Henry Clerval gave me a letter from Elizabeth Lavenza. It was a letter from home:
“My dear Victor Frankenstein,
You were very sick. Henry Clerval wrote many letters to us. But these letters are not enough. We want to hear from you. You cannot write yet. But one word from you will make us happy. For a long time, I expected a letter. I told your father not to go to Ingolstadt. It is a long and difficult journey. I did not want him to be tired or in danger. I wanted to visit you myself. I thought a strange nurse was taking care of you. I thought she did not know your needs. But Henry Clerval says you are getting better now. Please write to us soon.
Come home to us. Our home is happy and your friends love you. Your father is very healthy. He only wants to see you. Then he will be happy. Our brother Ernest is now sixteen years old. He is very active. He wants to be a soldier and go to other countries. But your father wants him to stay here. Ernest does not like to study. He thinks books are like a fetter (a heavy chain for a prisoner). He spends his time outside. He climbs hills and rows a boat on the lake. He is a very happy boy.
Everything at home is the same. The blue lake and the mountains do not change. I am busy and happy. I see many kind faces around me. But I must tell you about Justine Moritz. Do you remember her? Her mother was a widow with four children. Justine Moritz was the third child. Her father loved her. But her mother did not like her. After her father died, her mother was very mean to her. My aunt saw this. When Justine Moritz was twelve, she came to live with our family.
In Switzerland, our servants are different from servants in other countries. They are happy and people respect them. Justine Moritz learned how to be a servant in our house. You liked her very much. You said she always looked happy. My aunt loved her too. She gave Justine Moritz a good education. Justine Moritz was very grateful. She loved my aunt very much.
When my aunt died, everyone was very sad. Justine Moritz was also very sick. Then her brothers and sister died. Her mother was alone. Her mother thought God was punishing her. So, she asked Justine Moritz to come home. Justine Moritz cried when she left us. Her mother was not kind to her. Sometimes she asked for forgiveness. But often she was angry. Then her mother died last winter. Justine Moritz returned to our house. She is clever, gentle, and very pretty.
I must tell you about little William. He is very tall for his age. He has laughing blue eyes and dark hair. He has many friends. His favourite friend is Louisa Biron. She is five years old.
Now, I will tell you some news about Geneva. Miss Mansfield is going to marry John Melbourne. He is an Englishman. Her sister Manon married a rich banker last autumn. Your friend Louis Manoir is also going to marry a French woman soon.
I feel better now because I wrote this letter. But I am still worried about you. Write to us, Victor Frankenstein. One word will be a blessing. Thank you to Henry Clerval for his kindness. Goodbye, Elizabeth Lavenza.”
“Dear Elizabeth Lavenza!” I said. I wrote a letter to her immediately. I felt very tired after I finished. But I was getting better every day. After two weeks, I left my room.
I took Henry Clerval to meet the professors at the university. This was very difficult for me. I hated the word science now. I did not want to see chemical tools. Henry Clerval saw this. He moved my science tools out of the room. He also moved me to a new room. He wanted to help me.
But I had to visit the professors. Professor Waldman was very kind. He praised my work. He said I was a great student. His words felt like torture to me. Professor Waldman thought I was being modest. He did not know the truth. I felt terrible pain, but I did not show it.
Professor Krempe was not kind. He was very loud. He told Henry Clerval that I was the best student at the university. He said I was better than the teachers. I felt very sick when he spoke. But then Professor Krempe began to talk about himself. I was happy that the conversation changed.
Henry Clerval did not like science. He wanted to study Oriental languages (languages from countries in the East like Arabia and Persia). I decided to study these languages with him. I wanted to forget my old work. These studies were very different. The books were full of sun and gardens. They made me feel calm and happy.
The summer passed. I wanted to go home to Geneva in the autumn. But there was a lot of snow. The roads were blocked. I stayed in Ingolstadt until the spring. I wanted to see my family very much. I stayed because I did not want to leave Henry Clerval alone. He did not have other friends in the city yet.
In May, the weather was beautiful. Henry Clerval asked me to go for a walk. We walked around the country for two weeks. I felt strong and healthy. I loved nature again. I loved the flowers and the green fields. I was not sad anymore.
Henry Clerval was a very good friend. He helped me feel happy. He told me wonderful stories. He read poems to me. He made me feel like the boy I was many years ago. I forgot my dark thoughts.
We returned to our rooms on a Sunday afternoon. The people in the village were dancing. Everyone was gay and happy. I was full of joy. I felt very good.