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"When we were little," the Mock Turtle went on at last, more

calmly, though still sobbing a little now and then, "we went to

school in the sea. The master was an old Turtle-we used to call

him Tortoise-"

"Why did you call him Tortoise, if he wasn't one?" Alice asked.

"We called him Tortoise because he taught us," said the Mock

Turtle angrily: "really you are very dull!"

"You ought to be ashamed of yourself for asking such a simple

question," added the Gryphon; and then they both sat silent and

looked at poor Alice, who felt ready to sink into the earth. At

last the Gryphon said to the Mock Turtle, "Drive on, old fellow!

Don't be all day about it!" and he went on in these words:

"Yes, we went to school in the sea, though you mayn't believe

it-"

"I never said I didn't!" interrupted Alice.

"You did," said the Mock Turtle.

"Hold your tongue!" added the Gryphon, before Alice could speak

again. The Mock Turtle went on.

"We had the best of educations-in fact, we went to school every

day-"