Chapter 5 - 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!'