The question is, said Alice, whether you _can_ make words mean so
many different things.
The question is, said Humpty Dumpty, which is to be master that s
all.
Alice was too much puzzled to say anything, so after a minute Humpty
Dumpty began again. They ve a temper, some of them particularly verbs,
they re the proudest adjectives you can do anything with, but not
verbs however, _I_ can manage the whole lot of them! Impenetrability!
That s what _I_ say!
Would you tell me, please, said Alice what that means?
Now you talk like a reasonable child, said Humpty Dumpty, looking
very much pleased. I meant by impenetrability that we ve had enough
of that subject, and it would be just as well if you d mention what you
mean to do next, as I suppose you don t mean to stop here all the rest
of your life.
That s a great deal to make one word mean, Alice said in a thoughtful
tone.
When I make a word do a lot of work like that, said Humpty Dumpty, I
always pay it extra.
Oh! said Alice. She was too much puzzled to make any other remark.
Ah, you should see em come round me of a Saturday night, Humpty
Dumpty went on, wagging his head gravely from side to side: for to get
their wages, you know.
(Alice didn t venture to ask what he paid them with; and so you see I
can t tell _you_.)
You seem very clever at explaining words, Sir, said Alice. Would you
kindly tell me the meaning of the poem called Jabberwocky ?
Let s hear it, said Humpty Dumpty. I can explain all the poems that
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