Франкенштейн
Chapter 19
"Icouldpassmylifehere,"saidhetome;"andamongthesemountainsIshouldscarcelyregretSwitzerlandandtheRhine."
Buthefoundthatatraveller’slifeisonethatincludesmuchpainamidstitsenjoyments.Hisfeelingsareforeveronthestretch;andwhenhebeginstosinkintorepose,hefindshimselfobligedtoquitthatonwhichherestsinpleasureforsomethingnew,whichagainengageshisattention,andwhichalsoheforsakesforothernovelties.
WehadscarcelyvisitedthevariouslakesofCumberlandandWestmorlandandconceivedanaffectionforsomeoftheinhabitantswhentheperiodofourappointmentwithourScotchfriendapproached,andweleftthemtotravelon.FormyownpartIwasnotsorry.Ihadnowneglectedmypromiseforsometime,andIfearedtheeffectsofthedaemon’sdisappointment.HemightremaininSwitzerlandandwreakhisvengeanceonmyrelatives.ThisideapursuedmeandtormentedmeateverymomentfromwhichImightotherwisehavesnatchedreposeandpeace.Iwaitedformyletterswithfeverishimpatience;iftheyweredelayedIwasmiserableandovercomebyathousandfears;andwhentheyarrivedandIsawthesuperscriptionofElizabethormyfather,Ihardlydaredtoreadandascertainmyfate.SometimesIthoughtthatthefiendfollowedmeandmightexpeditemyremissnessbymurderingmycompanion.Whenthesethoughtspossessedme,IwouldnotquitHenryforamoment,butfollowedhimashisshadow,toprotecthimfromthefanciedrageofhisdestroyer.IfeltasifIhadcommittedsomegreatcrime,theconsciousnessofwhichhauntedme.Iwasguiltless,butIhadindeeddrawndownahorriblecurseuponmyhead,asmortalasthatofcrime.
IvisitedEdinburghwithlanguideyesandmind;andyetthatcitymighthaveinterestedthemostunfortunatebeing.