Three Years Later
"…and so it really was a very silly trial, Alice, for you see, everyone knew that the Knave of Hearts had stolen the tarts from the Queen of Hearts. The nursery rhyme said so, so you see there was very little doubt of that fact. And the evidence was all nonsense, and Alice very soon lost her temper, and told them they were nothing more than a pack of cards, and as she had grown to her regular height, she beat them back quite easily…"
"Catherine, bedtime," said Alice Dodgson, entering the room at that moment.
"I'm Alice, Mommy!" exclaimed Catherine Dodgson. "Uncle Jervis calls me Alice, and I want to be just like the girl in his stories!"
"Then you should go to bed this instant, so you can be in Wonderland as quickly as possible," said Jervis Tetch, smiling at her.
Catherine nodded slowly. "Good idea, Uncle Jervis!" she said, leaping onto the bed. Tetch tucked her in gently while Alice came over to kiss her goodnight.
"Sleep tight, sweetheart," she whispered. "I love you."
"I love you too, Mommy," whispered Catherine, kissing her. "Can Uncle Jervis come back over tomorrow and tell me another story?"
"Only if he wants to," said Alice, smiling at him.
"I shall return precisely at six tomorrow, in time for tea," said Tetch, smiling. "And I shan't be late," he said, tapping her nose. She beamed, and hugged him tightly.
"Night, Uncle Jervis," she whispered.
"Goodnight, my angel," he murmured. Alice left the room and he followed her, shutting the door behind him. "Goodnight, little Alice," he whispered.
"Would you like to stay for dinner, Jervis?" asked Alice as they wandered back downstairs.
"Oh, no thank you, my dear, I have business to do tonight," said Tetch, checking his pocket watch. "But I shall return tomorrow, with your permission."
Alice smiled. "Catherine won't let you keep away," she said, hugging him. "Goodnight, Jervis."
"Goodnight, Alice," he whispered.
Tetch left their house and headed for his own home at the opposite end of town. He entered the small, well-furnished apartment, with framed illustrations from Lewis Carroll's works everywhere. He hung up his hat, and then went over to the telephone, dialling a number.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Jonathan? I'm home now, so shall I expect you in about fifteen minutes? I'll make the tea."
"Yes, that sounds delightful," said Crane's voice on the other end. "You will not believe the day I've had. If it's not Batman, it's the Joker, or Harley, or their little brats, and I've had it up to here with all of them. I'll fill you in on the details when I get there, but a cup of tea will be just the thing. I shall see you soon."
"I'm very much looking forward to it," said Tetch, smiling. And he hung up the phone.
The End
