There were two loves in Mr. Hoppy's life. One was the flowers he grew on his balcony. They grew in pots and tubs and baskets, and in summer the little balcony became a riot of colour. Mr. Hoppy's second love was a secret he kept entirely to himself.
This quote introduces the essence of who Mr. Hoppy is. He loves his garden, and has an important secret that is a large part of his life. He is in love with his neighbor, Mrs. Silver. He cannot confess his love for her because he is so painfully shy, and because he feels her love is fully taken by her tortoise Alfie. Mr. Hoppy is jealous of this tortoise, who gets the love he wants for himself.
ESIO TROT, ESIO TROT,
TEG REGGIB REGGIB,
EMOC NO, ESIO TROT,
WORG PU, FFUP PU, TOOHS PU,
GNIRPS PU, WOLB PU, LLEWS PU!
EGROG! ELZZUG! FFUTS! PLUG,
TUP NO TAF, ESIO TROT, TUP NO TAF,
TEG NO, TEG NO, ELBBOG DOOF.
This quote, which gives the story its name, is written on a note that Mr. Hoppy passes to Mrs. Silver. He claims it is tortoise language, and it is the key to helping Alfie grow faster. Esio trot is the reverse of tortoise, and the entire quote is in reverse. If flipped, it reads "Tortoise, tortoise, get bigger bigger! Come on, tortoise, grow up, puff up, shoot up! Spring up, blow up, swell up! Gorge! Guzzle! Stuff! Gulp! Put on fat, tortoise, put on fat! Get on, get on, gobble food!" This chant is something that Mr. Hoppy made up as part of his plan to trick Mrs. Silver into being grateful to him. She repeats the chant multiple times throughout the story.
The greatest moment of my life is coming up now! I mustn't bish it. I mustn't bosh it! I must keep very calm!
This is what Mr. Hoppy says as he excitedly runs down to Mrs. Silver's apartment. He is so happy that his plan is actually working, and moments later he will propose to Mrs. Silver. After this, Mr. Hoppy gets rid of all the tortoises he bought, knowing his plan was complete, and they get married and live happily ever after.
It has taken him all that time to grow to twice the size he was when Mrs. Silver had him. But he made it in the end.
This quote wraps up the message of the story. It is saying that Alfie, the original tortoise, grew very slowly. But with a family who loved and cared for him, and a good deal of patience, he did eventually grow like Mrs. Silver had wanted.
