8 July: There is a method in his madness. The rough idea in my mind is growing. It will be a whole idea soon. Then, unconscious thoughts, you will have to give up your place to your conscious brothers. I kept away from my friend for a few days because I wanted to notice if there were any changes. However, things remain as they were except that he has parted with some of his pets and got a new one.

He has managed to get a sparrow, and has already partially tamed it. His means of taming is simple, for already there are fewer spiders. Those that do remain, however, are well fed, for he still brings in the flies by tempting them with his food.

19 July: We are progressing. My friend has now a little flock of sparrows, and his flies and spiders have almost vanished. When I came in he ran to me and said he wanted to ask me a great favour, a very, very great favour. And as he spoke, he fawned on me like a dog. I asked him what it was, and he said, with a sort of rapture in his voice and manner, "A kitten, a nice, little, sleek playful kitten, that I can play with, and teach, and feed, and feed, and feed!"

Vocabulary:

Method in madness: A strange but effective way of doing something
Unconscious: Thought that happens without you knowing
Sparrow: A small brown bird
Fawn: Show embarrassing devotion
Rapture: Taken away by happiness
Sleek: Fat and smooth