Франкенштейн
Chapter 12
Iimproved,however,sensiblyinthisscience,butnotsufficientlytofollowupanykindofconversation,althoughIappliedmywholemindtotheendeavour,forIeasilyperceivedthat,althoughIeagerlylongedtodiscovermyselftothecottagers,IoughtnottomaketheattemptuntilIhadfirstbecomemasteroftheirlanguage,whichknowledgemightenablemetomakethemoverlookthedeformityofmyfigure,forwiththisalsothecontrastperpetuallypresentedtomyeyeshadmademeacquainted.
"Ihadadmiredtheperfectformsofmycottagers—theirgrace,beauty,anddelicatecomplexions;buthowwasIterrifiedwhenIviewedmyselfinatransparentpool!AtfirstIstartedback,unabletobelievethatitwasindeedIwhowasreflectedinthemirror;andwhenIbecamefullyconvincedthatIwasinrealitythemonsterthatIam,Iwasfilledwiththebitterestsensationsofdespondenceandmortification.Alas!Ididnotyetentirelyknowthefataleffectsofthismiserabledeformity.
"Asthesunbecamewarmerandthelightofdaylonger,thesnowvanished,andIbeheldthebaretreesandtheblackearth.FromthistimeFelixwasmoreemployed,andtheheart-movingindicationsofimpendingfaminedisappeared.Theirfood,asIafterwardsfound,wascoarse,butitwaswholesome;andtheyprocuredasufficiencyofit.Severalnewkindsofplantssprangupinthegarden,whichtheydressed;andthesesignsofcomfortincreaseddailyastheseasonadvanced.
"Theoldman,leaningonhisson,walkedeachdayatnoon,whenitdidnotrain,asIfounditwascalledwhentheheavenspouredforthitswaters.Thisfrequentlytookplace,butahighwindquicklydriedtheearth,andtheseasonbecamefarmorepleasantthanithadbeen.
