Франкенштейн
Chapter 4
andoftendidmyhumannatureturnwithloathingfrommyoccupation,whilst,stillurgedonbyaneagernesswhichperpetuallyincreased,Ibroughtmyworkneartoaconclusion.
ThesummermonthspassedwhileIwasthusengaged,heartandsoul,inonepursuit.Itwasamostbeautifulseason;neverdidthefieldsbestowamoreplentifulharvestorthevinesyieldamoreluxuriantvintage,butmyeyeswereinsensibletothecharmsofnature.Andthesamefeelingswhichmademeneglectthescenesaroundmecausedmealsotoforgetthosefriendswhoweresomanymilesabsent,andwhomIhadnotseenforsolongatime.Iknewmysilencedisquietedthem,andIwellrememberedthewordsofmyfather:"Iknowthatwhileyouarepleasedwithyourselfyouwillthinkofuswithaffection,andweshallhearregularlyfromyou.YoumustpardonmeifIregardanyinterruptioninyourcorrespondenceasaproofthatyourotherdutiesareequallyneglected."
Iknewwellthereforewhatwouldbemyfather’sfeelings,butIcouldnottearmythoughtsfrommyemployment,loathsomeinitself,butwhichhadtakenanirresistibleholdofmyimagination.Iwished,asitwere,toprocrastinateallthatrelatedtomyfeelingsofaffectionuntilthegreatobject,whichswallowedupeveryhabitofmynature,shouldbecompleted.
Ithenthoughtthatmyfatherwouldbeunjustifheascribedmyneglecttoviceorfaultinessonmypart,butIamnowconvincedthathewasjustifiedinconceivingthatIshouldnotbealtogetherfreefromblame.Ahumanbeinginperfectionoughtalwaystopreserveacalmandpeacefulmindandnevertoallowpassionoratransitorydesiretodisturbhistranquillity.Idonotthinkthatthepursuitofknowledgeisanexceptiontothisrule.
