Франкенштейн

           "Oh,Justine!Forgivemeforhavingforonemomentdistrustedyou.Whydidyouconfess?Butdonotmourn,deargirl.Donotfear.Iwillproclaim,Iwillproveyourinnocence.Iwillmeltthestonyheartsofyourenemiesbymytearsandprayers.Youshallnotdie!You,myplayfellow,mycompanion,mysister,perishonthescaffold!No!No!Inevercouldsurvivesohorribleamisfortune."

           Justineshookherheadmournfully."Idonotfeartodie,"shesaid;"thatpangispast.Godraisesmyweaknessandgivesmecouragetoenduretheworst.Ileaveasadandbitterworld;andifyouremembermeandthinkofmeasofoneunjustlycondemned,Iamresignedtothefateawaitingme.Learnfromme,dearlady,tosubmitinpatiencetothewillofheaven!"

           DuringthisconversationIhadretiredtoacorneroftheprisonroom,whereIcouldconcealthehorridanguishthatpossessedme.Despair!Whodaredtalkofthat?Thepoorvictim,whoonthemorrowwastopasstheawfulboundarybetweenlifeanddeath,feltnot,asIdid,suchdeepandbitteragony.Ignashedmyteethandgroundthemtogether,utteringagroanthatcamefrommyinmostsoul.Justinestarted.Whenshesawwhoitwas,sheapproachedmeandsaid,"Dearsir,youareverykindtovisitme;you,Ihope,donotbelievethatIamguilty?"

           Icouldnotanswer."No,Justine,"saidElizabeth;"heismoreconvincedofyourinnocencethanIwas,forevenwhenheheardthatyouhadconfessed,hedidnotcreditit."

           "Itrulythankhim.IntheselastmomentsIfeelthesincerestgratitudetowardsthosewhothinkofmewithkindness.HowsweetistheaffectionofotherstosuchawretchasIam!Itremovesmorethanhalfmymisfortune,andIfeelasifIcoulddieinpeacenowthatmyinnocenceisacknowledgedbyyou,dearlady,andyourcousin."