Gregor's wish to see his mother was soon realized. While during
the day Gregor, out of consideration for his parents, did not want
to show himself by the window, he couldn't crawl around very much
on the few square metres of the floor. He found it difficult to
bear lying quietly during the night, and soon eating no longer gave
him the slightest pleasure. So for diversion he acquired the habit
of crawling back and forth across the walls and ceiling. He was
especially fond of hanging from the ceiling. The experience was
quite different from lying on the floor. It was easier to breathe,
a slight vibration went through his body, and in the midst of the
almost happy amusement which Gregor found up there, it could happen
that, to his own surprise, he let go and hit the floor. However,
