A large rose-tree stood near the entrance of the garden: the roses growing on it were white, but there were three gardeners at it, busily painting them red.
Alice thought this a very curious thing, and she went nearer to watch them, and just as she came up to them she heard one of them say, `Look out now, Five ! Don't go splashing paint over me like that !'
`I couldn' t help it,' said Five, in a sulky tone ; `Seven jogged my elbow.'
On which Seven looked up and said, `That's right, Five ! Always lay the blame on others!'
`You’d better not talk !' said Five. `I heard the Queen say only yesterday you deserved to be beheaded !'
`What for ?' said the one who had spoken first.
`That's none of your business, Two !' said Seven.
Yes, it is his business !' said Five, `and I'll tell him - it was for bringing the cook tulip-roots instead of onions.'
Seven flung down his brush, and had just begun `Well, of all the unjust things - ' when his eye chanced to fall upon Alice
`Would you tell me,' said Alice, a little timidly, `why you are painting those roses ?'
Five and Seven said nothing, but looked at Two.
Two began in a low voice, `Why, the fact is, you see, Miss, this here ought to have been a red rose-tree, and we put a white one in by mistake ; and if the Queen was to find it out, we should all have our heads cut off, you know. So you see, Miss, we're doing our best, afore ( before ) she comes, to ... '
At this moment Five, who had been anxiously looking across the garden, called out `The Queen ! The Queen !' and the three gardeners instantly threw themselves flat upon their faces.
There was a sound of many footsteps, and Alice
( The garden of the cards / Le jardin des cartes à jouer ; Alice in Wonderland ( Alice
http://www.literature.org/authors/carroll-lewis/alices-adventures-in-wonderland/chapter-08.html
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