Upon hearing the mother’s words, Gregor realized that in the…

Upon hearing the mother’s words, Gregor realized that in the course of these two months the lack of having anyone to converse with, plus the monotonous life in the midst of the family, must have befuddled his mind, for there was no other way to account for how he could have seriously longed to have his room emptied out.  Did he really want the warm room, so cozily appointed with heirlooms, transformed into a lair, where he might, of course, be able to creep, unimpeded, in any direction, though forgetting his human past and totally?  By now, he was already on the verge of forgetting, and had been brought up sharply only by the mother’s voice after not hearing it for a long time.  Nothing should be removed, everything had to remain: he could not do without the positive effects of the furniture on his state of mind.  And if furniture interfered with his senselessly crawling about, then it was a great asset and no loss.

“I don’t want it.  When you say ‘Good luck has come,’ you me…

“I don’t want it.  When you say ‘Good luck has come,’ you mean you’re going off someplace worthless.  That’s what Hanji said the other day.  ‘You know Okyo the seamstress?’ he said.  ‘Her uncle–the one who gives rub-downs over by the vegetable market–he’s helped her find a new position.  She’s going into service with some rich family.  Or so they say.  But it sounds fishy to me–she’s too old to learn sewing from some housewife.  Somebody’s going to set her up.  I’m sure of it.  She’ll be wearing tasseled coats the next time we see her, la-de-da, and her hair all done up in ringlets, like a kept woman.  You wait.  With a face like hers, you don’t think she’s about to spend her whole life sewing, do you?’ That’s what he said.  I told him he was full of it, and we had a big fight.  But you are going to do it, aren’t you?  You’re going off to be someone’s mistress!” “It’s not that I want to.  I don’t have much choice.  I suppose I won’t be able to see you anymore, Kichizo, will I?”