Lewis Carroll: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

CHAPTER 10: The Lobster Quadrille (continued)

`That's different from what I used to say when I was a child,' said the Gryphon.

`Well, I never heard it before,' said the Mock Turtle; `but it sounds uncommon nonsense.'

Alice said nothing; she had sat down with her face in her hands, wondering if anything would EVER happen in a natural way again.

`I should like to have it explained,' said the Mock Turtle.

`She can't explain it,' said the Gryphon hastily. `Go on with the next verse.'

`But about his toes?' the Mock Turtle persisted. `How COULD he turn them out with his nose, you know?'

`It's the first position in dancing.' Alice said; but was dreadfully puzzled by the whole thing, and longed to change the subject.

`Go on with the next verse,' the Gryphon repeated impatiently: `it begins "I passed by his garden."'

Alice did not dare to disobey, though she felt sure it would all come wrong, and she went on in a trembling voice:--

     `I passed by his garden, and marked, with one eye,
     How the Owl and the Panther were sharing a pie--'

     The Panther took pie-crust, and gravy, and meat,
     While the Owl had the dish as its share of the treat.
     When the pie was all finished, the Owl, as a boon,
     Was kindly permitted to pocket the spoon:
     While the Panther received knife and fork with a growl,
     And concluded the banquet--

`What IS the use of repeating all that stuff,' the Mock Turtle interrupted, `if you don't explain it as you go on? It's by far the most confusing thing I ever heard!'

`Yes, I think you'd better leave off,' said the Gryphon: and Alice was only too glad to do so.