Alice asks about the daily hours spent on lessons, showing her curiosity and desire to change the subject. The Mock Turtle responds that he studied ten hours the first day, then nine the next, implying a decreasing pattern in study time. Alice finds this schedule unusual, indicating her surprise at such a routine.
Gryphon explains the origin of the word "lessons," humorously noting that they "lessen" or decrease each day. This playful reasoning reflects the whimsical and fantastical tone of the story, highlighting Carroll's use of wordplay and clever language to entertain and amuse his readers.