But, instead of this, it happened that, just at the very instant when Lucy thought it was going to stop, all at once it began to turn the other way; and, instead of going slower and slower, it went faster and faster, until, at length, it was revolving as fast as it did before.
“O no,” said she to Joanna; “it has got a going again.”
It was indeed revolving very swiftly; but pretty soon it began to slacken its speed again;—and again Lucy thought that it was certainly going to stop. But at this time she witnessed the same phenomenon as before. It had nearly lost all its motion, and was turning around very slowly indeed, and just upon the point of stopping; and in fact it did seem to stop for an instant; but immediately it began to move in an opposite direction, very slowly at first, but afterwards faster and faster, until it was, at length, spinning around before the hot coals, as fast as ever before. Pretty soon, also, the apple began to sing; and Lucy concluded that it would never stop,—at least not before it would have time to be well roasted.
“It goes like Royal’s top,” said Lucy.
“Has Royal got a top?” said Joanna.
“Yes,” said Lucy, “a large humming-top. There is a hole in it. It spins very fast, only it does not go first one way and then the other, like this apple.”
“I never saw a top,” said Joanna.
“Never saw one!” exclaimed Lucy. “Did not the boys have tops when you were little?”
“No boys that I ever knew,” answered Joanna.
“Did you have a tea-set when you were a little girl?” asked Lucy.