Here's why:
* Carroll's focus: The story focuses on Alice's journey and her encounters with strange and nonsensical characters. Love is not a central theme.
* The Mad Hatter's personality: The Mad Hatter is a whimsical and eccentric character. His actions and speech are often nonsensical, making it difficult to interpret his feelings.
* Possible interpretations: Some readers might perceive a hint of affection in the Mad Hatter's interactions with Alice, while others might interpret them as purely playful or friendly.
Ultimately, it's up to the reader to decide how they perceive the Mad Hatter's feelings towards Alice. There's no definitive answer from Carroll's text.