Nothing could equal my delight on seeing Clerval; his presence
brought back to my thoughts my father, Elizabeth, and all those
scenes of home so dear to my recollection. I grasped his hand,
and in a moment forgot my horror and misfortune; I felt
suddenly, and for the first time during many months, calm and
serene joy. I welcomed my friend therefore, in the most cordial
manner, and we walked towards my college. Clerval continued
talking for some time about our mutual friends, and his own good
fortune in being permitted to come to Ingolstadt. "You may
easily believe," said he, "how great was the difficulty to
persuade my father that it was not absolutely necessary for a
merchant not to understand any thing except book-keeping; and,
indeed, I believe I left him incredulous to the last, for his
constant answer to my unwearied entreaties was the same as that
of the Dutch school-master in the Vicar of Wakefield: 'I have
ten thousand florins a year without Greek, I eat heartily
without Greek.' But his affection for me at length overcame his
dislike of learning, and he has permitted me to undertake a
voyage of discovery to the land of knowledge."
"It gives me the greatest delight to see you; but tell me how
you left my father, brothers, and Elizabeth."
"Very well, and very happy, only a little uneasy that they hear
from you so seldom. By the bye, I mean to lecture you a little
upon their account myself. -- But, my dear Frankenstein," continued
he, stopping short, and gazing full in my face, "I did not
before remark how very ill you appear; so thin and pale; you
look as if you had been watching for several nights."