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THE LOBSTER-QUADRILLE IO5 "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 inter- rupted 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 Gry- phon; 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 — " ("I haven't," said Alice) — "and perhaps you were never even introduced to a lobster — " (Alice began to say "I once tasted " but checked herself hastily, and said "No never") " so you can have no idea what a delightful thing a Lobster-Quadrille is!" "No, indeed," said Alice. "What sort of a dance is it?" "Why," said the Gryphon, "you first form into a line along the sea-shore " "Two lines!" cried the Mock Turtle. "Seals, turtles, salmon, and so on: then, when you've cleared all the jelly- fish out of the way "