He was an old crab , HE was . ' ' I never went to him , ' the Mock Turtle said with a sigh : ` he taught Laughing and Grief , they used to say . ' ` So he did , so he did , ' said the Gryphon , sighing in his turn ; and both creatures hid their faces in their paws . ` And how many hours a day did you do lessons ? ' said Alice , in a hurry to change the subject . ` Ten hours the first day , ' said the Mock Turtle : ` nine the next , and so on . ' ` What a curious plan ! ' exclaimed Alice . ` That 's the reason they 're called lessons , ' the Gryphon remarked : ` because they lessen from day to day . ' This was quite a new idea to Alice , and she thought it over a little before she made her next remark . ` Then the eleventh day must have been a holiday ? ' ` Of course it was , ' said the Mock Turtle . ` And how did you manage on the twelfth ? ' Alice went on eagerly . ` That 's enough about lessons , ' the Gryphon interrupted in a very decided tone : ` tell her something about the games now . ' CHAPTER X . The Lobster Quadrille The Mock Turtle sighed deeply , and drew the back of one flapper across his eyes . He looked at Alice , and tried to speak , but for a minute or two sobs choked his voice . ` Same as if he had a bone in his throat , ' said the Gryphon : and it set to work shaking him and punching him in the back . At last the Mock Turtle recovered his voice , and , with tears running down his cheeks , he went on again : -- ` You may not have lived much under the sea -- ' -LRB- ' I have n't , ' said Alice -RRB- -- ` and perhaps you were never even introduced to a lobster -- ' -LRB- Alice began to say ' I once tasted -- ' but checked herself hastily , and said ` No , never ' -RRB- ' -- so you can have no idea what a delightful thing a Lobster Quadrille is ! '
` No , indeed , ' said XXXXX .
Alice Gryphon Turtle choked crab day minute paws something twelfth