Превращение
II
Onceduringthatlongevening,thedoorononesideoftheroomwasopenedveryslightlyandhurriedlyclosedagain;lateronthedoorontheothersidedidthesame;itseemedthatsomeoneneededtoentertheroombutthoughtbetterofit.Gregorwentandwaitedimmediatelybythedoor,resolvedeithertobringthetimorousvisitorintotheroominsomewayoratleasttofindoutwhoitwas;butthedoorwasopenednomorethatnightandGregorwaitedinvain.Thepreviousmorningwhilethedoorswerelockedeveryonehadwantedtogetintheretohim,butnow,nowthathehadopeneduponeofthedoorsandtheotherhadclearlybeenunlockedsometimeduringtheday,no-onecame,andthekeyswereintheothersides.
Itwasnotuntillateatnightthatthegaslightinthelivingroomwasputout,andnowitwaseasytoseethathisparentsandsisterhadstayedawakeallthattime,astheyallcouldbedistinctlyheardastheywentawaytogetherontip-toe.Itwasclearthatno-onewouldcomeintoGregor’sroomanymoreuntilmorning;thatgavehimplentyoftimetothinkundisturbedabouthowhewouldhavetore-arrangehislife.Forsomereason,thetall,emptyroomwherehewasforcedtoremainmadehimfeeluneasyashelaythereflatonthefloor,eventhoughhehadbeenlivinginitforfiveyears.Hardlyawareofwhathewasdoingotherthanaslightfeelingofshame,hehurriedunderthecouch.Itpresseddownonhisbackalittle,andhewasnolongerabletolifthishead,buthenonethelessfeltimmediatelyateaseandhisonlyregretwasthathisbodywastoobroadtogetitallunderneath.
