Франкенштейн

           Itriedtoconcealthisasmuchaspossible,thatImightnotdebarhimfromthepleasuresnaturaltoonewhowasenteringonanewsceneoflife,undisturbedbyanycareorbitterrecollection.Ioftenrefusedtoaccompanyhim,alleginganotherengagement,thatImightremainalone.Inowalsobegantocollectthematerialsnecessaryformynewcreation,andthiswastomelikethetortureofsingledropsofwatercontinuallyfallingonthehead.Everythoughtthatwasdevotedtoitwasanextremeanguish,andeverywordthatIspokeinallusiontoitcausedmylipstoquiver,andmyhearttopalpitate.

           AfterpassingsomemonthsinLondon,wereceivedaletterfromapersoninScotlandwhohadformerlybeenourvisitoratGeneva.HementionedthebeautiesofhisnativecountryandaskedusifthosewerenotsufficientallurementstoinduceustoprolongourjourneyasfarnorthasPerth,whereheresided.Clervaleagerlydesiredtoacceptthisinvitation,andI,althoughIabhorredsociety,wishedtoviewagainmountainsandstreamsandallthewondrousworkswithwhichNatureadornsherchosendwelling-places.WehadarrivedinEnglandatthebeginningofOctober,anditwasnowFebruary.Weaccordinglydeterminedtocommenceourjourneytowardsthenorthattheexpirationofanothermonth.InthisexpeditionwedidnotintendtofollowthegreatroadtoEdinburgh,buttovisitWindsor,Oxford,Matlock,andtheCumberlandlakes,resolvingtoarriveatthecompletionofthistourabouttheendofJuly.IpackedupmychemicalinstrumentsandthematerialsIhadcollected,resolvingtofinishmylaboursinsomeobscurenookinthenorthernhighlandsofScotland.

           WequittedLondononthe27thofMarchandremainedafewdaysatWindsor,ramblinginitsbeautifulforest.Thiswasanewscenetousmountaineers;themajesticoaks,thequantityofgame,andtheherdsofstatelydeerwereallnoveltiestous.