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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-"