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I now also began to collect the materials necessary for my new

creation, and this was to me like the torture of single drops of

water continually falling on the head. Every thought that was

devoted to it was an extreme anguish, and every word that I spoke

in allusion to it caused my lips to quiver, and my heart to

palpitate.

After passing some months in London, we received a letter from a

person in Scotland who had formerly been our visitor at Geneva.

He mentioned the beauties of his native country and asked us if

those were not sufficient allurements to induce us to prolong our

journey as far north as Perth, where he resided. Clerval eagerly

desired to accept this invitation, and I, although I abhorred

society, wished to view again mountains and streams and all the

wondrous works with which Nature adorns her chosen

dwelling-places.