As the Knight sang the last words of the ballad , he gathered up the reins , and turned his horse 's head along the road by which they had come . ` You 've only a few yards to go , ' he said , ` down the hill and over that little brook , and then you 'll be a Queen -- But you 'll stay and see me off first ? ' he added as Alice turned with an eager look in the direction to which he pointed . ' I sha n't be long . You 'll wait and wave your handkerchief when I get to that turn in the road ? I think it 'll encourage me , you see . ' ` Of course I 'll wait , ' said Alice : ` and thank you very much for coming so far -- and for the song -- I liked it very much . ' ' I hope so , ' the Knight said doubtfully : ` but you did n't cry so much as I thought you would . ' So they shook hands , and then the Knight rode slowly away into the forest . ` It wo n't take long to see him OFF , I expect , ' Alice said to herself , as she stood watching him . ` There he goes ! Right on his head as usual ! However , he gets on again pretty easily -- that comes of having so many things hung round the horse -- ' So she went on talking to herself , as she watched the horse walking leisurely along the road , and the Knight tumbling off , first on one side and then on the other . After the fourth or fifth tumble he reached the turn , and then she waved her handkerchief to him , and waited till he was out of sight . ' I hope it encouraged him , ' she said , as she turned to run down the hill : ` and now for the last brook , and to be a Queen ! How grand it sounds ! ' A very few steps brought her to the edge of the brook . ` The Eighth Square at last ! ' she cried as she bounded across , * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * and threw herself down to rest on a lawn as soft as moss , with little flower-beds dotted about it here and there . ` Oh , how glad I am to get here !
And what IS this on my XXXXX ? '
ballad brook course edge head horse moss road steps tumble