Превращение

           Hespentthewholenightthere.Someofthetimehepassedinalightsleep,althoughhefrequentlywokefromitinalarmbecauseofhishunger,andsomeofthetimewasspentinworriesandvaguehopeswhich,however,alwaysledtothesameconclusion:forthetimebeinghemustremaincalm,hemustshowpatienceandthegreatestconsiderationsothathisfamilycouldbeartheunpleasantnessthathe,inhispresentcondition,wasforcedtoimposeonthem.

           Gregorsoonhadtheopportunitytotestthestrengthofhisdecisions,asearlythenextmorning,almostbeforethenighthadended,hissister,nearlyfullydressed,openedthedoorfromthefrontroomandlookedanxiouslyin.Shedidnotseehimstraightaway,butwhenshedidnoticehimunderthecouch—hehadtobesomewhere,forGod’ssake,hecouldn’thaveflownaway—shewassoshockedthatshelostcontrolofherselfandslammedthedoorshutagainfromoutside.Butsheseemedtoregretherbehaviour,assheopenedthedooragainstraightawayandcameinontip-toeasifenteringtheroomofsomeoneseriouslyillorevenofastranger.Gregorhadpushedhisheadforward,righttotheedgeofthecouch,andwatchedher.Wouldshenoticethathehadleftthemilkasitwas,realisethatitwasnotfromanylackofhungerandbringhiminsomeotherfoodthatwasmoresuitable?Ifshedidn’tdoitherselfhewouldrathergohungrythandrawherattentiontoit,althoughhedidfeelaterribleurgetorushforwardfromunderthecouch,throwhimselfathissister’sfeetandbegherforsomethinggoodtoeat.