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Miss Bürstner’s Friend
ThenMissMontag,herheadunusuallyerectasalways,said,"I’mnotsurewhetheryouknowme."K.lookedatherwithafrown."OfcourseIdo,"hesaid,"you’vebeenlivingherewithMrs.Grubachforquitesometimenow.""ButIgettheimpressionyoudon’tpaymuchattentiontowhat’sgoingoninthelodginghouse,"saidMissMontag."No,"saidK."Wouldyounotliketositdown?"saidMissMontag.Insilence,thetwoofthemdrewchairsoutfromthefarthestendofthetableandsatdownfacingeachother.ButMissMontagstoodstraightupagainasshehadleftherhandbagonthewindowsillandwenttofetchit;sheshuffleddownthewholelengthoftheroom.Whenshecameback,thehandbaglightlyswinging,shesaid,"I’dlikejusttohaveafewwordswithyouonbehalfofmyfriend.Shewouldhavecomeherself,butshe’sfeelingalittleunwelltoday.Perhapsyou’llbekindenoughtoforgiveherandlistentomeinstead.There’sanywaynothingthatshecouldhavesaidthatIwon’t.Onthecontrary,infact,IthinkIcansayevenmorethanherbecauseI’mrelativelyimpartial.Wouldyounotagree?""Whatistheretosay,then?"answeredK.,whowastiredofMissMontagcontinuouslywatchinghislips.Inthatwayshetookcontrolofwhathewantedtosaybeforehesaidit."MissBürstnerclearlyrefusestograntmethepersonalmeetingthatIaskedherfor.""That’showitis,"saidMissMontag,"orrather,that’snotatallhowitis,thewayyouputitisremarkablysevere.Generallyspeaking,meetingsareneithergrantednortheopposite.