Read "Buddenbrooks" by Thomas Mann online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
Tony, coming back from a walk some days later, met Herr Grünlich at the corner of Meng Street. "I was most grieved to have missed you, Fräulein," he said. "I took the liberty of paying my respects to your Mother the other day, and I regretted your absence more than I can say. How delightful that I should meet you like this!"
Fräulein Buddenbrook had paused as he began to speak; but her half-shut eyes looked no further up than the height of Herr Grünlich's chest. On her lips rested the mocking, merciless smile with which a young girl measures and rejects a man. Her lips moved -- what should she say? It must be something that would demolish this Herr Bendix Grünlich once and for all -- simply annihilate him. It must be clever, witty, and effective, must at one and the same time wound him to the quick and impress him tremendously.