Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.1-12
doesn't, for Arthur tried twice to make a chance, and I helping him `
` all I could, I am not ashamed to say it now. I must tell you `
` beforehand that Mr. Morris doesn't always speak slang, that is to `
` say, he never does so to strangers or before them, for he is really `
` well educated and has exquisite manners, but he found out that it `
` amused me to hear him talk American slang, and whenever I was `
` present, and there was no one to be shocked, he said such funny `
` things. I am afraid, my dear, he has to invent it all, for it fits `
` exactly into whatever else he has to say. But this is a way slang `
` has. I do not know myself if I shall ever speak slang. I do not `
` know if Arthur likes it, as I have never heard him use any as yet. `
` `
` Well, Mr. Morris sat down beside me and looked as happy and jolly as `
` he could, but I could see all the same that he was very nervous. He `
` took my hand in his, and said ever so sweetly . . . `
` `
` "Miss Lucy, I know I ain't good enough to regulate the fixin's of `
` your little shoes, but I guess if you wait till you find a man that `
` is you will go join them seven young women with the lamps when you `
` quit. Won't you just hitch up alongside of me and let us go down `
` the long road together, driving in double harness?" `
` `
` Well, he did look so good humoured and so jolly that it didn't seem `
` half so hard to refuse him as it did poor Dr. Seward. So I said, as `
` lightly as I could, that I did not know anything of hitching, and `
` that I wasn't broken to harness at all yet. Then he said that he `
` had spoken in a light manner, and he hoped that if he had made a `
` mistake in doing so on so grave, so momentous, and occasion for him, `
` I would forgive him. He really did look serious when he was saying `
` it, and I couldn't help feeling a sort of exultation that he was `
` number Two in one day. And then, my dear, before I could say a word `
` he began pouring out a perfect torrent of love-making, laying his `
` very heart and soul at my feet. He looked so earnest over it that I `
` shall never again think that a man must be playful always, and never `
` earnest, because he is merry at times. I suppose he saw something `
` in my face which checked him, for he suddenly stopped, and said with `
` a sort of manly fervour that I could have loved him for if I had `
` been free . . . `
` `
` "Lucy, you are an honest hearted girl, I know. I should not be here `
` speaking to you as I am now if I did not believe you clean grit, `
` right through to the very depths of your soul. Tell me, like one `
` good fellow to another, is there any one else that you care for? `
` And if there is I'll never trouble you a hair's breadth again, but `
` will be, if you will let me, a very faithful friend." `
` `
` My dear Mina, why are men so noble when we women are so little `
` worthy of them? Here was I almost making fun of this great hearted, `
` true gentleman. I burst into tears, I am afraid, my dear, you will `
` think this a very sloppy letter in more ways than one, and I really `
` felt very badly. `
` `
` Why can't they let a girl marry three men, or as many as `
` want her, and save all this trouble? But this is heresy, `
` and I must not say it. I am glad to say that, though I was `
` crying, I was able to look into Mr. Morris' brave eyes, and `
` I told him out straight . . . `
` `
` "Yes, there is some one I love, though he has not told me `
` yet that he even loves me." I was right to speak to him so `
` frankly, for quite a light came into his face, and he put `
` out both his hands and took mine, I think I put them into `
` his, and said in a hearty way . . . `
` `
` "That's my brave girl. It's better worth being late for a chance of `
` winning you than being in time for any other girl in the world. `
` Don't cry, my dear. If it's for me, I'm a hard nut to crack, and I `
` take it standing up. If that other fellow doesn't know his `
` happiness, well, he'd better look for it soon, or he'll have to deal `
` with me. Little girl, your honesty and pluck have made me a friend, `
` and that's rarer than a lover, it's more selfish anyhow. My dear, `
` I'm going to have a pretty lonely walk between this and Kingdom `
` Come. Won't you give me one kiss? It'll be something to keep off `
` the darkness now and then. You can, you know, if you like, for that `
` other good fellow, or you could not love him, hasn't spoken yet." `
` `
` That quite won me, Mina, for it was brave and sweet of him, `
` and noble too, to a rival, wasn't it? And he so sad, so I `
` leant over and kissed him. `
` `
` He stood up with my two hands in his, and as he looked down into my `
` face, I am afraid I was blushing very much, he said, "Little girl, I `
` hold your hand, and you've kissed me, and if these things don't make `
` us friends nothing ever will. Thank you for your sweet honesty to `
` me, and goodbye." `
` `
` He wrung my hand, and taking up his hat, went straight out of the `
` room without looking back, without a tear or a quiver or a pause, `
` and I am crying like a baby. `
` `
` Oh, why must a man like that be made unhappy when there are lots of `
` girls about who would worship the very ground he trod on? I know I `
` would if I were free, only I don't want to be free. My dear, this `
` quite upset me, and I feel I cannot write of happiness just at once, `
` after telling you of it, and I don't wish to tell of the number `
` Three until it can be all happy. Ever your loving . . . `
` `
` Lucy `
` `
` `
` P.S.--Oh, about number Three, I needn't tell you of number `
` Three, need I? Besides, it was all so confused. It seemed `
` only a moment from his coming into the room till both his `
` arms were round me, and he was kissing me. I am very, very `
` happy, and I don't know what I have done to deserve it. I `
` must only try in the future to show that I am not ungrateful `
` to God for all His goodness to me in sending to me such a `
` lover, such a husband, and such a friend. `
` `
` Goodbye. `
` `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARD'S DIARY (Kept in phonograph) `
` `
` 25 May.--Ebb tide in appetite today. Cannot eat, cannot rest, so `
` diary instead. Since my rebuff of yesterday I have a sort of empty `
` feeling. Nothing in the world seems of sufficient importance to be `
` worth the doing. As I knew that the only cure for this sort of thing `
` was work, I went amongst the patients. I picked out one who has `
` afforded me a study of much interest. He is so quaint that I am `
` determined to understand him as well as I can. Today I seemed to get `
` nearer than ever before to the heart of his mystery. `
` `
` I questioned him more fully than I had ever done, with a view to `
` making myself master of the facts of his hallucination. In my manner `
` of doing it there was, I now see, something of cruelty. I seemed to `
` wish to keep him to the point of his madness, a thing which I avoid `
` with the patients as I would the mouth of hell. `
` `
` (Mem., Under what circumstances would I not avoid the pit of hell?) `
` Omnia Romae venalia sunt. Hell has its price! If there be anything `
` behind this instinct it will be valuable to trace it afterwards `
` accurately, so I had better commence to do so, therefore . . . `
` `
` R. M, Renfield, age 59. Sanguine temperament, great physical `
` strength, morbidly excitable, periods of gloom, ending in some fixed `
` idea which I cannot make out. I presume that the sanguine temperament `
` itself and the disturbing influence end in a mentally-accomplished `
` finish, a possibly dangerous man, probably dangerous if unselfish. In `
` selfish men caution is as secure an armour for their foes as for `
` themselves. What I think of on this point is, when self is the fixed `
` point the centripetal force is balanced with the centrifugal. When `
` duty, a cause, etc., is the fixed point, the latter force is `
` paramount, and only accident or a series of accidents can balance it. `
` `
` `
` `
` LETTER, QUINCEY P. MORRIS TO HON. ARTHUR HOLMOOD `
` `
` 25 May. `
` `
` My dear Art, `
` `
` We've told yarns by the campfire in the prairies, and dressed one `
` another's wounds after trying a landing at the Marquesas, and drunk `
` healths on the shore of Titicaca. There are more yarns to be told, `
` and other wounds to be healed, and another health to be drunk. `
` Won't you let this be at my campfire tomorrow night? I have no `
` hesitation in asking you, as I know a certain lady is engaged to a `
` certain dinner party, and that you are free. There will only be one `
` other, our old pal at the Korea, Jack Seward. He's coming, too, and `
` we both want to mingle our weeps over the wine cup, and to drink a `
` health with all our hearts to the happiest man in all the wide `
` world, who has won the noblest heart that God has made and best `
` worth winning. We promise you a hearty welcome, and a loving `
` greeting, and a health as true as your own right hand. We shall `
` both swear to leave you at home if you drink too deep to a certain `
` pair of eyes. Come! `
` `
` Yours, as ever and always, `
` `
` Quincey P. Morris `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` TELEGRAM FROM ARTHUR HOLMWOOD TO QUINCEY P. MORRIS `
` `
` 26 May `
` `
` `
` Count me in every time. I bear messages which will make both `
` your ears tingle. `
` `
` Art `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER 6 `
` `
` `
` MINA MURRAY'S JOURNAL `
` `
` 24 July. Whitby.--Lucy met me at the station, looking sweeter and `
` lovelier than ever, and we drove up to the house at the Crescent in `
` which they have rooms. This is a lovely place. The little river, the `
` Esk, runs through a deep valley, which broadens out as it comes near `
` the harbour. A great viaduct runs across, with high piers, through `
`
` all I could, I am not ashamed to say it now. I must tell you `
` beforehand that Mr. Morris doesn't always speak slang, that is to `
` say, he never does so to strangers or before them, for he is really `
` well educated and has exquisite manners, but he found out that it `
` amused me to hear him talk American slang, and whenever I was `
` present, and there was no one to be shocked, he said such funny `
` things. I am afraid, my dear, he has to invent it all, for it fits `
` exactly into whatever else he has to say. But this is a way slang `
` has. I do not know myself if I shall ever speak slang. I do not `
` know if Arthur likes it, as I have never heard him use any as yet. `
` `
` Well, Mr. Morris sat down beside me and looked as happy and jolly as `
` he could, but I could see all the same that he was very nervous. He `
` took my hand in his, and said ever so sweetly . . . `
` `
` "Miss Lucy, I know I ain't good enough to regulate the fixin's of `
` your little shoes, but I guess if you wait till you find a man that `
` is you will go join them seven young women with the lamps when you `
` quit. Won't you just hitch up alongside of me and let us go down `
` the long road together, driving in double harness?" `
` `
` Well, he did look so good humoured and so jolly that it didn't seem `
` half so hard to refuse him as it did poor Dr. Seward. So I said, as `
` lightly as I could, that I did not know anything of hitching, and `
` that I wasn't broken to harness at all yet. Then he said that he `
` had spoken in a light manner, and he hoped that if he had made a `
` mistake in doing so on so grave, so momentous, and occasion for him, `
` I would forgive him. He really did look serious when he was saying `
` it, and I couldn't help feeling a sort of exultation that he was `
` number Two in one day. And then, my dear, before I could say a word `
` he began pouring out a perfect torrent of love-making, laying his `
` very heart and soul at my feet. He looked so earnest over it that I `
` shall never again think that a man must be playful always, and never `
` earnest, because he is merry at times. I suppose he saw something `
` in my face which checked him, for he suddenly stopped, and said with `
` a sort of manly fervour that I could have loved him for if I had `
` been free . . . `
` `
` "Lucy, you are an honest hearted girl, I know. I should not be here `
` speaking to you as I am now if I did not believe you clean grit, `
` right through to the very depths of your soul. Tell me, like one `
` good fellow to another, is there any one else that you care for? `
` And if there is I'll never trouble you a hair's breadth again, but `
` will be, if you will let me, a very faithful friend." `
` `
` My dear Mina, why are men so noble when we women are so little `
` worthy of them? Here was I almost making fun of this great hearted, `
` true gentleman. I burst into tears, I am afraid, my dear, you will `
` think this a very sloppy letter in more ways than one, and I really `
` felt very badly. `
` `
` Why can't they let a girl marry three men, or as many as `
` want her, and save all this trouble? But this is heresy, `
` and I must not say it. I am glad to say that, though I was `
` crying, I was able to look into Mr. Morris' brave eyes, and `
` I told him out straight . . . `
` `
` "Yes, there is some one I love, though he has not told me `
` yet that he even loves me." I was right to speak to him so `
` frankly, for quite a light came into his face, and he put `
` out both his hands and took mine, I think I put them into `
` his, and said in a hearty way . . . `
` `
` "That's my brave girl. It's better worth being late for a chance of `
` winning you than being in time for any other girl in the world. `
` Don't cry, my dear. If it's for me, I'm a hard nut to crack, and I `
` take it standing up. If that other fellow doesn't know his `
` happiness, well, he'd better look for it soon, or he'll have to deal `
` with me. Little girl, your honesty and pluck have made me a friend, `
` and that's rarer than a lover, it's more selfish anyhow. My dear, `
` I'm going to have a pretty lonely walk between this and Kingdom `
` Come. Won't you give me one kiss? It'll be something to keep off `
` the darkness now and then. You can, you know, if you like, for that `
` other good fellow, or you could not love him, hasn't spoken yet." `
` `
` That quite won me, Mina, for it was brave and sweet of him, `
` and noble too, to a rival, wasn't it? And he so sad, so I `
` leant over and kissed him. `
` `
` He stood up with my two hands in his, and as he looked down into my `
` face, I am afraid I was blushing very much, he said, "Little girl, I `
` hold your hand, and you've kissed me, and if these things don't make `
` us friends nothing ever will. Thank you for your sweet honesty to `
` me, and goodbye." `
` `
` He wrung my hand, and taking up his hat, went straight out of the `
` room without looking back, without a tear or a quiver or a pause, `
` and I am crying like a baby. `
` `
` Oh, why must a man like that be made unhappy when there are lots of `
` girls about who would worship the very ground he trod on? I know I `
` would if I were free, only I don't want to be free. My dear, this `
` quite upset me, and I feel I cannot write of happiness just at once, `
` after telling you of it, and I don't wish to tell of the number `
` Three until it can be all happy. Ever your loving . . . `
` `
` Lucy `
` `
` `
` P.S.--Oh, about number Three, I needn't tell you of number `
` Three, need I? Besides, it was all so confused. It seemed `
` only a moment from his coming into the room till both his `
` arms were round me, and he was kissing me. I am very, very `
` happy, and I don't know what I have done to deserve it. I `
` must only try in the future to show that I am not ungrateful `
` to God for all His goodness to me in sending to me such a `
` lover, such a husband, and such a friend. `
` `
` Goodbye. `
` `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARD'S DIARY (Kept in phonograph) `
` `
` 25 May.--Ebb tide in appetite today. Cannot eat, cannot rest, so `
` diary instead. Since my rebuff of yesterday I have a sort of empty `
` feeling. Nothing in the world seems of sufficient importance to be `
` worth the doing. As I knew that the only cure for this sort of thing `
` was work, I went amongst the patients. I picked out one who has `
` afforded me a study of much interest. He is so quaint that I am `
` determined to understand him as well as I can. Today I seemed to get `
` nearer than ever before to the heart of his mystery. `
` `
` I questioned him more fully than I had ever done, with a view to `
` making myself master of the facts of his hallucination. In my manner `
` of doing it there was, I now see, something of cruelty. I seemed to `
` wish to keep him to the point of his madness, a thing which I avoid `
` with the patients as I would the mouth of hell. `
` `
` (Mem., Under what circumstances would I not avoid the pit of hell?) `
` Omnia Romae venalia sunt. Hell has its price! If there be anything `
` behind this instinct it will be valuable to trace it afterwards `
` accurately, so I had better commence to do so, therefore . . . `
` `
` R. M, Renfield, age 59. Sanguine temperament, great physical `
` strength, morbidly excitable, periods of gloom, ending in some fixed `
` idea which I cannot make out. I presume that the sanguine temperament `
` itself and the disturbing influence end in a mentally-accomplished `
` finish, a possibly dangerous man, probably dangerous if unselfish. In `
` selfish men caution is as secure an armour for their foes as for `
` themselves. What I think of on this point is, when self is the fixed `
` point the centripetal force is balanced with the centrifugal. When `
` duty, a cause, etc., is the fixed point, the latter force is `
` paramount, and only accident or a series of accidents can balance it. `
` `
` `
` `
` LETTER, QUINCEY P. MORRIS TO HON. ARTHUR HOLMOOD `
` `
` 25 May. `
` `
` My dear Art, `
` `
` We've told yarns by the campfire in the prairies, and dressed one `
` another's wounds after trying a landing at the Marquesas, and drunk `
` healths on the shore of Titicaca. There are more yarns to be told, `
` and other wounds to be healed, and another health to be drunk. `
` Won't you let this be at my campfire tomorrow night? I have no `
` hesitation in asking you, as I know a certain lady is engaged to a `
` certain dinner party, and that you are free. There will only be one `
` other, our old pal at the Korea, Jack Seward. He's coming, too, and `
` we both want to mingle our weeps over the wine cup, and to drink a `
` health with all our hearts to the happiest man in all the wide `
` world, who has won the noblest heart that God has made and best `
` worth winning. We promise you a hearty welcome, and a loving `
` greeting, and a health as true as your own right hand. We shall `
` both swear to leave you at home if you drink too deep to a certain `
` pair of eyes. Come! `
` `
` Yours, as ever and always, `
` `
` Quincey P. Morris `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` TELEGRAM FROM ARTHUR HOLMWOOD TO QUINCEY P. MORRIS `
` `
` 26 May `
` `
` `
` Count me in every time. I bear messages which will make both `
` your ears tingle. `
` `
` Art `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER 6 `
` `
` `
` MINA MURRAY'S JOURNAL `
` `
` 24 July. Whitby.--Lucy met me at the station, looking sweeter and `
` lovelier than ever, and we drove up to the house at the Crescent in `
` which they have rooms. This is a lovely place. The little river, the `
` Esk, runs through a deep valley, which broadens out as it comes near `
` the harbour. A great viaduct runs across, with high piers, through `
`