Франкенштейн
Chapter 9
Itisalsoadutyowedtoyourself,forexcessivesorrowpreventsimprovementorenjoyment,oreventhedischargeofdailyusefulness,withoutwhichnomanisfitforsociety."
Thisadvice,althoughgood,wastotallyinapplicabletomycase;Ishouldhavebeenthefirsttohidemygriefandconsolemyfriendsifremorsehadnotmingleditsbitterness,andterroritsalarm,withmyothersensations.NowIcouldonlyanswermyfatherwithalookofdespairandendeavourtohidemyselffromhisview.
AboutthistimeweretiredtoourhouseatBelrive.Thischangewasparticularlyagreeabletome.Theshuttingofthegatesregularlyatteno’clockandtheimpossibilityofremainingonthelakeafterthathourhadrenderedourresidencewithinthewallsofGenevaveryirksometome.Iwasnowfree.Often,aftertherestofthefamilyhadretiredforthenight,Itooktheboatandpassedmanyhoursuponthewater.Sometimes,withmysailsset,Iwascarriedbythewind;andsometimes,afterrowingintothemiddleofthelake,Ilefttheboattopursueitsowncourseandgavewaytomyownmiserablereflections.Iwasoftentempted,whenallwasatpeacearoundme,andItheonlyunquietthingthatwanderedrestlessinascenesobeautifulandheavenly—ifIexceptsomebat,orthefrogs,whoseharshandinterruptedcroakingwasheardonlywhenIapproachedtheshore—often,Isay,Iwastemptedtoplungeintothesilentlake,thatthewatersmightcloseovermeandmycalamitiesforever.ButIwasrestrained,whenIthoughtoftheheroicandsufferingElizabeth,whomItenderlyloved,andwhoseexistencewasboundupinmine.Ithoughtalsoofmyfatherandsurvivingbrother;shouldIbymybasedesertionleavethemexposedandunprotectedtothemaliceofthefiendwhomIhadletlooseamongthem?
