Франкенштейн
Chapter 16
"Thepleasantsunshineandthepureairofdayrestoredmetosomedegreeoftranquillity;andwhenIconsideredwhathadpassedatthecottage,IcouldnothelpbelievingthatIhadbeentoohastyinmyconclusions.Ihadcertainlyactedimprudently.Itwasapparentthatmyconversationhadinterestedthefatherinmybehalf,andIwasafoolinhavingexposedmypersontothehorrorofhischildren.IoughttohavefamiliarizedtheoldDeLaceytome,andbydegreestohavediscoveredmyselftotherestofhisfamily,whentheyshouldhavebeenpreparedformyapproach.ButIdidnotbelievemyerrorstobeirretrievable,andaftermuchconsiderationIresolvedtoreturntothecottage,seektheoldman,andbymyrepresentationswinhimtomyparty.
"Thesethoughtscalmedme,andintheafternoonIsankintoaprofoundsleep;butthefeverofmyblooddidnotallowmetobevisitedbypeacefuldreams.Thehorriblesceneoftheprecedingdaywasforeveractingbeforemyeyes;thefemaleswereflyingandtheenragedFelixtearingmefromhisfather’sfeet.Iawokeexhausted,andfindingthatitwasalreadynight,Icreptforthfrommyhiding-place,andwentinsearchoffood.
"Whenmyhungerwasappeased,Idirectedmystepstowardsthewell-knownpaththatconductedtothecottage.Alltherewasatpeace.Icreptintomyhovelandremainedinsilentexpectationoftheaccustomedhourwhenthefamilyarose.Thathourpassed,thesunmountedhighintheheavens,butthecottagersdidnotappear.Itrembledviolently,apprehendingsomedreadfulmisfortune.Theinsideofthecottagewasdark,andIheardnomotion;Icannotdescribetheagonyofthissuspense.
"Presentlytwocountrymenpassedby,butpausingnearthecottage,theyenteredintoconversation,usingviolentgesticulations;butIdidnotunderstandwhattheysaid,astheyspokethelanguageofthecountry,whichdifferedfromthatofmyprotectors.