The father groped his way tottering to his chair and let himself
fall in it. It looked as if he was stretching out for his usual
evening snooze, but the heavy nodding of his head, which looked as
if it was without support, showed that he was not sleeping at all.
Gregor had lain motionless the entire time in the spot where the
lodgers had caught him. Disappointment with the collapse of his
plan and perhaps also weakness brought on by his severe hunger made
it impossible for him to move. He was certainly afraid that a
general disaster would break over him at any moment, and he waited.
He was not even startled when the violin fell from the mother's
lap, out from under her trembling fingers, and gave off a
reverberating tone.
"My dear parents," said the sister banging her hand on t
