"Unimportant, your Majesty means, of course," he said, in a very respectful tone, but frowning and making faces at him.
"Unnimportant, of course, I meant," the King hastily said, and went on to himself in an undertone, "important--unimportant--unimportant--important----" as if he were trying which word sounded best.
Presently the King, who had been for some time busily writing in his notebook, called out "Silence!" and he read out from his book, "Rule Forty-two. All persons more than a mile high to leave the court."
Everybody looked at Alice.
"I'm not a mile high," said Alice.
"You are," said the King.
"Nearly two miles high," added the Queen.
"Well, I shan't go, at any rate," said Alice. "Besides, that's not a regular rule; you invented it just now."
"It's the oldest rule in the book," said the King.
"Then it ought to be Number One," said Alice.