Франкенштейн

           "Myheartbeatquick;thiswasthehourandmomentoftrial,whichwoulddecidemyhopesorrealizemyfears.Theservantsweregonetoaneighbouringfair.Allwassilentinandaroundthecottage;itwasanexcellentopportunity;yet,whenIproceededtoexecutemyplan,mylimbsfailedmeandIsanktotheground.AgainIrose,andexertingallthefirmnessofwhichIwasmaster,removedtheplankswhichIhadplacedbeforemyhoveltoconcealmyretreat.Thefreshairrevivedme,andwithreneweddeterminationIapproachedthedooroftheircottage.

           "Iknocked.‘Whoisthere?’saidtheoldman.‘Comein.’

           "Ientered.‘Pardonthisintrusion,’saidI;‘Iamatravellerinwantofalittlerest;youwouldgreatlyobligemeifyouwouldallowmetoremainafewminutesbeforethefire.’

           "‘Enter,’saidDeLacey,‘andIwilltryinwhatmannerIcantorelieveyourwants;but,unfortunately,mychildrenarefromhome,andasIamblind,IamafraidIshallfinditdifficulttoprocurefoodforyou.’

           "‘Donottroubleyourself,mykindhost;Ihavefood;itiswarmthandrestonlythatIneed.’

           "Isatdown,andasilenceensued.Iknewthateveryminutewasprecioustome,yetIremainedirresoluteinwhatmannertocommencetheinterview,whentheoldmanaddressedme.‘Byyourlanguage,stranger,Isupposeyouaremycountryman;areyouFrench?’

           "‘No;butIwaseducatedbyaFrenchfamilyandunderstandthatlanguageonly.Iamnowgoingtoclaimtheprotectionofsomefriends,whomIsincerelylove,andofwhosefavourIhavesomehopes.’