Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno Concluded.djvu/369

XXI] "Ignorance of Axioms," the Lecturer continued, "is a great drawback in life. It wastes so much time to have to say them over and over again. For instance, take the Axiom Nothing is greater than itself'; that is, Nothing can contain itself.' How often you hear people say 'He was so excited, he was quite unable to contain himself.' Why, of course he was unable! The excitement had nothing to do with it!"

"I say, look here, you know!" said the Emperor, who was getting a little restless. "How many Axioms are you going to give us? At this rate, we sha'n't get to the Experiments till to-morrow-week!"

"Oh, sooner than that, I assure you!" the Professor replied, looking up in alarm. "There are only," (he referred to his notes again) "only two more, that are really necessary."

"Read 'em out, and get on to the Specimens," grumbled the Emperor.

"The First Axiom," the Professor read out in a great hurry, "consists of these words, Whatever is, is. And the Second consists of these words, Whatever isn't, isn't. We will