Франкенштейн

           Wewereaffectionateplayfellowsduringchildhood,and,Ibelieve,dearandvaluedfriendstooneanotheraswegrewolder.Butasbrotherandsisteroftenentertainalivelyaffectiontowardseachotherwithoutdesiringamoreintimateunion,maynotsuchalsobeourcase?Tellme,dearestVictor.Answerme,Iconjureyoubyourmutualhappiness,withsimpletruth—Doyounotloveanother?

           Youhavetravelled;youhavespentseveralyearsofyourlifeatIngolstadt;andIconfesstoyou,myfriend,thatwhenIsawyoulastautumnsounhappy,flyingtosolitudefromthesocietyofeverycreature,Icouldnothelpsupposingthatyoumightregretourconnectionandbelieveyourselfboundinhonourtofulfilthewishesofyourparents,althoughtheyopposedthemselvestoyourinclinations.Butthisisfalsereasoning.Iconfesstoyou,myfriend,thatIloveyouandthatinmyairydreamsoffuturityyouhavebeenmyconstantfriendandcompanion.ButitisyourhappinessIdesireaswellasmyownwhenIdeclaretoyouthatourmarriagewouldrendermeeternallymiserableunlessitwerethedictateofyourownfreechoice.EvennowIweeptothinkthat,bornedownasyouarebythecruellestmisfortunes,youmaystifle,bytheword"honour,"allhopeofthatloveandhappinesswhichwouldalonerestoreyoutoyourself.I,whohavesodisinterestedanaffectionforyou,mayincreaseyourmiseriestenfoldbybeinganobstacletoyourwishes.Ah!Victor,beassuredthatyourcousinandplaymatehastoosincerealoveforyounottobemademiserablebythissupposition.Behappy,myfriend;andifyouobeymeinthisonerequest,remainsatisfiedthatnothingonearthwillhavethepowertointerruptmytranquillity.

           Donotletthisletterdisturbyou;donotanswertomorrow,orthenextday,orevenuntilyoucome,ifitwillgiveyoupain.Myunclewillsendmenewsofyourhealth,andifIseebutonesmileonyourlipswhenwemeet,occasionedbythisoranyotherexertionofmine,Ishallneednootherhappiness.