You re wrong about the crumbs, said the Mock Turtle: crumbs would
all wash off in the sea. But they _have_ their tails in their mouths;
and the reason is here the Mock Turtle yawned and shut his
eyes. Tell her about the reason and all that, he said to the Gryphon.
The reason is, said the Gryphon, that they _would_ go with the
lobsters to the dance. So they got thrown out to sea. So they had to
fall a long way. So they got their tails fast in their mouths. So they
couldn t get them out again. That s all.
Thank you, said Alice, it s very interesting. I never knew so much
about a whiting before.
I can tell you more than that, if you like, said the Gryphon. Do you
know why it s called a whiting?
I never thought about it, said Alice. Why?
_It does the boots and shoes_, the Gryphon replied very solemnly.
Alice was thoroughly puzzled. Does the boots and shoes! she repeated
in a wondering tone.
Why, what are _your_ shoes done with? said the Gryphon. I mean, what
makes them so shiny?
Alice looked down at them, and considered a little before she gave her
answer. They re done with blacking, I believe.
Boots and shoes under the sea, the Gryphon went on in a deep voice,
are done with a whiting. Now you know.
And what are they made of? Alice asked in a tone of great curiosity.
Soles and eels, of course, the Gryphon replied rather impatiently:
any shrimp could have told you that.
If I d been the whiting, said Alice, whose thoughts were still
running on the song, I d have said to the porpoise, Keep back,
please: we don t want _you_ with us!
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