Франкенштейн
Chapter 8
Shehadnotemptationforsuchanaction;astothebaubleonwhichthechiefproofrests,ifshehadearnestlydesiredit,Ishouldhavewillinglygivenittoher,somuchdoIesteemandvalueher."
AmurmurofapprobationfollowedElizabeth’ssimpleandpowerfulappeal,butitwasexcitedbyhergenerousinterference,andnotinfavourofpoorJustine,onwhomthepublicindignationwasturnedwithrenewedviolence,chargingherwiththeblackestingratitude.SheherselfweptasElizabethspoke,butshedidnotanswer.Myownagitationandanguishwasextremeduringthewholetrial.Ibelievedinherinnocence;Iknewit.Couldthedemonwhohad(Ididnotforaminutedoubt)murderedmybrotheralsoinhishellishsporthavebetrayedtheinnocenttodeathandignominy?Icouldnotsustainthehorrorofmysituation,andwhenIperceivedthatthepopularvoiceandthecountenancesofthejudgeshadalreadycondemnedmyunhappyvictim,Irushedoutofthecourtinagony.Thetorturesoftheaccuseddidnotequalmine;shewassustainedbyinnocence,butthefangsofremorsetoremybosomandwouldnotforgotheirhold.
Ipassedanightofunmingledwretchedness.InthemorningIwenttothecourt;mylipsandthroatwereparched.Idarednotaskthefatalquestion,butIwasknown,andtheofficerguessedthecauseofmyvisit.Theballotshadbeenthrown;theywereallblack,andJustinewascondemned.
IcannotpretendtodescribewhatIthenfelt.Ihadbeforeexperiencedsensationsofhorror,andIhaveendeavouredtobestowuponthemadequateexpressions,butwordscannotconveyanideaoftheheart-sickeningdespairthatIthenendured.ThepersontowhomIaddressedmyselfaddedthatJustinehadalreadyconfessedherguilt.
