And what are they made of? GRYPHON Soles and eels, of course; any shrimp could have told you that. ALICE If I'd been the whiting, I'd have said to the porpoise, "Keep back, please; we don't want _you_ with us." MOCK TURTLE They were obliged to have him with them, no wise fish would go anywhere without a porpoise. ALICE Wouldn't it really? MOCK TURTLE Of course not; why if a fish came to me and told me he was going a journey, I should say, "With what porpoise?" ALICE Don't you mean purpose? MOCK TURTLE I mean what I say. [Illustration] GRYPHON Shall we try another figure of the Lobster Quadrille? Or would you like the Mock Turtle to sing you a song? ALICE Oh, a song please, if the Mock Turtle would be so kind. GRYPHON Um! No accounting for tastes! Sing her "Turtle Soup," will you, old fellow? MOCK TURTLE [_Sighs deeply and sometimes choked with sobs, sings._] "Beautiful Soup, so rich and green, Waiting in a hot tureen! Who for such dainties would not stoop? Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup! Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup! Beau--ootiful Soo--op, Beau--ootiful Soo--oop, Soo--oop of the e-e-evening, Beautiful, beautiful Soup." WHITE RABBIT [_Enters, stretching out a red and white checked sash with which he separates ALICE from the creatures._] Check! MOCK TURTLE They won't let her stay in our square. WHITE RABBIT The Queen is coming this way. GRYPHON She'll chop our heads off. Come on, come on, let's fly! [_The MOCK TURTLE and GRYPHON grab ALICE and fly into the air._] CURTAIN [_The Curtain rises to reveal small silhouettes of the GRYPHON, MOCK TURTLE, and ALICE in an orange-colored moon far away in the sky. Down below the WHITE RABBIT is shouting to them, "You'll be safe in the March Hare's garden."_] CURTAIN ACT II SCENE _The March Hare's garden, showing part of the Duchess' house. On a small platform there is a tea table, set with many cups, continuing into wings to give impression of limitless length. THE MARCH HARE, HATTER, and DORMOUSE are crowded at one end. ALICE sits on the ground where she has been dropped from the sky. Finding herself not bruised she rises and approaches the table._ MARCH HARE and HATTER No room! No room! ALICE There's plenty of room! [_She sits in a large armchair at one end of the table._] I don't know who you are. MARCH HARE I am the March Hare, that's the Hatter, and this is the Dormouse. Have some wine? ALICE I don't see any wine. MARCH HARE There isn't any. ALICE Then it wasn't very civil of you to offer it. MARCH HARE It wasn't very civil of you to sit down without being invited. ALICE I didn't know it was _your_ table; it's laid for a great many more than three. HATTER Your hair wants cutting. ALICE You should learn not to make personal remarks; it's very rude. HATTER Why is a raven like a writing-desk? ALICE