Page 92 - the-trial

But K. kept her in uncertainty, took the spoon and pen-
sively stirred his coffee while he remained silent. Then he
looked up at her and said, “What about the suspicions you
had earlier about Miss Burstner, have you given them up?”
“Mr. K.,” called Mrs. Grubach, who had been waiting for
this very question, as she put her hands together and held
them out towards him. “I just made a chance remark and
you took it so badly. I didn’t have the slightest intention of
offending anyone, not you or anyone else. You’ve known me
for long enough, Mr. K., I’m sure you’re convinced of that.
You don’t know how I’ve been suffering for the past few
days! That I should tell lies about my tenants! And you, Mr.
K., you believed it! And said I should give you notice! Give
you notice!” At this last outcry, Mrs. Grubach was already
choking back her tears, she raised her apron to her face and
blubbered out loud.
“Oh, don’t cry Mrs. Grubach,” said K., looking out the
window, he was thinking only of Miss Burstner and how
she was accepting an unknown girl into her room. “Now
don’t cry,” he said again as he turned his look back into
the room where Mrs. Grubach was still crying. “I meant
no harm either when I said that. It was simply a misunder-
standing between us. That can happen even between old
friends sometimes.” Mrs. Grubach pulled her apron down
to below her eyes to see whether K. really was attempting
a reconciliation. “Well, yes, that’s how it is,” said K., and
as Mrs. Grubach’s behaviour indicated that the captain had
said nothing he dared to add, “Do you really think, then,
that I’d want to make an enemy of you for the sake of a girl

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