The Mock Turtle's Story

The Duchess walked beside Alice, finding a moral in everything she said.

Then the Queen sent Alice away with the Gryphon to hear the Mock Turtle's story.

Sighing deeply, the Mock Turtle told of the school he had attended beneath the sea, where he learned Reeling and Writhing, and then Ambition, Distraction, Uglification and Derision.

“Why were they called lessons?” asked Alice.

“Because they lessen from day to day,” said the Gryphon. Ten hours the first day, nine the next, and so on.