Франкенштейн

           ForsometimeIwaslostinconjectureastothecauseofthis,butyesterdayanideastruckme,andifitiswellfounded,Iconjureyoutoavowit.Reserveonsuchapointwouldbenotonlyuseless,butdrawdowntreblemiseryonusall."

           Itrembledviolentlyathisexordium,andmyfathercontinued—"Iconfess,myson,thatIhavealwayslookedforwardtoyourmarriagewithourdearElizabethasthetieofourdomesticcomfortandthestayofmydecliningyears.Youwereattachedtoeachotherfromyourearliestinfancy;youstudiedtogether,andappeared,indispositionsandtastes,entirelysuitedtooneanother.ButsoblindistheexperienceofmanthatwhatIconceivedtobethebestassistantstomyplanmayhaveentirelydestroyedit.You,perhaps,regardherasyoursister,withoutanywishthatshemightbecomeyourwife.Nay,youmayhavemetwithanotherwhomyoumaylove;andconsideringyourselfasboundinhonourtoElizabeth,thisstrugglemayoccasionthepoignantmiserywhichyouappeartofeel."

           "Mydearfather,reassureyourself.Ilovemycousintenderlyandsincerely.Ineversawanywomanwhoexcited,asElizabethdoes,mywarmestadmirationandaffection.Myfuturehopesandprospectsareentirelyboundupintheexpectationofourunion."

           "Theexpressionofyoursentimentsofthissubject,mydearVictor,givesmemorepleasurethanIhaveforsometimeexperienced.Ifyoufeelthus,weshallassuredlybehappy,howeverpresenteventsmaycastagloomoverus.ButitisthisgloomwhichappearstohavetakensostrongaholdofyourmindthatIwishtodissipate.Tellme,therefore,whetheryouobjecttoanimmediatesolemnizationofthemarriage.Wehavebeenunfortunate,andrecenteventshavedrawnusfromthateverydaytranquillitybefittingmyyearsandinfirmities.