Guided Sleep Meditation & Sleep Hypnosis from Sleep Cove - Alice Through The Looking Glass - Chapter 5 Wool and Water

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Starting point is 00:00:46 please go to sleepcove.com slash support. That's sleepcove.com slash support. If you can't support the show right now, please subscribe with a bell to get alerts on all new free content thank you have you ever gazed in wonder at the great pyramid have you marvelled at the golden face of Tudankhamun

Starting point is 00:01:16 or admired the delicate features of Queen Nefertiti if you have you'll probably like the History of Egypt podcast every week we explore tales of this ancient culture The history of Egypt is available wherever you get your podcasting fix. Come, let me introduce you to the world of ancient Egypt. To Sleep Cove, with me, Christopher Fitten, the place to get a great night's sleep. Tonight I'm reading Chapter 5 from Alice through the Looking Glass. It's called Wool and Water.

Starting point is 00:02:04 To get the other chapters in this recording, I've got a link to the playlist in my description. So let's begin. She caught the shore as she spoke and looked about for the owner. In another moment, the white queen came running wildly through the wood, with both arms stretched out wide

Starting point is 00:02:32 as if she were flying, and Alice very civilly went to meet her with the shawl. I'm very glad I happened to be in the way, Alice said, as she helped her to put on her shawl again. The white queen only looked at her in a helpless and frightened sort of way and kept repeating something in a whisper to herself. That sounded like bread and butter, bread and butter,

Starting point is 00:03:06 and Alice felt that if there was to be any conversation at all, she must manage it herself. So she began rather dimly. Am I addressing the white queen? Well yes, if you call that addressing, the queen said, it isn't my notion of the thing at all. I thought it would never do to have an argument at the very beginning. beginning of her conversation. So she smiled and said, If your majesty will only tell me the right way to begin, I'll do it as well as I can.

Starting point is 00:03:52 But I don't want it to be done at all, groaned the poor queen. I've been addressing myself for the last two hours. It would have been all the better as it seemed to Alice, if she had got someone else to dress her, she was so dreadfully untidy. Every single thing's crooked, but to herself, and she's all over pins. May I put your shore straight for you, she added aloud. I don't know what's the matter with it, the Queen said in a melancholy voice, It's out of temper, I think. I've pinned it here, and I've pinned it there, but there's no pleasing it.

Starting point is 00:04:48 It can't go straight, you know, if you pin it all on one side, Alice said, as she gently put it right for her. And dear me, what a state your hair is in. The brush has got entangled in it. the queen said with a sigh and I lost the comb yesterday. Alice carefully released the brush and did her best to get the hair into order. Come, you look rather better now, she said, after altering most of the pins. But really, you should have a lady's maid. I'm sure I'll take you.

Starting point is 00:05:37 with pleasure, the Queen said, two pence a week and jam every other day, laughing. As she said, I don't want you to hire me, and I don't care for jam. It's very good jam, said the Queen. Well, I don't want any today, at any rate, said Alice. You couldn't have it if you did. wanted. The Queen said, the rule is jam tomorrow and jam yesterday, but never jam today.

Starting point is 00:06:20 It must come sometimes to jam today, Alice objected. No it can't, said the Queen. It's jam every other day. Today isn't any other day, you know. I don't understand you, said Alice. It's dreadfully confusing. That's the effect of living backwards, the queen said kindly. It always makes one a little giddy at first. Living backwards, Alice repeated in great astonishment. I never heard of such a thing,

Starting point is 00:07:04 but there's one great advantage in it. That's one's memory works both ways. I'm sure my can't remember things before they happen. It's a poor sort of memory that only works backwards. The Queen remarked, What sort of things do you remember best? Alice ventured to ask. This that happened the week after next.

Starting point is 00:07:48 For instance now, she went home. sticking a large piece of plaster on her finger as she spoke. There's the king's messenger. He's in prison now, being punished, and the trial doesn't even begin till next Wednesday. And of course, the crime. Suppose he never commits the crime, said Alice. That would be all the better, wouldn't it?

Starting point is 00:08:24 The Queen said, as she bowed the plaster round her finger with a bit of ribbon. Alice felt there was no denying that. Of course it would be all the better, she said, but it wouldn't be all the better his being punished, said the Queen. Were you ever punished? Only for false, said Alice. All the better for you. it. I know, triumphantly, but then I had done the things I was punished for, said Alice, that makes all the difference, hadn't done them, the queen said, till it got there's a mistake

Starting point is 00:09:42 somewhere, so loud that she had to leave the sentence un-shaking her hand about if she wanted to shake it off. My fingers bleeding, her screams were so exactly like the whistle of a steam engine that Alice had to hold both. What is the matter? She said as soon as there was a chance of making herself heard. Have you pricked your finger yet? But I soon shall to do it. Being very much when I fastened my shawl again, to clasp it again. Take care, but it was too late. The pin had slipped for the bleeding, you see.

Starting point is 00:11:33 She said to Alice with a smile, but why don't you scream now, holding her hands ready to put over her ears again? Why, I've done all the screaming already, said the queen, what would be the good of having it all over again. By this time it was getting light. The crow must have flown away, I think, said Alice.

Starting point is 00:12:11 I am so glad it's gone. Be glad. You must be very happy and being glad whenever you like. Consider what a great girl you are. Consider what a long way you've come today. Consider what o'clock it is. Consider anything. Only don't cry.

Starting point is 00:13:18 This could not help laughing at this, even in the mists of her tears. By considering things, she asked, the way it's done, a great decision. Nobody can do two things at once, you know. Let's consider your age to begin with. I'm seven and a half exactly.

Starting point is 00:13:52 You needn't say Exactly The Queen remarked Five months Can't you Has no use trying She said Impossible things

Starting point is 00:14:37 I dare say You haven't had much practice Said the Queen When I was your age I always did it For half an hour a day Why sometimes I've believed

Starting point is 00:14:54 as many as six impossible things before breakfast. There goes the shore again. The brooch had come undone as she spoke, and a sudden gust of wind blew the queen's shore, a cross and the queen spread out her arms again, and went flying after it. She succeeded in catching it for herself. I've got it, she cried.

Starting point is 00:15:33 You shall see me pin it on again, all by myself. Your finger is better now, very politely, as she crossed the little brook after the queen. Much better, rising to a squeak as she went on. Much better, much better, better, better. So like a sheep that I'm a sheep that I, and she kept herself up in wall. She couldn't make a shop.

Starting point is 00:16:35 And was that really? Was it really a sheep? That was sitting on the other side of the counter? She could make nothing more. She was in a little dark shop. Leaning with her elbows on the counter. Opposite to her was an old sheep, sitting in an armchair knitting.

Starting point is 00:17:02 And every now and then, leaving off to look at her, there are a great pair of visit you want to buy, the sheep said at last, looking up, I don't, but you can't look, so she contented herself, with turning wrap, seemed to be for the honest part of it all. She looked hard at any shelf to make out exactly what it had on it. that particular shelf was all though the others round it as full as they could hold she said at last a minute or so in vainly pursuing a large bright and sometimes like a most bravian but i'll tell you what she added as a sudden thought struck her i'll follow it up to the very top shelf of all it'll puzzle it to go through the ceiling, I expect. Even this plan failed through the ceiling as quietly as possible,

Starting point is 00:19:39 as if it were quite used to it. Are you a child or a T-totum? The sheep said as she took up another pair of needles. You'll make me giddy soon. if you go on turning round like that. She was now working with 14 pairs at once and Alice couldn't help looking at her in great astonishment.

Starting point is 00:20:13 With so many, the puzzled child thought to herself. She gets more and more like a porcupine every minute. Can you row the she? Sheep asked, handing her a pair of knitting needles as she spoke. Yes, a little, but not on land, needles, Alice was beginning to say. When suddenly the needles turned, she found they were in a little boat, gliding along between banks, she took up another pair, like a remark that needed any answer.

Starting point is 00:21:16 So Alice, but pulled on very queer, as every now and taking up quite a bunch of needles. Indeed I did, said Alice. You've said it very often, and very loud. Where are the water, of course, said the sheep, sticking some of the needles into her hair, as her hands were full. Feather, I say. Why do you say feather so often? I'm not a bird. You're a little goose. Fended Alan.

Starting point is 00:22:52 So there was no more conversation for a minute or two, while the boat glided gently on, sometimes among the... Which made their oars stick fast in the wall, river banks, frowning over the head. Oh, please, there are some centred rushes, in a sudden transport of delight. There really are.

Starting point is 00:23:38 I didn't say please to me, the sheep said, without looking up, I didn't put him here, and I'm not going to take him away. But I meant, please, if you don't mind stopping the boat for a minute, stop it, so the sheep,

Starting point is 00:24:10 if you leave off rowing, it will stop of itself. So the boat, was left to drift down the stream as it would glide it gently. Rushes. The little arm did get the rushes are good long wall, breaking them. I miss forgot. She bent over the side of the boat with just the end of her tangled hair

Starting point is 00:25:03 dipping into the water. She caught at one punch after another rushes. What a lovely one, quite reach it. And it certainly did seem a little provoking. If it happened on purpose, she thought, to pick plenty of beautiful rushes. Their prettiest are always further, she said at last, with a sigh at the obstinacy of the rushes in growing so far our flushed cheeks, and dripping hair and had began to fade, and to lose all their scent and from the very moment that she picked them.

Starting point is 00:26:46 Even real-scented rushes, you know, last only a little while melted away at her feet. But Alice, there were so many other curious things to think about before the blade of one of the or. wouldn't for the seat, just as if nothing had happened. That was a nice crab you caught, she remarked, to find herself still in the boat. Was it? I didn't see it, said Alice, peeping cautiously over the side of the boat, into the dark water it hadn't let go. I should so like to see a little cross. to take home with me, said other sorts of things, said the sheep, plenty of choice, only make up your mind. What do you? It was half astonished. The walls and the boat and the river had vanished

Starting point is 00:29:20 all in a moment, and she was back again. Shop? I should like to buy an egg, please. She said to tell them. Fivepence farthing for. one, two pence for two, the sheep replied. Then two are cheaper than one, Alice said in a surprise tone, taking out her purse. I'll have one please, said Alice, as she put the money down. They might not be at all nice, you know. The sheep took the money and put it away in a box.

Starting point is 00:30:15 You must get it for yourself. And so saying, she went off to the other end of the shop and set the egg. I wonder why it wouldn't do, for the shop was very dark. Towards the end, it seems to get further away the more I walk towards it. Let me see, is this a chair? Why, it's got branches, I declare. How very odd to find trees growing here. And actually, here's her little brook.

Starting point is 00:31:11 Well, this is the very queerest shop I ever saw. So she went on, wandering more. Everything turned into a tree the moment she came up.

Guided Sleep Meditation & Sleep Hypnosis from Sleep Cove - Alice Through The Looking Glass - Chapter 5 Wool and Water

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