`` Because my brothers and sisters have all split , and turned into beautiful creatures with wings ; and I want to split too . Do n't speak to me . I am sure I shall split . I will split ! '' Tom stood still , and watched him . And he swelled himself , and puffed , and stretched himself out stiff , and at last -- crack , puff , bang -- he opened all down his back , and then up to the top of his head . And out of his inside came the most slender , elegant , soft creature , as soft and smooth as Tom : but very pale and weak , like a little child who has been ill a long time in a dark room . It moved its legs very feebly ; and looked about it half ashamed , like a girl when she goes for the first time into a ballroom ; and then it began walking slowly up a grass stem to the top of the water . Tom was so astonished that he never said a word but he stared with all his eyes . And he went up to the top of the water too , and peeped out to see what would happen . And as the creature sat in the warm bright sun , a wonderful change came over it . It grew strong and firm ; the most lovely colours began to show on its body , blue and yellow and black , spots and bars and rings ; out of its back rose four great wings of bright brown gauze ; and its eyes grew so large that they filled all its head , and shone like ten thousand diamonds . `` Oh , you beautiful creature ! '' said Tom ; and he put out his hand to catch it . But the thing whirred up into the air , and hung poised on its wings a moment , and then settled down again by Tom quite fearless . `` No ! '' it said , `` you can not catch me . I am a dragon-fly now , the king of all the flies ; and I shall dance in the sunshine , and hawk over the river , and catch gnats , and have a beautiful wife like myself . I know what I shall do . Hurrah ! ''
And he flew away XXXXX the air , and began catching gnats .
Because about as at for in into like over with