Превращение

           Itwastohissatisfaction,andGregor’smotherandsister,whohadbeenlookingonanxiously,begantobreatheagainandsmiled.

           Thefamilythemselvesateinthekitchen.Nonetheless,Gregor’sfathercameintothelivingroombeforehewentintothekitchen,bowedoncewithhiscapinhishandanddidhisroundofthetable.Thegentlemenstoodasone,andmumbledsomethingintotheirbeards.Then,oncetheywerealone,theyateinnearperfectsilence.ItseemedremarkabletoGregorthataboveallthevariousnoisesofeatingtheirchewingteethcouldstillbeheard,asiftheyhadwantedtoshowGregorthatyouneedteethinordertoeatanditwasnotpossibletoperformanythingwithjawsthataretoothlesshowevernicetheymightbe.“I’dliketoeatsomething”,saidGregoranxiously,“butnotanythinglikethey’reeating.Theydofeedthemselves.AndhereIam,dying!”

           Throughoutallthistime,Gregorcouldnotrememberhavingheardtheviolinbeingplayed,butthiseveningitbegantobeheardfromthekitchen.Thethreegentlemenhadalreadyfinishedtheirmeal,theoneinthemiddlehadproducedanewspaper,givenapagetoeachoftheothers,andnowtheyleantbackintheirchairsreadingthemandsmoking.Whentheviolinbeganplayingtheybecameattentive,stoodupandwentontip-toeovertothedoorofthehallwaywheretheystoodpressedagainsteachother.Someonemusthaveheardtheminthekitchen,asGregor’sfathercalledout:“Istheplayingperhapsunpleasantforthegentlemen?Wecanstopitstraightaway.