The caterpillar unconscious of what will ensue keeps feeding on, until it changes into a chrysalis; while in that torpid state, the eggs of the ichneumon are hatched, and the interior of the body of the caterpillar serves as food for the caterpillars of the ichneumon fly.

Not because she meant toquite unconscious that she was doing any harm ("and of course she isn't, except to a cat like me")that was the maddening, and at the same time, endearing thing about her.