Франкенштейн

           Agathalistenedwithrespect,hereyessometimesfilledwithtears,whichsheendeavouredtowipeawayunperceived;butIgenerallyfoundthathercountenanceandtoneweremorecheerfulafterhavinglistenedtotheexhortationsofherfather.ItwasnotthuswithFelix.Hewasalwaysthesaddestofthegroup,andeventomyunpractisedsenses,heappearedtohavesufferedmoredeeplythanhisfriends.Butifhiscountenancewasmoresorrowful,hisvoicewasmorecheerfulthanthatofhissister,especiallywhenheaddressedtheoldman.

           "Icouldmentioninnumerableinstanceswhich,althoughslight,markedthedispositionsoftheseamiablecottagers.Inthemidstofpovertyandwant,Felixcarriedwithpleasuretohissisterthefirstlittlewhiteflowerthatpeepedoutfrombeneaththesnowyground.Earlyinthemorning,beforeshehadrisen,heclearedawaythesnowthatobstructedherpathtothemilk-house,drewwaterfromthewell,andbroughtthewoodfromtheouthouse,where,tohisperpetualastonishment,hefoundhisstorealwaysreplenishedbyaninvisiblehand.Intheday,Ibelieve,heworkedsometimesforaneighbouringfarmer,becauseheoftenwentforthanddidnotreturnuntildinner,yetbroughtnowoodwithhim.Atothertimesheworkedinthegarden,butastherewaslittletodointhefrostyseason,hereadtotheoldmanandAgatha.

           "Thisreadinghadpuzzledmeextremelyatfirst,butbydegreesIdiscoveredthatheutteredmanyofthesamesoundswhenhereadaswhenhetalked.Iconjectured,therefore,thathefoundonthepapersignsforspeechwhichheunderstood,andIardentlylongedtocomprehendthesealso;buthowwasthatpossiblewhenIdidnotevenunderstandthesoundsforwhichtheystoodassigns?