Франкенштейн

           Iturnedwithloathingfromthewomanwhocoulduttersounfeelingaspeechtoapersonjustsaved,ontheveryedgeofdeath;butIfeltlanguidandunabletoreflectonallthathadpassed.Thewholeseriesofmylifeappearedtomeasadream;Isometimesdoubtedifindeeditwerealltrue,foritneverpresenteditselftomymindwiththeforceofreality.

           Astheimagesthatfloatedbeforemebecamemoredistinct,Igrewfeverish;adarknesspressedaroundme;noonewasnearmewhosoothedmewiththegentlevoiceoflove;nodearhandsupportedme.Thephysiciancameandprescribedmedicines,andtheoldwomanpreparedthemforme;bututtercarelessnesswasvisibleinthefirst,andtheexpressionofbrutalitywasstronglymarkedinthevisageofthesecond.Whocouldbeinterestedinthefateofamurdererbutthehangmanwhowouldgainhisfee?

           Theseweremyfirstreflections,butIsoonlearnedthatMr.Kirwinhadshownmeextremekindness.Hehadcausedthebestroomintheprisontobepreparedforme(wretchedindeedwasthebest);anditwashewhohadprovidedaphysicianandanurse.Itistrue,heseldomcametoseeme,foralthoughheardentlydesiredtorelievethesufferingsofeveryhumancreature,hedidnotwishtobepresentattheagoniesandmiserableravingsofamurderer.Hecame,therefore,sometimestoseethatIwasnotneglected,buthisvisitswereshortandwithlongintervals.Oneday,whileIwasgraduallyrecovering,Iwasseatedinachair,myeyeshalfopenandmycheekslividlikethoseindeath.IwasovercomebygloomandmiseryandoftenreflectedIhadbetterseekdeaththandesiretoremaininaworldwhichtomewasrepletewithwretchedness.AtonetimeIconsideredwhetherIshouldnotdeclaremyselfguiltyandsufferthepenaltyofthelaw,lessinnocentthanpoorJustinehadbeen.SuchweremythoughtswhenthedoorofmyapartmentwasopenedandMr.Kirwinentered.