Pagina 130 di 167

The Mock Turtle sighed deeply, and drew the back of one flapper

across his eyes. He looked at Alice, and tried to speak, but for

a minute or two sobs choked his voice. "Same as if he had a bone

in his throat," said the Gryphon: and it set to work shaking him

and punching him in the back. At last the Mock Turtle recovered

his voice, and, with tears running down his cheeks, he went on

again:-

"You may not have lived much under the sea-" ("I haven't," said

Alice)-"and perhaps you were never even introduced to a lobster-"

(Alice began to say "I once tasted-" but checked herself hastily,

and said "No, never") "-so you can have no idea what a delightful

thing a Lobster Quadrille is!"

"No, indeed," said Alice. "What sort of a dance is it?"

"Why," said the Gryphon, "you first form into a line along the

sea-shore-"

"Two lines!" cried the Mock Turtle. "Seals, turtles, salmon, and

so on; then, when you've cleared all the jelly-fish out of the

way-"