Франкенштейн

           Helooksuponstudyasanodiousfetter;histimeisspentintheopenair,climbingthehillsorrowingonthelake.Ifearthathewillbecomeanidlerunlessweyieldthepointandpermithimtoenterontheprofessionwhichhehasselected.

           "Littlealteration,exceptthegrowthofourdearchildren,hastakenplacesinceyouleftus.Thebluelakeandsnow-cladmountains—theyneverchange;andIthinkourplacidhomeandourcontentedheartsareregulatedbythesameimmutablelaws.Mytriflingoccupationstakeupmytimeandamuseme,andIamrewardedforanyexertionsbyseeingnonebuthappy,kindfacesaroundme.Sinceyouleftus,butonechangehastakenplaceinourlittlehousehold.DoyourememberonwhatoccasionJustineMoritzenteredourfamily?Probablyyoudonot;Iwillrelateherhistory,thereforeinafewwords.MadameMoritz,hermother,wasawidowwithfourchildren,ofwhomJustinewasthethird.Thisgirlhadalwaysbeenthefavouriteofherfather,butthroughastrangeperversity,hermothercouldnotendureher,andafterthedeathofM.Moritz,treatedherveryill.Myauntobservedthis,andwhenJustinewastwelveyearsofage,prevailedonhermothertoallowhertoliveatourhouse.Therepublicaninstitutionsofourcountryhaveproducedsimplerandhappiermannersthanthosewhichprevailinthegreatmonarchiesthatsurroundit.Hencethereislessdistinctionbetweentheseveralclassesofitsinhabitants;andthelowerorders,beingneithersopoornorsodespised,theirmannersaremorerefinedandmoral.AservantinGenevadoesnotmeanthesamethingasaservantinFranceandEngland.Justine,thusreceivedinourfamily,learnedthedutiesofaservant,aconditionwhich,inourfortunatecountry,doesnotincludetheideaofignoranceandasacrificeofthedignityofahumanbeing.