Metamorphosis | Page 5

but stayed home
every evening. He sits with us in the kitchen and just reads the paper or
studies train timetables. His idea of relaxation is working with his
fretsaw. He's made a little frame, for instance, it only took him two or
three evenings, you'll be amazed how nice it is; it's hanging up in his
room; you'll see it as soon as Gregor opens the door. Anyway, I'm glad
you're here; we wouldn't have been able to get Gregor to open the door
by ourselves; he's so stubborn; and I'm sure he isn't well, he said this
morning that he is, but he isn't."
"I'll be there in a moment", said Gregor slowly and thoughtfully, but
without moving so that he would not miss any word of the conversation.
"Well I can't think of any other way of explaining it, Mrs. Samsa", said
the chief clerk, "I hope it's nothing serious. But on the other hand, I
must say that if we people in commerce ever become slightly unwell
then, fortunately or unfortunately as you like, we simply have to
overcome it because of business considerations." "Can the chief clerk
come in to see you now then?", asked his father impatiently, knocking
at the door again. "No", said Gregor. In the room on his right there
followed a painful silence; in the room on his left his sister began to
cry.
So why did his sister not go and join the others? She had probably only
just got up and had not even begun to get dressed. And why was she

crying? Was it because he had not got up, and had not let the chief
clerk in, because he was in danger of losing his job and if that happened
his boss would once more pursue their parents with the same demands
as before? There was no need to worry about things like that yet.
Gregor was still there and had not the slightest intention of abandoning
his family. For the time being he just lay there on the carpet, and
no-one who knew the condition he was in would seriously have
expected him to let the chief clerk in. It was only a minor discourtesy,
and a suitable excuse could easily be found for it later on, it was not
something for which Gregor could be sacked on the spot. And it
seemed to Gregor much more sensible to leave him now in peace
instead of disturbing him with talking at him and crying. But the others
didn't know what was happening, they were worried, that would excuse
their behaviour. The chief clerk now raised his voice, "Mr. Samsa", he
called to him, "what is wrong? You barricade yourself in your room,
give us no more than yes or no for an answer, you are causing serious
and unnecessary concern to your parents and you fail - and I mention
this just by the way - you fail to carry out your business duties in a way
that is quite unheard of. I'm speaking here on behalf of your parents and
of your employer, and really must request a clear and immediate
explanation. I am astonished, quite astonished. I thought I knew you as
a calm and sensible person, and now you suddenly seem to be showing
off with peculiar whims. This morning, your employer did suggest a
possible reason for your failure to appear, it's true - it had to do with the
money that was recently entrusted to you - but I came near to giving
him my word of honour that that could not be the right explanation. But
now that I see your incomprehensible stubbornness I no longer feel any
wish whatsoever to intercede on your behalf. And nor is your position
all that secure. I had originally intended to say all this to you in private,
but since you cause me to waste my time here for no good reason I
don't see why your parents should not also learn of it. Your turnover
has been very unsatisfactory of late; I grant you that it's not the time of
year to do especially good business, we recognise that; but there simply
is no time of year to do no business at all, Mr. Samsa, we cannot allow
there to be."
"But Sir", called Gregor, beside himself and forgetting all else in the

excitement, "I'll open up immediately, just a moment. I'm slightly
unwell, an attack of dizziness, I haven't been able to get up. I'm still in
bed now. I'm quite fresh again now, though. I'm just getting out of bed.
Just a moment. Be patient! It's not quite as easy as I'd thought. I'm quite
alright now, though. It's shocking, what can suddenly happen to a
person! I was quite alright last