The Castle

K. works outside in the snow while Frieda attends to the schoolmistress’s cat. K. ponders on the romantic relationship between Gisa, the schoolmistress, and Schwarzer, the steward’s son who first addressed K. in the inn and called the Castle for permission to let him stay on the first night. This leads K. to reflect on whether Schwarzer’s early intervention in K.’s affairs was more or less beneficial in the long run. K. decides Schwarzer owes him a favor, which he may have to call in if Barnabas does not produce results. This inspires K. to visit Barnabas at his home, since he has not yet received a reply from the Castle via the messenger. K. runs to Barnabas’s house, where his parents lie sick, and talks to the enigmatic sister Amalia about wanting to see Barnabas. Amalia claims he has come to see Olga, who is in love with him, and that they know nothing of Frieda being his fiancée. K. protests that he is indeed engaged, but Amalia says he can visit them any time, whether to see Barnabas or not. Olga enters and shows that she does know about Frieda.