But the kitten began to wash its other paw, and pretended it hadn't heard the question.

…and it really was a kitten, after all.

The Red Queen did not try to fight or escape… but her face grew very small, and her eyes got large and green…and, as Alice went on shaking her, she grew shorter -- and fatter -- and softer -- and rounder -- and…

"You shouldn't be so noisy, Your Majesty," Alice said to the black kitten. "You've woken me out of a very nice dream. I've been all through the looking-glass world. And I think that you were the Red Queen, weren't you?"

She took the Red Queen off the table as she spoke, and shook her backwards and forwards, very hard.

But the kitten turned its head away and wouldn't look at the Queen.

It is impossible to guess if a kitten is saying "yes" or "no". Alice looked among the chessmen on the table until she found the Red Queen. Then she sat on the carpet and put the kitten and the Queen to look at each other.

Who do you think was dreaming?

"Now, Kitty," Alice went on, "who was it who dreamed it all, do you think? No, listen-don't start washing your paw snow. You see, Kitty, it was either me or the Red King. He was part of my dream, of course -- but then I was part of his dream too! Was it the Red King, Kitty?"

"Curtsy while you're thinking what to say," Alice said, with a little laugh. "It saves time, remember!"