Франкенштейн
Chapter 21
Ifoundseveralletters,and,amongothers,onewhichIdiscoveredfromitscommencementtobefromyourfather.IinstantlywrotetoGeneva;nearlytwomonthshaveelapsedsincethedepartureofmyletter.Butyouareill;evennowyoutremble;youareunfitforagitationofanykind."
"Thissuspenseisathousandtimesworsethanthemosthorribleevent;tellmewhatnewsceneofdeathhasbeenacted,andwhosemurderIamnowtolament?"
"Yourfamilyisperfectlywell,"saidMr.Kirwinwithgentleness;"andsomeone,afriend,iscometovisityou."
Iknownotbywhatchainofthoughttheideapresenteditself,butitinstantlydartedintomymindthatthemurdererhadcometomockatmymiseryandtauntmewiththedeathofClerval,asanewincitementformetocomplywithhishellishdesires.Iputmyhandbeforemyeyes,andcriedoutinagony,"Oh!Takehimaway!Icannotseehim;forGod’ssake,donotlethimenter!"
Mr.Kirwinregardedmewithatroubledcountenance.Hecouldnothelpregardingmyexclamationasapresumptionofmyguiltandsaidinratheraseveretone,"Ishouldhavethought,youngman,thatthepresenceofyourfatherwouldhavebeenwelcomeinsteadofinspiringsuchviolentrepugnance."
"Myfather!"criedI,whileeveryfeatureandeverymusclewasrelaxedfromanguishtopleasure."Ismyfatherindeedcome?Howkind,howverykind!Butwhereishe,whydoeshenothastentome?"
Mychangeofmannersurprisedandpleasedthemagistrate;perhapshethoughtthatmyformerexclamationwasamomentaryreturnofdelirium,andnowheinstantlyresumedhisformerbenevolence.Heroseandquittedtheroomwithmynurse,andinamomentmyfatherenteredit.