`` It is wrong from beginning to end , '' said the caterpillar decidedly , and there was silence for some minutes : the caterpillar was the first to speak . `` What size do you want to be ? '' it asked . `` Oh , I 'm not particular as to size , '' Alice hastily replied , `` only one does n't like changing so often , you know . '' `` Are you content now ? '' said the caterpillar . `` Well , I should like to be a little larger , sir , if you would n't mind , '' said Alice , `` three inches is such a wretched height to be . '' `` It is a very good height indeed ! '' said the caterpillar loudly and angrily , rearing itself straight up as it spoke -LRB- it was exactly three inches high -RRB- . `` But I 'm not used to it ! '' pleaded poor Alice in a piteous tone , and she thought to herself `` I wish the creatures would n't be so easily offended ! '' `` You 'll get used to it in time , '' said the caterpillar , and it put the hookah into its mouth , and began smoking again . This time Alice waited quietly until it chose to speak again : in a few minutes the caterpillar took the hookah out of its mouth , and got down off the mushroom , and crawled away into the grass , merely remarking as it went ; `` the top will make you grow taller , and the stalk will make you grow shorter . '' `` The top of what ? the stalk of what ? '' thought Alice . `` Of the mushroom , '' said the caterpillar , just as if she had asked it aloud , and in another moment was out of sight . Alice remained looking thoughtfully at the mushroom for a minute , and then picked it and carefully broke it in two , taking the stalk in one hand , and the top in the other . -LSB- Illustration -RSB- `` Which does the stalk do ? '' she said , and nibbled a little bit of it to try ; the next moment she felt a violent blow on her chin : it had struck her foot !
She was a good deal frightened by this very sudden change , but as she did not shrink any further , and had not dropped the XXXXX of the mushroom , she did not give up hope yet .
blow creatures grass height inches moment mouth sir tone top