The Dormouse slowly opened his eyes . ' I was n't asleep , ' he said in a hoarse , feeble voice : ' I heard every word you fellows were saying . ' ` Tell us a story ! ' said the March Hare . ` Yes , please do ! ' pleaded Alice . ` And be quick about it , ' added the Hatter , ` or you 'll be asleep again before it 's done . ' ` Once upon a time there were three little sisters , ' the Dormouse began in a great hurry ; ` and their names were Elsie , Lacie , and Tillie ; and they lived at the bottom of a well -- ' ` What did they live on ? ' said Alice , who always took a great interest in questions of eating and drinking . ` They lived on treacle , ' said the Dormouse , after thinking a minute or two . ` They could n't have done that , you know , ' Alice gently remarked ; ` they 'd have been ill . ' ` So they were , ' said the Dormouse ; ` VERY ill . ' Alice tried to fancy to herself what such an extraordinary ways of living would be like , but it puzzled her too much , so she went on : ` But why did they live at the bottom of a well ? ' ` Take some more tea , ' the March Hare said to Alice , very earnestly . ` I 've had nothing yet , ' Alice replied in an offended tone , ` so I ca n't take more . ' ` You mean you ca n't take LESS , ' said the Hatter : ` it 's very easy to take MORE than nothing . ' ` Nobody asked YOUR opinion , ' said Alice . ` Who 's making personal remarks now ? ' the Hatter asked triumphantly . Alice did not quite know what to say to this : so she helped herself to some tea and bread-and-butter , and then turned to the Dormouse , and repeated her question .
` Why did they live at the bottom XXXXX a well ? '
about after at in like of on that to upon