Превращение

           SonowGregorwasshutoutfromhismother,who,becauseofhim,mightbeneartodeath;hecouldnotopenthedoorifhedidnotwanttochasehissisteraway,andshehadtostaywithhismother;therewasnothingforhimtodobutwait;and,oppressedwithanxietyandself-reproach,hebegantocrawlabout,hecrawledovereverything,walls,furniture,ceiling,andfinallyinhisconfusionasthewholeroombegantospinaroundhimhefelldownintothemiddleofthedinnertable.

           Helaythereforawhile,numbandimmobile,allaroundhimitwasquiet,maybethatwasagoodsign.Thentherewassomeoneatthedoor.Themaid,ofcourse,hadlockedherselfinherkitchensothatGretewouldhavetogoandanswerit.Hisfatherhadarrivedhome.“What’shappened?”werehisfirstwords;Grete’sappearancemusthavemadeeverythingcleartohim.Sheansweredhimwithsubduedvoice,andopenlypressedherfaceintohischest:“Mother’sfainted,butshe’sbetternow.Gregorgotout.”“JustasIexpected”,saidhisfather,“justasIalwayssaid,butyouwomenwouldn’tlisten,wouldyou.”ItwascleartoGregorthatGretehadnotsaidenoughandthathisfathertookittomeanthatsomethingbadhadhappened,thathewasresponsibleforsomeactofviolence.ThatmeantGregorwouldnowhavetotrytocalmhisfather,ashedidnothavethetimetoexplainthingstohimevenifthathadbeenpossible.