After a while(after some time has passed [ˈæftər ə waɪl]), finding(discovering or realizing [ˈfaɪndɪŋ]) that nothing more happened(that no further events occurred [ðət ˈnəθɪŋ mɔr ˈhæpənd]), she decided on going(she made the decision to go [ʃi ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪd ɔn goʊɪŋ]) into the garden(to the area outside, typically with plants and flowers [ˈɪntu ðə ˈgɑrdən]) at once(immediately; without delay [æt wəns]); but(a conjunction used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something preceding [bət]), alas(an expression of grief, pity, or concern [əˈlæs]) for poor Alice(expressing sympathy for Alice's unfortunate situation [fər pur ˈælɪs])! when she got to the door(upon arriving at the entrance [wɪn ʃi gɑt tɪ ðə dɔr]), she found(she discovered [ʃi faʊnd]) she had forgotten(she had failed to remember [ʃi hæd fərˈgɑtən]) the little golden key(a small key made of gold [ðə ˈlɪtəl ˈgoʊldən ki]), and when she went back(returning to the previous location [ənd wɪn ʃi wɛnt bæk]) to the table(specifically, to the table [tɪ ðə ˈteɪbəl]) for it(in order to retrieve the key [fər ɪt]), she found(she discovered [ʃi faʊnd]) she could not possibly reach it(it was impossible for her to get to it [ʃi kʊd nɑt ˈpɑsəbli riʧ ɪt]): she could see it(she was able to observe it [ʃi kʊd si ɪt]) quite plainly(very clearly [kwaɪt ˈpleɪnli]) through the glass(visible through the glass surface [θru ðə glæs]), and she tried her best(she made a strong effort [ənd ʃi traɪd hər bɛst]) to climb up(to ascend [tɪ klaɪm əp]) one of the legs of the table(one of the supporting structures of the table [wən əv ðə lɛgz əv ðə ˈteɪbəl]), but it was too slippery(the surface was too smooth to grip [bət ɪt wɑz tu sˈlɪpəri]); and when she had tired herself out(after she had exhausted herself [ənd wɪn ʃi hæd taɪərd hərˈsɛlf aʊt]) with trying(by attempting to do something [wɪθ traɪɪŋ]), the poor little thing(an expression of sympathy for the small creature [ðə pur ˈlɪtəl θɪŋ]) sat down(took a seated position [sæt daʊn]) and cried(shed tears as an expression of sadness [ənd kraɪd]).
'Come(an invitation or encouragement to do something [kəm]), there's(contraction of 'there is' [ðɛrz]) no use(not useful; futile [noʊ juz]) in crying(the act of shedding tears, often due to sadness or pain [ɪn kraɪɪŋ]) like that(in that manner; to that extent [laɪk ðət])!' said(past tense of 'say', indicating speech [sɛd]) Alice(the name of the character speaking [ˈælɪs]) to herself(speaking to one's own self [tɪ hərˈsɛlf]), rather sharply(somewhat sternly or critically [ˈrəðər ˈʃɑrpli]); 'I advise(I recommend; I suggest [aɪ ədˈvaɪz]) you(the person being addressed (in this case, herself [ju]) to leave off(to stop; to cease [tɪ liv ɔf]) this minute(immediately; right now! [ðɪs ˈmɪnət])!' She(referring to Alice [ʃi]) generally(usually; in most cases [ˈʤɛnərəli]) gave(past tense of 'give', meaning to provide or offer [geɪv]) herself(referring to Alice [hərˈsɛlf]) very good advice(helpful and wise suggestions [ˈvɛri gʊd ədˈvaɪs]), (though(despite the fact that; although [ðoʊ]) she(referring to Alice [ʃi]) very seldom(rarely; almost never [ˈvɛri ˈsɛldəm]) followed(past tense of 'follow', meaning to act according to [ˈfɑloʊd]) it(referring to the advice [ɪt])), and(used to connect clauses or sentences [ənd]) sometimes(occasionally; now and then [ˈsəmˌtaɪmz]) she(referring to Alice [ʃi]) scolded(past tense of 'scold', meaning to reprimand or criticize harshly [ˈskoʊldɪd]) herself(referring to Alice [hərˈsɛlf]) so severely(to such a great extent; very harshly [soʊ səˈvɪrli]) as to(to the point that [ɛz tɪ]) bring tears(to cause tears to form [brɪŋ tɪrz]) into her eyes(in her eyes [ˈɪntu hər aɪz]); and(used to connect clauses or sentences [ənd]) once(on one occasion [wəns]) she(referring to Alice [ʃi]) remembered(past tense of 'remember', meaning to recall [rɪˈmɛmbərd]) trying(making an attempt [traɪɪŋ]) to box(to hit with a closed fist [tɪ bɑks]) her own ears(her own ears [hər oʊn ɪrz]) for having cheated(because she had acted dishonestly [fər ˈhævɪŋ ˈʧitɪd]) herself(referring to Alice [hərˈsɛlf]) in a game(during a game [ɪn ə geɪm]) of croquet(a lawn game played with mallets and balls [əv kroʊˈkeɪ]) she was playing(she was participating in [ʃi wɑz pleɪɪŋ]) against herself(playing alone [əˈgɛnst hərˈsɛlf]), for(because [fər]) this curious child(this strange or unusual child (Alice [ðɪs ˈkjʊriəs ʧaɪld]) was(past tense of 'be' [wɑz]) very fond(to like something very much [ˈvɛri fɑnd]) of pretending(of acting as if something is true when it is not [əv priˈtɛndɪŋ]) to be(to exist as [tɪ bi]) two people(two separate individuals [tu ˈpipəl]). 'But(however; nevertheless [bət]) it's(contraction of 'it is' [ɪts]) no use(not useful; futile [noʊ juz]) now(at the present time [naʊ]),' thought(past tense of 'think', indicating a thought [θɔt]) poor Alice(Alice, deserving of sympathy [pur ˈælɪs]), 'to pretend(to act as if something is true when it is not [tɪ priˈtɛnd]) to be(to exist as [tɪ bi]) two people(two separate individuals [tu ˈpipəl])! Why(used to express surprise or to introduce a reason [waɪ]), there's(contraction of 'there is' [ðɛrz]) hardly(barely; scarcely [ˈhɑrdli]) enough(sufficient; adequate [ɪˈnəf]) of me(referring to herself [əv mi]) left(remaining [lɛft]) to make(to create [tɪ meɪk]) ONE respectable person(a person who is worthy of respect [wən rɪˈspɛktəbəl ˈpərsən])!'
Soon(in or after a short time [sun]) her(belonging to or associated with the girl or woman previously mentioned [hər]) eye(the organ of sight [aɪ]) fell on(to direct one's gaze or attention to something [fɛl ɔn]) a little glass box(a small container made of glass [ə ˈlɪtəl glæs bɑks]) that was lying(that was in a horizontal position on a surface [ðət wɑz laɪɪŋ]) under the table(beneath the surface of the table [ˈəndər ðə ˈteɪbəl]): she opened it(she manipulated the box to gain access to the inside [ʃi ˈoʊpənd ɪt]), and found in it(and discovered inside the box [ənd faʊnd ɪn ɪt]) a very small cake(an extremely diminutive baked good [ə ˈvɛri smɔl keɪk]), on which(referring to the cake [ɔn wɪʧ]) the words(the specific combination of letters [ðə wərdz]) 'EAT ME(an imperative instruction to consume the cake [it mi])' were beautifully marked(were attractively inscribed [wər ˈbjutəfli mɑrkt]) in currants(using small dried fruits [ɪn currants]). 'Well(an expression of mild surprise, resignation, or agreement [wɛl]), I'll eat it(I will consume the cake [aɪl it ɪt]),' said Alice(Alice spoke [sɛd ˈælɪs]), 'and if it makes me grow larger(if consuming the cake causes me to increase in size [ənd ɪf ɪt meɪks mi groʊ ˈlɑrʤər]), I can reach the key(I will be tall enough to grab the key [aɪ kən riʧ ðə ki]); and if it makes me grow smaller(if consuming the cake causes me to decrease in size [ənd ɪf ɪt meɪks mi groʊ sˈmɔlər]), I can creep under the door(I will be small enough to crawl beneath the door [aɪ kən krip ˈəndər ðə dɔr]); so either way(therefore, regardless of the outcome [soʊ ˈiðər weɪ]) I'll get into the garden(I will gain access to the garden [aɪl gɪt ˈɪntu ðə ˈgɑrdən]), and I don't care(I am indifferent [ənd aɪ doʊnt kɛr]) which happens(which outcome occurs [wɪʧ ˈhæpənz])!'
She ate(She consumed [ʃi eɪt]) a little bit(a small portion [ə ˈlɪtəl bɪt]), and said anxiously(and spoke with worry [ənd sɛd ˈæŋkʃəsli]) to herself(speaking quietly so only she could hear [tɪ hərˈsɛlf]), 'Which way? Which way(Expressing uncertainty about the direction of change [wɪʧ weɪ wɪʧ weɪ])?', holding her hand(placing her hand [ˈhoʊldɪŋ hər hænd]) on the top of her head(on the upper surface of her head [ɔn ðə tɔp əv hər hɛd]) to feel(in order to sense [tɪ fil]) which way it was growing(in which direction her head was changing size [wɪʧ weɪ ɪt wɑz groʊɪŋ]), and she was quite surprised(and she experienced considerable astonishment [ənd ʃi wɑz kwaɪt səˈpraɪzd]) to find(upon discovering [tɪ faɪnd]) that she remained the same size(that her dimensions had not changed [ðət ʃi rɪˈmeɪnd ðə seɪm saɪz]): to be sure(admittedly; certainly [tɪ bi ʃʊr]), this generally happens(this is the typical occurrence [ðɪs ˈʤɛnərəli ˈhæpənz]) when one eats cake(upon consuming cake [wɪn wən its keɪk]), but Alice had got so much into the way of(but Alice had become accustomed to [bət ˈælɪs hæd gɑt soʊ məʧ ˈɪntu ðə weɪ əv]) expecting nothing but out-of-the-way things to happen(anticipating only unusual or extraordinary events [ɪkˈspɛktɪŋ ˈnəθɪŋ bət out-of-the-way θɪŋz tɪ ˈhæpən]), that it seemed quite dull and stupid(that it appeared uninteresting and foolish [ðət ɪt simd kwaɪt dəl ənd ˈstupɪd]) for life to go on(for existence to continue [fər laɪf tɪ goʊ ɔn]) in the common way(in the ordinary manner [ɪn ðə ˈkɑmən weɪ]).