“They may bring all the evidence they want to, but I know that she is
innocent; I am sure that Katie didn’t;” and she stamped her little foot.
Then the king said soothingly, “Well, well, dear, don’t be too positive;
perhaps Katie did.”
The queen would have answered, but just then the rabbit rose and bowed,
and the king, who seemed slightly nervous, cried,—
“Our wise and learned friend the rabbit may speak.”
And the rabbit, bowing again, made an eloquent speech, in which he said
that although the evidence was very strong for and against the
defendant, yet he would beg a postponement of a decision until the
learned counsel had found the answer to an unimportant question, which
was, What did Katie do?
The king answered that perhaps it might be as well; for although
convinced in his own mind that Katie did, he was anxious to allow her
every chance to re-establish her good character.
The queen declared that there was no use in having the trial at all, as,
whatever it was she was accused of, Katie didn’t, didn’t, didn’t; and
Titania was beginning to look vexed, when the rabbit, bowing again,
asked if the queen had chosen any one to fill Katie’s place during her
(he hoped) temporary absence.