said. "'Yet so God made me. Now you
say, 'Can you be gentle, then?' and give me the glad eye.

"It only says 'archly' here, in brackets."

"Same thing," said I

"'Can you be gentle, then?'"

A pause. Then:

"Go on," she said.

"I'm waiting for my cue."