They were indeed a strange-looking party that gathered on the bank.
The birds had wet feathers, the animals had fur clinging close to them, and all were uncomfortable.
The first question was how to get dry again.
They held a discussion, and after a few minutes it seemed quite natural to Alice to find herself talking familiarly with them.
At last the Mouse called out, “Sit down, all of you, and listen to me!
I’ll soon make you dry enough!”
They all sat down at once, in a large ring, with the Mouse in the middle.
Alice kept her eyes anxiously fixed on it, for she felt sure she would catch a bad cold if she did not get dry very soon.