Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.1-12
`
` LETTER, MINA HARKER TO LUCY WESTENRA `
` `
` `
` Buda-Pesth, 24 August. `
` `
` "My dearest Lucy, `
` `
` "I know you will be anxious to hear all that has happened `
` since we parted at the railway station at Whitby. `
` `
` "Well, my dear, I got to Hull all right, and caught the boat to `
` Hamburg, and then the train on here. I feel that I can hardly `
` recall anything of the journey, except that I knew I was coming to `
` Jonathan, and that as I should have to do some nursing, I had better `
` get all the sleep I could. I found my dear one, oh, so thin and `
` pale and weak-looking. All the resolution has gone out of his dear `
` eyes, and that quiet dignity which I told you was in his face has `
` vanished. He is only a wreck of himself, and he does not remember `
` anything that has happened to him for a long time past. At least, `
` he wants me to believe so, and I shall never ask. `
` `
` "He has had some terrible shock, and I fear it might tax his poor `
` brain if he were to try to recall it. Sister Agatha, who is a good `
` creature and a born nurse, tells me that he wanted her to tell me `
` what they were, but she would only cross herself, and say she would `
` never tell. That the ravings of the sick were the secrets of God, `
` and that if a nurse through her vocation should hear them, she `
` should respect her trust. `
` `
` "She is a sweet, good soul, and the next day, when she saw I was `
` troubled, she opened up the subject my poor dear raved about, added, `
` 'I can tell you this much, my dear. That it was not about anything `
` which he has done wrong himself, and you, as his wife to be, have no `
` cause to be concerned. He has not forgotten you or what he owes to `
` you. His fear was of great and terrible things, which no mortal can `
` treat of.' `
` `
` "I do believe the dear soul thought I might be jealous lest my poor `
` dear should have fallen in love with any other girl. The idea of my `
` being jealous about Jonathan! And yet, my dear, let me whisper, I `
` felt a thrill of joy through me when I knew that no other woman was `
` a cause for trouble. I am now sitting by his bedside, where I can `
` see his face while he sleeps. He is waking! `
` `
` "When he woke he asked me for his coat, as he wanted to get `
` something from the pocket. I asked Sister Agatha, and she brought `
` all his things. I saw amongst them was his notebook, and was was `
` going to ask him to let me look at it, for I knew that I might find `
` some clue to his trouble, but I suppose he must have seen my wish in `
` my eyes, for he sent me over to the window, saying he wanted to be `
` quite alone for a moment. `
` `
` "Then he called me back, and he said to me very solemnly, `
` 'Wilhelmina', I knew then that he was in deadly earnest, for he has `
` never called me by that name since he asked me to marry him, 'You `
` know, dear, my ideas of the trust between husband and wife. There `
` should be no secret, no concealment. I have had a great shock, and `
` when I try to think of what it is I feel my head spin round, and I `
` do not know if it was real of the dreaming of a madman. You know I `
` had brain fever, and that is to be mad. The secret is here, and I `
` do not want to know it. I want to take up my life here, with our `
` marriage.' For, my dear, we had decided to be married as soon as `
` the formalities are complete. 'Are you willing, Wilhelmina, to `
` share my ignorance? Here is the book. Take it and keep it, read it `
` if you will, but never let me know unless, indeed, some solemn duty `
` should come upon me to go back to the bitter hours, asleep or awake, `
` sane or mad, recorded here.' He fell back exhausted, and I put the `
` book under his pillow, and kissed him. I have asked Sister Agatha `
` to beg the Superior to let our wedding be this afternoon, and am `
` waiting her reply . . ." `
` `
` `
` "She has come and told me that the Chaplain of the English mission `
` church has been sent for. We are to be married in an hour, or as `
` soon after as Jonathan awakes." `
` `
` "Lucy, the time has come and gone. I feel very solemn, but very, `
` very happy. Jonathan woke a little after the hour, and all was `
` ready, and he sat up in bed, propped up with pillows. He answered `
` his 'I will' firmly and strong. I could hardly speak. My heart was `
` so full that even those words seemed to choke me. `
` `
` "The dear sisters were so kind. Please, God, I shall never, never `
` forget them, nor the grave and sweet responsibilities I have taken `
` upon me. I must tell you of my wedding present. When the chaplain `
` and the sisters had left me alone with my husband--oh, Lucy, it is `
` the first time I have written the words 'my husband'--left me alone `
` with my husband, I took the book from under his pillow, and wrapped `
` it up in white paper, and tied it with a little bit of pale blue `
` ribbon which was round my neck, and sealed it over the knot with `
` sealing wax, and for my seal I used my wedding ring. Then I kissed `
` it and showed it to my husband, and told him that I would keep it `
` so, and then it would be an outward and visible sign for us all our `
` lives that we trusted each other, that I would never open it unless `
` it were for his own dear sake or for the sake of some stern duty. `
` Then he took my hand in his, and oh, Lucy, it was the first time he `
` took his wife's hand, and said that it was the dearest thing in all `
` the wide world, and that he would go through all the past again to `
` win it, if need be. The poor dear meant to have said a part of the `
` past, but he cannot think of time yet, and I shall not wonder if at `
` first he mixes up not only the month, but the year. `
` `
` "Well, my dear, what could I say? I could only tell him that I was `
` the happiest woman in all the wide world, and that I had nothing to `
` give him except myself, my life, and my trust, and that with these `
` went my love and duty for all the days of my life. And, my dear, `
` when he kissed me, and drew me to him with his poor weak hands, it `
` was like a solemn pledge between us. `
` `
` "Lucy dear, do you know why I tell you all this? It is not only `
` because it is all sweet to me, but because you have been, and are, `
` very dear to me. It was my privilege to be your friend and guide `
` when you came from the schoolroom to prepare for the world of life. `
` I want you to see now, and with the eyes of a very happy wife, `
` whither duty has led me, so that in your own married life you too `
` may be all happy, as I am. My dear, please Almighty God, your life `
` may be all it promises, a long day of sunshine, with no harsh wind, `
` no forgetting duty, no distrust. I must not wish you no pain, for `
` that can never be, but I do hope you will be always as happy as I am `
` now. Goodbye, my dear. I shall post this at once, and perhaps, `
` write you very soon again. I must stop, for Jonathan is waking. I `
` must attend my husband! `
` `
` "Your ever-loving `
` Mina Harker." `
` `
` `
` `
` LETTER, LUCY WESTENRA TO MINA HARKER. `
` `
` Whitby, 30 August. `
` `
` "My dearest Mina, `
` `
` "Oceans of love and millions of kisses, and may you soon be in your `
` own home with your husband. I wish you were coming home soon enough `
` to stay with us here. The strong air would soon restore Jonathan. `
` It has quite restored me. I have an appetite like a cormorant, am `
` full of life, and sleep well. You will be glad to know that I have `
` quite given up walking in my sleep. I think I have not stirred out `
` of my bed for a week, that is when I once got into it at night. `
` Arthur says I am getting fat. By the way, I forgot to tell you that `
` Arthur is here. We have such walks and drives, and rides, and `
` rowing, and tennis, and fishing together, and I love him more than `
` ever. He tells me that he loves me more, but I doubt that, for at `
` first he told me that he couldn't love me more than he did then. `
` But this is nonsense. There he is, calling to me. So no more just `
` at present from your loving, `
` `
` "Lucy. `
` `
` "P.S.--Mother sends her love. She seems better, poor dear. `
` `
` "P.P.S.--We are to be married on 28 September." `
` `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARDS DIARY `
` `
` 20 August.--The case of Renfield grows even more interesting. He has `
` now so far quieted that there are spells of cessation from his `
` passion. For the first week after his attack he was perpetually `
` violent. Then one night, just as the moon rose, he grew quiet, and `
` kept murmuring to himself. "Now I can wait. Now I can wait." `
` `
` The attendant came to tell me, so I ran down at once to have a look at `
` him. He was still in the strait waistcoat and in the padded room, but `
` the suffused look had gone from his face, and his eyes had something `
` of their old pleading. I might almost say, cringing, softness. I was `
` satisfied with his present condition, and directed him to be relieved. `
` The attendants hesitated, but finally carried out my wishes without `
` protest. `
` `
` It was a strange thing that the patient had humour enough to see their `
` distrust, for, coming close to me, he said in a whisper, all the while `
` looking furtively at them, "They think I could hurt you! Fancy me `
` hurting you! The fools!" `
` `
` It was soothing, somehow, to the feelings to find myself disassociated `
` even in the mind of this poor madman from the others, but all the same `
` I do not follow his thought. Am I to take it that I have anything in `
` common with him, so that we are, as it were, to stand together. Or `
` has he to gain from me some good so stupendous that my well being is `
` needful to Him? I must find out later on. Tonight he will not speak. `
` Even the offer of a kitten or even a full-grown cat will not tempt `
` him. `
` `
` He will only say, "I don't take any stock in cats. I have more to `
` think of now, and I can wait. I can wait." `
` `
` After a while I left him. The attendant tells me that he was quiet `
` until just before dawn, and that then he began to get uneasy, and at `
` length violent, until at last he fell into a paroxysm which exhausted `
` him so that he swooned into a sort of coma. `
` `
` `
` . . . Three nights has the same thing happened, violent all day then `
` quiet from moonrise to sunrise. I wish I could get some clue to the `
` cause. It would almost seem as if there was some influence which came `
` and went. Happy thought! We shall tonight play sane wits against mad `
`
` LETTER, MINA HARKER TO LUCY WESTENRA `
` `
` `
` Buda-Pesth, 24 August. `
` `
` "My dearest Lucy, `
` `
` "I know you will be anxious to hear all that has happened `
` since we parted at the railway station at Whitby. `
` `
` "Well, my dear, I got to Hull all right, and caught the boat to `
` Hamburg, and then the train on here. I feel that I can hardly `
` recall anything of the journey, except that I knew I was coming to `
` Jonathan, and that as I should have to do some nursing, I had better `
` get all the sleep I could. I found my dear one, oh, so thin and `
` pale and weak-looking. All the resolution has gone out of his dear `
` eyes, and that quiet dignity which I told you was in his face has `
` vanished. He is only a wreck of himself, and he does not remember `
` anything that has happened to him for a long time past. At least, `
` he wants me to believe so, and I shall never ask. `
` `
` "He has had some terrible shock, and I fear it might tax his poor `
` brain if he were to try to recall it. Sister Agatha, who is a good `
` creature and a born nurse, tells me that he wanted her to tell me `
` what they were, but she would only cross herself, and say she would `
` never tell. That the ravings of the sick were the secrets of God, `
` and that if a nurse through her vocation should hear them, she `
` should respect her trust. `
` `
` "She is a sweet, good soul, and the next day, when she saw I was `
` troubled, she opened up the subject my poor dear raved about, added, `
` 'I can tell you this much, my dear. That it was not about anything `
` which he has done wrong himself, and you, as his wife to be, have no `
` cause to be concerned. He has not forgotten you or what he owes to `
` you. His fear was of great and terrible things, which no mortal can `
` treat of.' `
` `
` "I do believe the dear soul thought I might be jealous lest my poor `
` dear should have fallen in love with any other girl. The idea of my `
` being jealous about Jonathan! And yet, my dear, let me whisper, I `
` felt a thrill of joy through me when I knew that no other woman was `
` a cause for trouble. I am now sitting by his bedside, where I can `
` see his face while he sleeps. He is waking! `
` `
` "When he woke he asked me for his coat, as he wanted to get `
` something from the pocket. I asked Sister Agatha, and she brought `
` all his things. I saw amongst them was his notebook, and was was `
` going to ask him to let me look at it, for I knew that I might find `
` some clue to his trouble, but I suppose he must have seen my wish in `
` my eyes, for he sent me over to the window, saying he wanted to be `
` quite alone for a moment. `
` `
` "Then he called me back, and he said to me very solemnly, `
` 'Wilhelmina', I knew then that he was in deadly earnest, for he has `
` never called me by that name since he asked me to marry him, 'You `
` know, dear, my ideas of the trust between husband and wife. There `
` should be no secret, no concealment. I have had a great shock, and `
` when I try to think of what it is I feel my head spin round, and I `
` do not know if it was real of the dreaming of a madman. You know I `
` had brain fever, and that is to be mad. The secret is here, and I `
` do not want to know it. I want to take up my life here, with our `
` marriage.' For, my dear, we had decided to be married as soon as `
` the formalities are complete. 'Are you willing, Wilhelmina, to `
` share my ignorance? Here is the book. Take it and keep it, read it `
` if you will, but never let me know unless, indeed, some solemn duty `
` should come upon me to go back to the bitter hours, asleep or awake, `
` sane or mad, recorded here.' He fell back exhausted, and I put the `
` book under his pillow, and kissed him. I have asked Sister Agatha `
` to beg the Superior to let our wedding be this afternoon, and am `
` waiting her reply . . ." `
` `
` `
` "She has come and told me that the Chaplain of the English mission `
` church has been sent for. We are to be married in an hour, or as `
` soon after as Jonathan awakes." `
` `
` "Lucy, the time has come and gone. I feel very solemn, but very, `
` very happy. Jonathan woke a little after the hour, and all was `
` ready, and he sat up in bed, propped up with pillows. He answered `
` his 'I will' firmly and strong. I could hardly speak. My heart was `
` so full that even those words seemed to choke me. `
` `
` "The dear sisters were so kind. Please, God, I shall never, never `
` forget them, nor the grave and sweet responsibilities I have taken `
` upon me. I must tell you of my wedding present. When the chaplain `
` and the sisters had left me alone with my husband--oh, Lucy, it is `
` the first time I have written the words 'my husband'--left me alone `
` with my husband, I took the book from under his pillow, and wrapped `
` it up in white paper, and tied it with a little bit of pale blue `
` ribbon which was round my neck, and sealed it over the knot with `
` sealing wax, and for my seal I used my wedding ring. Then I kissed `
` it and showed it to my husband, and told him that I would keep it `
` so, and then it would be an outward and visible sign for us all our `
` lives that we trusted each other, that I would never open it unless `
` it were for his own dear sake or for the sake of some stern duty. `
` Then he took my hand in his, and oh, Lucy, it was the first time he `
` took his wife's hand, and said that it was the dearest thing in all `
` the wide world, and that he would go through all the past again to `
` win it, if need be. The poor dear meant to have said a part of the `
` past, but he cannot think of time yet, and I shall not wonder if at `
` first he mixes up not only the month, but the year. `
` `
` "Well, my dear, what could I say? I could only tell him that I was `
` the happiest woman in all the wide world, and that I had nothing to `
` give him except myself, my life, and my trust, and that with these `
` went my love and duty for all the days of my life. And, my dear, `
` when he kissed me, and drew me to him with his poor weak hands, it `
` was like a solemn pledge between us. `
` `
` "Lucy dear, do you know why I tell you all this? It is not only `
` because it is all sweet to me, but because you have been, and are, `
` very dear to me. It was my privilege to be your friend and guide `
` when you came from the schoolroom to prepare for the world of life. `
` I want you to see now, and with the eyes of a very happy wife, `
` whither duty has led me, so that in your own married life you too `
` may be all happy, as I am. My dear, please Almighty God, your life `
` may be all it promises, a long day of sunshine, with no harsh wind, `
` no forgetting duty, no distrust. I must not wish you no pain, for `
` that can never be, but I do hope you will be always as happy as I am `
` now. Goodbye, my dear. I shall post this at once, and perhaps, `
` write you very soon again. I must stop, for Jonathan is waking. I `
` must attend my husband! `
` `
` "Your ever-loving `
` Mina Harker." `
` `
` `
` `
` LETTER, LUCY WESTENRA TO MINA HARKER. `
` `
` Whitby, 30 August. `
` `
` "My dearest Mina, `
` `
` "Oceans of love and millions of kisses, and may you soon be in your `
` own home with your husband. I wish you were coming home soon enough `
` to stay with us here. The strong air would soon restore Jonathan. `
` It has quite restored me. I have an appetite like a cormorant, am `
` full of life, and sleep well. You will be glad to know that I have `
` quite given up walking in my sleep. I think I have not stirred out `
` of my bed for a week, that is when I once got into it at night. `
` Arthur says I am getting fat. By the way, I forgot to tell you that `
` Arthur is here. We have such walks and drives, and rides, and `
` rowing, and tennis, and fishing together, and I love him more than `
` ever. He tells me that he loves me more, but I doubt that, for at `
` first he told me that he couldn't love me more than he did then. `
` But this is nonsense. There he is, calling to me. So no more just `
` at present from your loving, `
` `
` "Lucy. `
` `
` "P.S.--Mother sends her love. She seems better, poor dear. `
` `
` "P.P.S.--We are to be married on 28 September." `
` `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARDS DIARY `
` `
` 20 August.--The case of Renfield grows even more interesting. He has `
` now so far quieted that there are spells of cessation from his `
` passion. For the first week after his attack he was perpetually `
` violent. Then one night, just as the moon rose, he grew quiet, and `
` kept murmuring to himself. "Now I can wait. Now I can wait." `
` `
` The attendant came to tell me, so I ran down at once to have a look at `
` him. He was still in the strait waistcoat and in the padded room, but `
` the suffused look had gone from his face, and his eyes had something `
` of their old pleading. I might almost say, cringing, softness. I was `
` satisfied with his present condition, and directed him to be relieved. `
` The attendants hesitated, but finally carried out my wishes without `
` protest. `
` `
` It was a strange thing that the patient had humour enough to see their `
` distrust, for, coming close to me, he said in a whisper, all the while `
` looking furtively at them, "They think I could hurt you! Fancy me `
` hurting you! The fools!" `
` `
` It was soothing, somehow, to the feelings to find myself disassociated `
` even in the mind of this poor madman from the others, but all the same `
` I do not follow his thought. Am I to take it that I have anything in `
` common with him, so that we are, as it were, to stand together. Or `
` has he to gain from me some good so stupendous that my well being is `
` needful to Him? I must find out later on. Tonight he will not speak. `
` Even the offer of a kitten or even a full-grown cat will not tempt `
` him. `
` `
` He will only say, "I don't take any stock in cats. I have more to `
` think of now, and I can wait. I can wait." `
` `
` After a while I left him. The attendant tells me that he was quiet `
` until just before dawn, and that then he began to get uneasy, and at `
` length violent, until at last he fell into a paroxysm which exhausted `
` him so that he swooned into a sort of coma. `
` `
` `
` . . . Three nights has the same thing happened, violent all day then `
` quiet from moonrise to sunrise. I wish I could get some clue to the `
` cause. It would almost seem as if there was some influence which came `
` and went. Happy thought! We shall tonight play sane wits against mad `
`