Франкенштейн

           Thusthepoorsufferertriedtocomfortothersandherself.Sheindeedgainedtheresignationshedesired.ButI,thetruemurderer,feltthenever-dyingwormaliveinmybosom,whichallowedofnohopeorconsolation.Elizabethalsoweptandwasunhappy,buthersalsowasthemiseryofinnocence,which,likeacloudthatpassesoverthefairmoon,forawhilehidesbutcannottarnishitsbrightness.Anguishanddespairhadpenetratedintothecoreofmyheart;Iboreahellwithinmewhichnothingcouldextinguish.WestayedseveralhourswithJustine,anditwaswithgreatdifficultythatElizabethcouldtearherselfaway."Iwish,"criedshe,"thatIweretodiewithyou;Icannotliveinthisworldofmisery."

           Justineassumedanairofcheerfulness,whileshewithdifficultyrepressedherbittertears.SheembracedElizabethandsaidinavoiceofhalf-suppressedemotion,"Farewell,sweetlady,dearestElizabeth,mybelovedandonlyfriend;mayheaven,initsbounty,blessandpreserveyou;maythisbethelastmisfortunethatyouwilleversuffer!Live,andbehappy,andmakeothersso."

           AndonthemorrowJustinedied.Elizabeth’sheart-rendingeloquencefailedtomovethejudgesfromtheirsettledconvictioninthecriminalityofthesaintlysufferer.Mypassionateandindignantappealswerelostuponthem.AndwhenIreceivedtheircoldanswersandheardtheharsh,unfeelingreasoningofthesemen,mypurposedavowaldiedawayonmylips.ThusImightproclaimmyselfamadman,butnotrevokethesentencepasseduponmywretchedvictim.Sheperishedonthescaffoldasamurderess!

           Fromthetorturesofmyownheart,IturnedtocontemplatethedeepandvoicelessgriefofmyElizabeth.Thisalsowasmydoing!Andmyfather’swoe,andthedesolationofthatlatesosmilinghomeallwastheworkofmythrice-accursedhands!