📖 Chapter 3: The Pool of Tears
Alice swam about in the pool she had made with her own tears. “How strange everything is today!” she said aloud. “Yesterday things were normal. But today—am I myself, or have I changed into someone else?”
Just then she heard a splash. She turned and saw a Mouse paddling nearby. Alice felt greatly relieved. “Oh! Perhaps it can help me,” she thought.
She spoke gently: “O Mouse, do you know the way out of this pool?”
The Mouse looked at her suspiciously but said nothing. Alice remembered she had once read in her brother’s book that mice could understand French. So she asked, “Où est ma chatte?” (“Where is my cat?”).
The poor Mouse leapt out of the water in terror. “Do you mean your cat?” it cried, trembling. “Our family hates cats! If you had a cat here, I would be gone in an instant!”
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” said Alice quickly. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. My cat Dinah is very good at catching mice, though,” she added without thinking.
The Mouse shivered. “Talk about cats again, and I shall swim away!”
Alice tried to change the subject. “Do you like dogs?” she asked. But this made the Mouse angrier. “Dogs are just as bad!” it snapped. “Please speak no more of them!”
Alice begged the Mouse to forgive her, and soon they swam together to the edge of the pool. By this time, many other creatures had fallen in: a Duck, a Dodo, a Lory (a kind of parrot), and several others. The pool was crowded with wet, unhappy animals.
They all climbed out onto the bank, dripping with water. Everyone shivered. “We must get dry,” said the Dodo. “The best way is a Caucus Race.”
“A Caucus Race? What is that?” asked Alice.
The Dodo looked very serious. “The best way to explain is to do it.”
So all the animals formed a large circle. “Run when you like, stop when you like,” said the Dodo. Then they began running in all directions, starting and stopping whenever they pleased. There was no clear beginning and no end. After about half an hour, they were all dry enough.
“Now, the race is over!” said the Dodo. “Everybody has won, and all must have prizes.”
“But who will give the prizes?” asked the animals.
“She must,” said the Dodo, pointing to Alice.
Alice searched in her pocket and found a box of sweets she had carried. She handed them out, one to each animal. “But what about the prize for me?” she asked.
“You must give it yourself,” said the Dodo.
Alice had nothing left except a thimble. She handed it to the Dodo, who gave it back to her with a solemn little speech. Everyone clapped politely.
The creatures then crowded around Alice, asking questions. But soon the Mouse grew impatient. “Let me tell you my tale,” it said. “It will explain why I hate cats and dogs.”
Alice listened eagerly, but she could not stop herself from giggling. The Mouse’s “tale” curled into the shape of a long, thin tail!
“You’re not listening!” cried the Mouse angrily. “You are laughing at me!”
Alice tried to explain, but the Mouse swam off in a huff. The other animals soon drifted away too, leaving Alice alone again.
“Oh dear,” she sighed. “Things get stranger every minute.”
📘 Glossary
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Suspiciously – in a way that shows doubt or distrust
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Trembling – shaking with fear or cold
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Shivered – shook slightly from cold or fear
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Caucus Race – a silly, disorganized race with no clear rules
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Circle – a round shape or group formation
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Prizes – rewards given to winners
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Thimble – a small metal cap used to protect the finger while sewing
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Solemn – very serious
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Clapped – hit hands together to show approval
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In a huff – angrily or in bad temper
❓ Comprehension Questions
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Who did Alice first meet while swimming in her pool of tears?
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Why did the Mouse become frightened when Alice spoke French?
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What mistake did Alice make when talking about her cat Dinah?
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Which other animals were in the pool?
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What was the Dodo’s solution for getting dry?
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How was the Caucus Race unusual?
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Who gave out the prizes at the end of the race?
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What prize did Alice receive?
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Why did the Mouse become angry at Alice?
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How did Alice feel when the Mouse and animals left her?
✅ Answers
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A Mouse.
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Because Alice mentioned her cat.
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She said Dinah was good at catching mice.
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A Duck, a Dodo, a Lory, and other animals.
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To hold a Caucus Race.
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There was no start or finish; everyone ran however they liked.
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Alice.
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A thimble.
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Because Alice giggled at its “tale” (which looked like a tail).
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Lonely and confused.
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