The Life of the Caterpillar 



son. "Leave your cage and come with me. 

 We shall see something interesting." 



We run downstairs to go to my study, 

 which occupies the right wing of the house. 

 In the kitchen I find the servant, who is also 

 bewildered by what is happening and stands 

 flicking her apron at great Moths whom she 

 took at first for Bats. 



The Great Peacock, it would seem, has 

 taken possession of pretty well every part of 

 the house. What will it be around my prisoner, 

 the cause of this incursion? Luckily, one of 

 the two windows of the study had been left 

 open. The approach is not blocked. 



We enter the room, candle in hand. What 

 we see is unforgetable. With a soft flick- 

 flack the great Moths fly around the bell- 

 jar, alight, set off again, come back, fly up to 

 the ceiling and down. They rush at the 

 candle, putting it out with a stroke of their 

 wings; they descend on our shoulders, cling 

 ing to our clothes, grazing our faces. The 

 scene suggests a wizard's cave, with its whirl 

 of Bats. Little Paul holds my hand tighter 

 than usual, to keep up his courage. 



How many of them are there? About a 

 score Add to these the number that have 

 248 



