CHAPTER XII(Chapter twelve, a section or division in a book [ˈʧæptər xii]). Alice's Evidence(The testimony or proof presented by Alice [ˈælɪsəz ˈɛvədəns])
'Here(An exclamation to indicate presence or location [hir])!' cried(shouted or exclaimed loudly [kraɪd]) Alice(The name of the character speaking [ˈælɪs]), quite forgetting(completely not remembering [kwaɪt fərˈgɛtɪŋ]) in the flurry of the moment(in the excitement and confusion of the present time [ɪn ðə ˈfləri əv ðə ˈmoʊmənt]) how large she had grown(referring to the change in Alice's size [haʊ lɑrʤ ʃi hæd groʊn]) in the last few minutes(over a short period of time recently [ɪn ðə læst fju ˈmɪnəts]), and she jumped up(she quickly stood up [ənd ʃi ʤəmpt əp]) in such a hurry(with great haste [ɪn səʧ ə ˈhəri]) that she tipped over(causing to overturn or fall [ðət ʃi tɪpt ˈoʊvər]) the jury-box(the enclosure where the jury sits in a courtroom [ðə jury-box]) with the edge of her skirt(by the border or hem of her clothing [wɪθ ðə ɛʤ əv hər skərt]), upsetting all the jurymen(causing all the members of the jury to fall [əpˈsɛtɪŋ ɔl ðə jurymen]) on to the heads of the crowd below(onto the people standing underneath [ɔn tɪ ðə hɛdz əv ðə kraʊd bɪˈloʊ]), and there they lay(they were situated [ənd ðɛr ðeɪ leɪ]) sprawling about(lying with limbs spread out awkwardly [ˈsprɔlɪŋ əˈbaʊt]), reminding her very much(making her think strongly [riˈmaɪndɪŋ hər ˈvɛri məʧ]) of a globe of goldfish(a round glass container filled with water and containing goldfish [əv ə gloʊb əv ˈgoʊldˌfɪʃ]) she had accidentally upset(she had unintentionally overturned [ʃi hæd ˌæksəˈdɛnəli ˈəpˌsɛt]) the week before(the previous week [ðə wik ˌbiˈfɔr]).
'Oh, I BEG your pardon(An expression of sincere apology [oʊ aɪ bɛg jʊr ˈpɑrdən])!' she exclaimed(she said loudly and emphatically [ʃi ɪkˈskleɪmd]) in a tone of great dismay(with a voice showing worry and distress [ɪn ə toʊn əv greɪt dɪsˈmeɪ]), and began picking them up(started to lift them [ənd bɪˈgæn ˈpɪkɪŋ ðɛm əp]) again as quickly as she could(as fast as possible [əˈgɛn ɛz kˈwɪkli ɛz ʃi kʊd]), for the accident of the goldfish(because of the incident involving the goldfish [fər ðə ˈæksədənt əv ðə ˈgoʊldˌfɪʃ]) kept running in her head(was constantly in her thoughts [kɛpt ˈrənɪŋ ɪn hər hɛd]), and she had a vague sort of idea(she had an unclear notion [ənd ʃi hæd ə veɪg sɔrt əv aɪˈdiə]) that they must be collected at once(that they needed to be gathered immediately [ðət ðeɪ məst bi kəˈlɛktəd æt wəns]) and put back into the jury-box(and placed back inside the jury's seating area [ənd pʊt bæk ˈɪntu ðə jury-box]), or they would die(otherwise, they would perish [ər ðeɪ wʊd daɪ]).
'The trial cannot proceed(Indicates that the legal proceedings are halted or unable to continue. [ðə traɪəl ˈkænɑt pərˈsid]),' said(Past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking. [sɛd]) the King(The monarch, the person of highest authority. [ðə kɪŋ]) in a very grave voice(Speaking in a serious and solemn tone. [ɪn ə ˈvɛri greɪv vɔɪs]), 'until(Expresses a condition of time; not before. [ənˈtɪl]) all the jurymen(Every member of the jury. [ɔl ðə jurymen]) are back(Have returned. [ər bæk]) in their proper places(In their designated seats or positions. [ɪn ðɛr ˈprɑpər ˈpleɪsɪz])—ALL(Emphasizes that every single member must be present. [-ɔl]),' he repeated(He said again. [hi rɪˈpitɪd]) with great emphasis(With strong stress or importance. [wɪθ greɪt ˈɛmfəsɪs]), looking hard at Alice(Staring intently at Alice. [ˈlʊkɪŋ hɑrd æt ˈælɪs]) as he said do(While saying 'do', implying a specific action or instruction. [ɛz hi sɛd du]).
Alice looked at the jury-box(Alice directed her gaze towards the enclosure where the jury sits. [ˈælɪs lʊkt æt ðə jury-box]), and saw that(and observed that. [ənd sɔ ðət]), in her haste(because she was rushing or hurrying. [ɪn hər heɪst]), she had put the Lizard(she had placed the Lizard. [ʃi hæd pʊt ðə ˈlɪzərd]) in head downwards(with its head pointing towards the ground. [ɪn hɛd ˈdaʊnwərdz]), and the poor little thing(referring to the Lizard with sympathy. [ənd ðə pur ˈlɪtəl θɪŋ]) was waving its tail about(was moving its tail back and forth. [wɑz ˈweɪvɪŋ ɪts teɪl əˈbaʊt]) in a melancholy way(in a sad or sorrowful manner. [ɪn ə ˈmɛlənˌkɑli weɪ]), being quite unable to move(completely unable to change its position. [biɪŋ kwaɪt əˈneɪbəl tɪ muv]). She soon got it out again(She quickly removed it. [ʃi sun gɑt ɪt aʊt əˈgɛn]), and put it right(and placed it in the correct orientation. [ənd pʊt ɪt raɪt]); 'not that it signifies much(It doesn't really matter. [nɑt ðət ɪt ˈsɪgnəˌfaɪz məʧ]),' she said to herself(she thought privately. [ʃi sɛd tɪ hərˈsɛlf]); 'I should think(I believe. [aɪ ʃʊd θɪŋk]) it would be QUITE as much use(it would be equally useful. [ɪt wʊd bi kwaɪt ɛz məʧ juz]) in the trial(during the legal proceedings. [ɪn ðə traɪəl]) one way up(in the correct orientation. [wən weɪ əp]) as the other(as in the incorrect orientation. [ɛz ðə ˈəðər]).'
As soon as(immediately after [ɛz sun ɛz]) the jury(a group of people selected to make a legal decision [ðə ˈʤʊri]) had(past tense of 'have', indicating possession or experience [hæd]) a little(a small amount [ə ˈlɪtəl]) recovered(returned to a normal state of health or strength [rɪˈkəvərd]) from(indicating the source or origin [frəm]) the shock(a sudden upsetting or surprising event or experience [ðə ʃɑk]) of being upset(of being disturbed or distressed [əv biɪŋ ˈəpˌsɛt]), and(used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) their(belonging to them (the jury [ðɛr]) slates(small, flat pieces of slate used for writing on [sleɪts]) and(used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) pencils(instruments for writing or drawing, consisting of a thin stick of graphite or similar substance enclosed in a wooden or metal case [ˈpɛnsəlz]) had been found(past perfect passive form of 'find', indicating that the slates and pencils were located [hæd bɪn faʊnd]) and(used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) handed back(returned to the owner [ˈhændɪd bæk]) to them(to the jury [tɪ ðɛm]), they(referring to the jury [ðeɪ]) set to work(began to do something, especially something laborious or difficult [sɛt tɪ wərk]) very diligently(with great care and effort [ˈvɛri ˈdɪləʤəntli]) to write out(to write something fully and completely [tɪ raɪt aʊt]) a history(a written account of important events [ə ˈhɪstəri]) of the accident(describing the events of the incident [əv ðə ˈæksədənt]), all except(excluding [ɔl ɪkˈsɛpt]) the Lizard(referring to a specific character, a lizard [ðə ˈlɪzərd]), who(referring to the Lizard [hu]) seemed(appeared to be [simd]) too much(excessively [tu məʧ]) overcome(affected very strongly [ˈoʊvərˌkəm]) to do anything(to perform any action [tɪ du ˈɛniˌθɪŋ]) but(except; only [bət]) sit(remain in a seated position [sɪt]) with its mouth open(with the mouth in an open position [wɪθ ɪts maʊθ ˈoʊpən]), gazing up(looking upwards [ˈgeɪzɪŋ əp]) into(indicating direction or movement toward the inside of [ˈɪntu]) the roof(the top covering of a building or room [ðə rʊf]) of the court(belonging to the courtroom [əv ðə kɔrt]).
'What(interrogative word used to ask for specific information [wət]) do(auxiliary verb used to form questions [du]) you(the person being addressed [ju]) know(to be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information [noʊ]) about(concerning [əˈbaʊt]) this business(this matter or affair [ðɪs ˈbɪznɪs])?' the King(referring to the King [ðə kɪŋ]) said(past tense of 'say', to utter words [sɛd]) to(indicating direction [tɪ]) Alice(referring to the character Alice [ˈælɪs]).
'Nothing(not anything; no single thing [ˈnəθɪŋ]),' said(past tense of 'say', to utter words [sɛd]) Alice(referring to the character Alice [ˈælɪs]).
'Nothing(not anything; no single thing [ˈnəθɪŋ]) WHATEVER(at all; of any kind [ˌwəˈtɛvər])?' persisted(continued firmly or obstinately in an opinion or course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition [pərˈsɪstɪd]) the King(referring to the King [ðə kɪŋ]).
'Nothing(not anything; no single thing [ˈnəθɪŋ]) whatever(at all; of any kind [ˌwəˈtɛvər]),' said(past tense of 'say', to utter words [sɛd]) Alice(referring to the character Alice [ˈælɪs]).
'That's(contraction of 'that is', indicating something previously mentioned or understood [ðæts]) very important(extremely significant or crucial [ˈvɛri ˌɪmˈpɔrtənt]),' the King said(attribution of the statement to the King [ðə kɪŋ sɛd]), turning to the jury(the King physically shifted his attention towards the group of jurors [ˈtərnɪŋ tɪ ðə ˈʤʊri]). They(referring to the jury [ðeɪ]) were just beginning(had only recently started [wər ʤɪst bɪˈgɪnɪŋ]) to write this down(to record the statement on their writing surfaces [tɪ raɪt ðɪs daʊn]) on their slates(using small, flat pieces of material for writing [ɔn ðɛr sleɪts]), when the White Rabbit interrupted(at that moment, the White Rabbit broke into the situation with his speech [wɪn ðə waɪt ˈræbɪt ˌɪntərˈəptɪd]): 'UNimportant(not significant or consequential [ənɪmˈpɔrtənt]), your Majesty(a title used to address a king or queen [jʊr ˈmæʤəsti]) means, of course(implies or intends, naturally [minz əv kɔrs]),' he said(attribution of the statement to the White Rabbit [hi sɛd]) in a very respectful tone(speaking in a manner that shows deference and politeness [ɪn ə ˈvɛri rɪˈspɛktfəl toʊn]), but frowning(showing displeasure or disapproval by furrowing the brow [bət ˈfraʊnɪŋ]) and making faces(grimacing or distorting the facial features [ənd ˈmeɪkɪŋ ˈfeɪsɪz]) at him(directed towards the King [æt ɪm]) as he spoke(while he was delivering his words [ɛz hi spoʊk]).