Франкенштейн

           Thedayofmydepartureatlengtharrived.Clervalspentthelasteveningwithus.Hehadendeavouredtopersuadehisfathertopermithimtoaccompanymeandtobecomemyfellowstudent,butinvain.Hisfatherwasanarrow-mindedtraderandsawidlenessandruinintheaspirationsandambitionofhisson.Henrydeeplyfeltthemisfortuneofbeingdebarredfromaliberaleducation.Hesaidlittle,butwhenhespokeIreadinhiskindlingeyeandinhisanimatedglancearestrainedbutfirmresolvenottobechainedtothemiserabledetailsofcommerce.

           Wesatlate.Wecouldnottearourselvesawayfromeachothernorpersuadeourselvestosaytheword"Farewell!"Itwassaid,andweretiredunderthepretenceofseekingrepose,eachfancyingthattheotherwasdeceived;butwhenatmorning’sdawnIdescendedtothecarriagewhichwastoconveymeaway,theywereallthere—myfatheragaintoblessme,Clervaltopressmyhandoncemore,myElizabethtorenewherentreatiesthatIwouldwriteoftenandtobestowthelastfeminineattentionsonherplaymateandfriend.

           Ithrewmyselfintothechaisethatwastoconveymeawayandindulgedinthemostmelancholyreflections.I,whohadeverbeensurroundedbyamiablecompanions,continuallyengagedinendeavouringtobestowmutualpleasure—Iwasnowalone.IntheuniversitywhitherIwasgoingImustformmyownfriendsandbemyownprotector.Mylifehadhithertobeenremarkablysecludedanddomestic,andthishadgivenmeinvinciblerepugnancetonewcountenances.Ilovedmybrothers,Elizabeth,andClerval;thesewere"oldfamiliarfaces,"butIbelievedmyselftotallyunfittedforthecompanyofstrangers.SuchweremyreflectionsasIcommencedmyjourney;butasIproceeded,myspiritsandhopesrose.Iardentlydesiredtheacquisitionofknowledge.