had discovered the truth of this astounding information, and there were a
thousand other questions for whose answers we were obliged to wait, but
not forever.

The doctor and I talked freely to each other now, and playfully said a
great many things to Mona, who, though she did not understand them,
laughed with us and gave us much pleasure with her easy, unembarrassed
manner and piquant ways. And she not only jabbered away with hands and
face in the manner we had taught her, but she did not cease also to make
life bright for us by repaying us in our own coin and talking to us in her
natural, delicious way. With such music in the house life could not be
dull.

My infatuation increased as the days went by, and I began to seek every
possible occasion to be alone with Mona. I often encouraged the doctor to
go out and learn what he could of our surroundings, excusing myself from
bearing him company on the ground that I did not think it safe to leave
Mona alone. Or if Mona wanted to go out I would suggest to the doctor that
I needed the exercise also, and that he really ought to be writing down
our experiences while he had leisure, as there was no telling how soon the
moon would land us somewhere.

I did not then know whether the doctor saw through my designs or not. I
thought not, for I did not suppose he was ever so deeply in love as I was.
But if he did he was good enough to take my little hints and say nothing.

On these occasions, whether Mona and I remained in the house or walked
abroad, I wasted no time in asking her more questions about the moon or
such trivial matters, but spent all my efforts in trying to establish
closer personal relations between us. While she was exceedingly pleasant