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           Thenhelookedupatherandsaid,"WhataboutthesuspicionsyouhadearlieraboutMissBürstner,haveyougiventhemup?""Mr.K.,"calledMrs.Grubach,whohadbeenwaitingforthisveryquestion,assheputherhandstogetherandheldthemouttowardshim."Ijustmadeachanceremarkandyoutookitsobadly.Ididn’thavetheslightestintentionofoffendinganyone,notyouoranyoneelse.You’veknownmeforlongenough,Mr.K.,I’msureyou’reconvincedofthat.Youdon’tknowhowI’vebeensufferingforthepastfewdays!ThatIshouldtellliesaboutmytenants!Andyou,Mr.K.,youbelievedit!AndsaidIshouldgiveyounotice!Giveyounotice!"Atthislastoutcry,Mrs.Grubachwasalreadychokingbackhertears,sheraisedheraprontoherfaceandblubberedoutloud.

           "Oh,don’tcryMrs.Grubach,"saidK.,lookingoutthewindow,hewasthinkingonlyofMissBürstnerandhowshewasacceptinganunknowngirlintoherroom."Nowdon’tcry,"hesaidagainasheturnedhislookbackintotheroomwhereMrs.Grubachwasstillcrying."ImeantnoharmeitherwhenIsaidthat.Itwassimplyamisunderstandingbetweenus.Thatcanhappenevenbetweenoldfriendssometimes."Mrs.GrubachpulledheraprondowntobelowhereyestoseewhetherK.reallywasattemptingareconciliation."Well,yes,that’showitis,"saidK.,andasMrs.