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The Mock Turtle’s Story
‘Youcouldn’thavewanteditmuch,’saidAlice; ‘livingatthebottomofthesea.’
‘Icouldn’taffordtolearnit. ’saidtheMockTurtlewithasigh. ‘Ionlytooktheregularcourse.’
‘Whatwasthat? ’inquiredAlice.
‘ReelingandWrithing,ofcourse,tobeginwith,’theMockTurtlereplied; ‘andthenthedifferentbranchesofArithmetic—Ambition,Distraction,Uglification,andDerision.’
‘Ineverheardof"Uglification,"’Aliceventuredtosay.‘Whatisit?’
TheGryphonliftedupbothitspawsinsurprise. ‘What!Neverheardofuglifying! ’itexclaimed. ‘Youknowwhattobeautifyis,Isuppose?’
‘Yes,’saidAlicedoubtfully: ‘itmeans—to—make—anything—prettier.’
‘Well,then,’theGryphonwenton,‘ifyoudon’tknowwhattouglifyis,youareasimpleton.’
Alicedidnotfeelencouragedtoaskanymorequestionsaboutit,sosheturnedtotheMockTurtle,andsaid ‘Whatelsehadyoutolearn?’
‘Well,therewasMystery,’theMockTurtlereplied,countingoffthesubjectsonhisflappers,‘—Mystery,ancientandmodern,withSeaography: thenDrawling—theDrawling-masterwasanoldconger-eel,thatusedtocomeonceaweek: hetaughtusDrawling,Stretching,andFaintinginCoils.’
‘Whatwasthatlike? ’saidAlice.
‘Well,Ican’tshowityoumyself,’theMockTurtlesaid: ‘I’mtoostiff. AndtheGryphonneverlearntit.’
