They were obliged to have him with them, the Mock Turtle said: no
wise fish would go anywhere without a porpoise.
Wouldn t it really? said Alice in a tone of great surprise.
Of course not, said the Mock Turtle: why, if a fish came to _me_,
and told me he was going a journey, I should say With what porpoise?
Don t you mean purpose ? said Alice.
I mean what I say, the Mock Turtle replied in an offended tone. And
the Gryphon added Come, let s hear some of _your_ adventures.
I could tell you my adventures beginning from this morning, said
Alice a little timidly: but it s no use going back to yesterday,
because I was a different person then.
Explain all that, said the Mock Turtle.
No, no! The adventures first, said the Gryphon in an impatient tone:
explanations take such a dreadful time.
So Alice began telling them her adventures from the time when she first
saw the White Rabbit. She was a little nervous about it just at first,
the two creatures got so close to her, one on each side, and opened
their eyes and mouths so _very_ wide, but she gained courage as she
went on. Her listeners were perfectly quiet till she got to the part
about her repeating _You are old, Father William_, to the
Caterpillar, and the words all coming different, and then the Mock
Turtle drew a long breath, and said That s very curious.
It s all about as curious as it can be, said the Gryphon.
It all came different! the Mock Turtle repeated thoughtfully. I
should like to hear her try and repeat something now. Tell her to
begin. He looked at the Gryphon as if he thought it had some kind of
authority over Alice.
Stand up and repeat _Tis the voice of the sluggard_, said the
68