
it!«
    »I thought you meant How old are you?« Alice explained.
    »If I'd meant that, I'd have said it,« said Humpty Dumpty.
    Alice didn't want to begin another argument, so she said nothing.
    »Seven years and six months!« Humpty Dumpty repeated thoughtfully. »An
uncomfortable sort of age. Now if you'd asked my advice, I'd have said Leave off
at seven -- but it's too late now.«
    »I never ask advice about growing,« Alice said indignantly.
    »Too proud?« the other enquired.
    Alice felt even more indignant at this suggestion. »I mean,« she said, »that
one ca'n't help growing older.«
    »One ca'n't, perhaps,« said Humpty Dumpty; »but two can. With proper
assistance, you might have left off at seven.«
    »What a beautiful belt you've got on!« Alice suddenly remarked. (They had
had quite enough of the subject of age, she thought: and, if they really were to
take turns in choosing subjects, it was her turn now.) »At least,« she corrected
herself on second thoughts, »a beautiful cravat, I should have said - no, a
belt, I mean - I beg your pardon!« she added in dismay, for Humpty Dumpty looked
thoroughly offended, and she began to wish she hadn't chosen that subject. »If
only I knew,« she thought to herself, »which was neck and which was waist!«
    Evidently Humpty Dumpty was very angry, though he said nothing for a minute
or two. When he did speak again, it was in a deep growl.
    »It is a - most - provoking - thing,« he said at last, »when a person
doesn't know a cravat from a belt!«
    »I know it's very ignorant of me,« Alice said, in so humble a tone that
Humpty Dumpty relented.
    »It's a cravat, child, and a beautiful one, as you say. It's a present from
the White King and Queen. There now!«
    »It is really?« said Alice, quite pleased to find that she had chosen a good
subject after all.
    »They gave it me,« Humpty Dumpty continued thoughtfully as he crossed one
knee over the other and clasped his hands round it, »they gave it me - for an
un-
