Алиса в Стране чудес. Алиса в Зазеркалье / Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Through the Looking Glass

She stretched herself up on tiptoe, and peeped over the edge of the mushroom, and her eyes immediately met those of a large caterpillar, that was sitting on the top with its arms folded, quietly smoking a long hookah, and taking not the smallest notice of her or of anything else.

Chapter V

Advice from a Caterpillar

The Caterpillar and Alice looked at each other for some time in silence: at last the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its mouth, and addressed her in a languid, sleepy voice.

�Who are you?’ said the Caterpillar.

This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, �I–I hardly know, sir, just at present – at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.’

�What do you mean by that?’ said the Caterpillar sternly. �Explain yourself!’

�I can’t explain myself, I’m afraid, sir’ said Alice, �because I’m not myself, you see.

�I don’t see,’ said the Caterpillar.

�I’m afraid I can’t put it more clearly,’ Alice replied very politely, �for I can’t understand it myself to begin with; and being so many different sizes in a day is very confusing.’

�It isn’t,’ said the Caterpillar.

�Well, perhaps you haven’t found it so yet,’ said Alice; �but when you have to turn into a chrysalis – you will some day, you know – and then after that into a butterfly, I should think you’ll feel it a little queer, won’t you?’

�Not a bit,’ said the Caterpillar.

�Well, perhaps your feelings may be different,’ said Alice; �all I know is, it would feel very queer to me.’

�You!’ said the Caterpillar contemptuously. �Who are you?’

Which brought them back again to the beginning of the conversation. Alice felt a little irritated at the Caterpillar’s making such very short remarks, and she drew herself up and said, very gravely, �I think you ought to tell me who you are, first.

�Why?’ said the Caterpillar.

Here was another puzzling question; and as Alice could not think of any good reason, and as the Caterpillar seemed to be in a very unpleasant state of mind, she turned away.

�Come back!’ the Caterpillar called after her. �I’ve something important to say!’

This sounded promising, certainly: Alice turned and came back again.