“But don’t say all right any more,” Tip went on, ignoring him. “You change the meaning entirely.”

Then, with another surge of animation, Tip began to fish in his jacket pocket with little hand-like paws. “Tip hungry⁠—Tip hungry.”

Lake unbuttoned the pocket and gave Tip a herb leaf. “I notice there’s no nonsensical chatter when you want to ask for something to eat.”

Tip took the herb leaf but he spoke again before he began to eat; slowly, as though trying seriously to express a thought:

“Tip hungry⁠—no nonsensical.”

“Sometimes,” he said, turning his head to look at Tip, “you mockers give me the peculiar feeling that you’re right on the edge of becoming a new and intelligent race and no fooling.”

Tip wiggled his whiskers and bit into the herb leaf. “No fooling,” he agreed.