"I dare say you never even spoke to Time!" the Hatter remarked, implying that Alice had never directly communicated with the concept of Time. Alice responded cautiously, acknowledging that she often has to keep up with the rhythm of music, which she metaphorically relates to beating Time. The exchange highlights the playful and imaginative way the characters interpret abstract ideas like Time and music in their world.

"Ah! That accounts for it," the Hatter said, with a twist of humor. He suggests that if Alice maintained a good relationship with Time, he would be more cooperative with her, especially when it comes to working with clocks. The dialogue exemplifies the whimsical and personified treatment of Time in Lewis Carroll's story, blending everyday concepts with fantasy and wordplay.