Франкенштейн
Chapter 12
"Mymodeoflifeinmyhovelwasuniform.DuringthemorningIattendedthemotionsofthecottagers,andwhentheyweredispersedinvariousoccupations,Islept;theremainderofthedaywasspentinobservingmyfriends.Whentheyhadretiredtorest,iftherewasanymoonorthenightwasstar-light,Iwentintothewoodsandcollectedmyownfoodandfuelforthecottage.WhenIreturned,asoftenasitwasnecessary,IclearedtheirpathfromthesnowandperformedthoseofficesthatIhadseendonebyFelix.Iafterwardsfoundthattheselabours,performedbyaninvisiblehand,greatlyastonishedthem;andonceortwiceIheardthem,ontheseoccasions,utterthewords‘goodspirit,’‘wonderful’;butIdidnotthenunderstandthesignificationoftheseterms.
"Mythoughtsnowbecamemoreactive,andIlongedtodiscoverthemotivesandfeelingsoftheselovelycreatures;IwasinquisitivetoknowwhyFelixappearedsomiserableandAgathasosad.Ithought(foolishwretch!)thatitmightbeinmypowertorestorehappinesstothesedeservingpeople.WhenIsleptorwasabsent,theformsofthevenerableblindfather,thegentleAgatha,andtheexcellentFelixflittedbeforeme.Ilookeduponthemassuperiorbeingswhowouldbethearbitersofmyfuturedestiny.Iformedinmyimaginationathousandpicturesofpresentingmyselftothem,andtheirreceptionofme.Iimaginedthattheywouldbedisgusted,until,bymygentledemeanourandconciliatingwords,Ishouldfirstwintheirfavourandafterwardstheirlove.
"Thesethoughtsexhilaratedmeandledmetoapplywithfreshardourtotheacquiringtheartoflanguage.Myorganswereindeedharsh,butsupple;andalthoughmyvoicewasveryunlikethesoftmusicoftheirtones,yetIpronouncedsuchwordsasIunderstoodwithtolerableease.Itwasastheassandthelap-dog;yetsurelythegentleasswhoseintentionswereaffectionate,althoughhismannerswererude,deservedbettertreatmentthanblowsandexecration.