Alice whiled away the hours, chatting idly with her aunt, cooking, cleaning and playing piano until just after nine o'clock. Her aunt knocked on the door of the dining room where the piano was kept, and opened the door slightly.
"Alice, I'm going to bed now, don't be up too late."
Alice closed the piano lid and stood up.
"I shan't, Aunt Clara. I'm quite tired myself. Goodnight."
Alice walked up the stairs slowly behind her aunt, despite the excitement she felt at the prospect of sneaking out to meet Alexander. When she reached her bedroom, she changed into her nightdress and put her large overcoat on for warmth, then thought to wear another layer, and found a shorter dress to wear over her nightgown. She blew out the candle on her dresser and put it, and a box of matches into her pocket, locked the door and opened her bedroom window. She climbed carefully out onto the ledge below the window and mumbled to herself;
"Now then, how ever shall I get down from here?"
The wind whispered through the branches of the tree and, for a moment, Alice fancied she heard the silky voice of the Cheshire Cat; telling her to jump.
Oh Cheshire, she thought, you always were such an awkward sod. How on Earth would I make a jump like that?
Alice watched the snatches of moonlight flicker between the branches of the tree outside her room, and slowly twist themselves into a wicked looking grin, and a pair of glaring, yellow eyes.
Oh Alice, the Cat hissed, you've made much more dangerous leaps than this in Wonderland.
"But I'm not in Wonderland now, am I?"
She gasped
"Cheshire! How can you-"
Just jump Alice!
"It's all very well for you to say, perched there."
She took a deep breath and leaped from the ledge, arms outstretched to grasp the branch of the tree, but her fingers slipped, and she fell, colliding stiffly with branches as she tumbled. Her coat caught on one branch and she cried out as she abruptly stopped falling and was suddenly suspended above the ground.
"Cheshire! Help!"
She felt her coat beginning to tear and swiftly grabbed the nearest branch as she felt herself falling again. She hung vertically from the branch until she had stilled her nerves, then dropped to the ground, where the Cheshire Cat was waiting.
"Thank you for your help, Cat. I'm so glad you didn't let me fall." She hissed at him.
I couldn't really have done more, could I?
Alice walked away, waiting until the cat was padding alongside her, the swung a violent kick which knocked him flying.
"You never cause me anything but trouble, you mangy thing."
She walked away from the cat and towards the lake, but after she had reached the park, she noticed he was following her. She turned to face him.
"Just where do you think you are going? You're certainly not coming with me."
Why ever not? Alexander won't see me. You know that.
"Oh just go away. I don't need you here. Not now."
She carried on, away from the Cat and cut through the hedges to get to the lake. Alexander was already waiting for her.
"Alexander! You certainly are punctual; it's not even five to ten yet!"
He took her in his arms and they kissed as the Cheshire cat watched in disgust from the hedgerow. He heard Alexander mumble something about not keeping Alice waiting and they began to skate around the lake, Alexander's hands on Alice's hips, and her hands on his. After almost an hour of this, the cat got bored and began to watch the sleeping birds in the hedges.
Suddenly Alice cried out; there was a loud crack, and a spray of water which splashed the cat, disturbing him from his thoughts. He rushed to the waters edge and saw that the ice had split, and both Alice and Alexander were now engulfed in the freezing water. As he watched, Alice sank beneath the water and Alexander dived, desperately trying to keep Alice above the water as her consciousness slipped away. The cat longed for a way of helping but knew that he could do nothing. Or…perhaps he could…
When Alice awoke she was lying on the bank of a pool, with drops of water spraying her face. She twitched a little, then sat up, thinking she must be at the side of the lake. The last thing she remembered was falling. Into the lake, the ice cracking…and Alexander carrying her, trying to keep her above the water…
She stood, and gazed in wonder at her surroundings. Surely not, she thought, surely I can't be…and what of Alexander! Panic struck her; what if Alexander had not got out of the pool? What if she was here, safe, and he was drowning? Her stomach knotted as she realized that there was nothing she could possibly do to help him now. She bit her lip, forcing herself not to cry, and there came a soft padding from behind her. She span around to find the Cheshire Cat looking inquisitively at her.
"Where is he, Cat? What has happened to him? Cheshire? Is he alright?" Her voice rose high and pleading as her desperation grew.
"What?" the Cat asked, coldly. "What is wrong? You're alive aren't you? A little gratitude wouldn't go a miss; a word of thanks now and again."
"Cheshire, how can I thank you when my friend could be dead?"
"Who? Oh, him. Lover-boy is fine; I didn't leave him to drown, although I'm fairly sure it would have been better if I had."
Alexander emerged from behind a large clump of reeds, as though he had been waiting for his cue, and Alice rushed over to him and embraced him. He clutched her head to his chest, kissing her hair, and feeling her tremble in his arms.
"Alexander I thought you were dead! I was so worried, I thought-"
The Cheshire cat interrupted, "Yes, yes we understand, you were worried. Now please. We have business to attend to."
Alice glared at the Cat.
"You should be careful what you say, Cat. I could have your hide for a stole if I wished."
The Cat's tone softened. "Well I do wish you would hurry up, this is a rather urgent situation, we must find Rabbit and Caterpillar. Follow me." The Cat ran off into the brushes, and Alice followed, dragging Alexander behind her.
"Alice?" he asked, "I'm not quite sure I understand."
"Just follow me; I'll explain it to you later. It won't make a great deal of sense, but nothing does around here."