Франкенштейн
Chapter 7
"Thisaccountratheralarmedus,andwecontinuedtosearchforhimuntilnightfell,whenElizabethconjecturedthathemighthavereturnedtothehouse.Hewasnotthere.Wereturnedagain,withtorches;forIcouldnotrest,whenIthoughtthatmysweetboyhadlosthimself,andwasexposedtoallthedampsanddewsofnight;Elizabethalsosufferedextremeanguish.AboutfiveinthemorningIdiscoveredmylovelyboy,whomthenightbeforeIhadseenbloomingandactiveinhealth,stretchedonthegrasslividandmotionless;theprintofthemurder’sfingerwasonhisneck.
"Hewasconveyedhome,andtheanguishthatwasvisibleinmycountenancebetrayedthesecrettoElizabeth.Shewasveryearnesttoseethecorpse.AtfirstIattemptedtopreventherbutshepersisted,andenteringtheroomwhereitlay,hastilyexaminedtheneckofthevictim,andclaspingherhandsexclaimed,‘OGod!Ihavemurderedmydarlingchild!’
"Shefainted,andwasrestoredwithextremedifficulty.Whensheagainlived,itwasonlytoweepandsigh.Shetoldme,thatthatsameeveningWilliamhadteasedhertolethimwearaveryvaluableminiaturethatshepossessedofyourmother.Thispictureisgone,andwasdoubtlessthetemptationwhichurgedthemurderertothedeed.Wehavenotraceofhimatpresent,althoughourexertionstodiscoverhimareunremitted;buttheywillnotrestoremybelovedWilliam!
"Come,dearestVictor;youalonecanconsoleElizabeth.Sheweepscontinually,andaccusesherselfunjustlyasthecauseofhisdeath;herwordspiercemyheart.Weareallunhappy;butwillnotthatbeanadditionalmotiveforyou,myson,toreturnandbeourcomforter?Yourdearmother!Alas,Victor!Inowsay,ThankGodshedidnotlivetowitnessthecruel,miserabledeathofheryoungestdarling!
