“It seemed long and yet brief⁠—a matter of days before I was positively talking with these insects of the moon. Of course, at first it was an intercourse infinitely tedious and exasperating, but imperceptibly it has grown to comprehension. And my patience has grown to meet its limitations. Phi-oo it is who does all the talking. He does it with a vast amount of meditative provisional ‘M’m⁠—M’m,’ and he has caught up one or two phrases, ‘If I may say,’ ‘If you understand,’ and beads all his speech with them.

“Thus he would discourse. Imagine him explaining his artist.

“ ‘M’m⁠—M’m⁠—he⁠—if I may say⁠—draw. Eat little⁠—drink little⁠—draw. Love draw. No other thing. Hate all who not draw like him. Angry. Hate all who draw like him better. Hate most people. Hate all who not think all world for to draw. Angry. M’m. All things mean nothing to him⁠—only draw. He like you⁠ ⁠… if you understand.⁠ ⁠… New thing to draw. Ugly⁠—striking. Eh?