Alice agreed that it would make a difference.
“It’s helped to put us out quite six years already,” the King went on plaintively; “but you can’t cure him of it. You see he will wander about in byways and deserts, hunting for Lost Causes, and whenever he comes across a stream he always wades against the current. All that takes him out of his way, you know; he’s somewhere up in the Grampian Hills by this time.”
“I see,” said Alice; “that’s what you mean by being out of touch. And the other Messenger is—”
“Out of reach,” said the King. “Precisely.”
“Then it follows——” said Alice.
“I don’t know what you mean by ‘it,’” interrupted the King sulkily. “No one follows. That is why we stick in the same place. DON’T!” he suddenly screamed, jumping up and down in his agitation. “Don’t do it, I say.”
“Do what?” asked Alice, in some alarm.
“Give advice. I know you’re going to. They’ve all been doing it for the last six weeks. I assure you the letters I get——”
“I wasn’t going to give you advice,” said Alice indignantly, “and as to letters, you’ve got too much alphabet as it is.”
“Why, you’re doing it now,” said the King angrily. “Good-bye.”