Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.1-12
in their shoes, was there in a sort of penitent mood, and `
` was received and petted like a sort of vulpine prodigal `
` son. Old Bilder examined him all over with most tender `
` solicitude, and when he had finished with his penitent `
` said, `
` `
` "There, I knew the poor old chap would get into some kind of `
` trouble. Didn't I say it all along? Here's his head all `
` cut and full of broken glass. 'E's been a-gettin' over `
` some bloomin' wall or other. It's a shyme that people are `
` allowed to top their walls with broken bottles. This 'ere's `
` what comes of it. Come along, Bersicker." `
` `
` He took the wolf and locked him up in a cage, with a piece `
` of meat that satisfied, in quantity at any rate, the elementary `
` conditions of the fatted calf, and went off to report. `
` `
` I came off too, to report the only exclusive information `
` that is given today regarding the strange escapade at the `
` Zoo. `
` `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARD'S DIARY `
` `
` 17 September.--I was engaged after dinner in my study posting up my `
` books, which, through press of other work and the many visits to Lucy, `
` had fallen sadly into arrear. Suddenly the door was burst open, and `
` in rushed my patient, with his face distorted with passion. I was `
` thunderstruck, for such a thing as a patient getting of his own accord `
` into the Superintendent's study is almost unknown. `
` `
` Without an instant's notice he made straight at me. He had a dinner `
` knife in his hand, and as I saw he was dangerous, I tried to keep the `
` table between us. He was too quick and too strong for me, however, `
` for before I could get my balance he had struck at me and cut my left `
` wrist rather severely. `
` `
` Before he could strike again, however, I got in my right hand and he `
` was sprawling on his back on the floor. My wrist bled freely, and `
` quite a little pool trickled on to the carpet. I saw that my friend `
` was not intent on further effort, and occupied myself binding up my `
` wrist, keeping a wary eye on the prostrate figure all the time. When `
` the attendants rushed in, and we turned our attention to him, his `
` employment positively sickened me. He was lying on his belly on the `
` floor licking up, like a dog, the blood which had fallen from my `
` wounded wrist. He was easily secured, and to my surprise, went with `
` the attendants quite placidly, simply repeating over and over again, `
` "The blood is the life! The blood is the life!" `
` `
` I cannot afford to lose blood just at present. I have lost too much `
` of late for my physical good, and then the prolonged strain of Lucy's `
` illness and its horrible phases is telling on me. I am over excited `
` and weary, and I need rest, rest, rest. Happily Van Helsing has not `
` summoned me, so I need not forego my sleep. Tonight I could not well `
` do without it. `
` `
` `
` `
` TELEGRAM, VAN HELSING, ANTWERP, TO SEWARD, CARFAX `
` `
` (Sent to Carfax, Sussex, as no county given, delivered late `
` by twenty-two hours.) `
` `
` 17 September.--Do not fail to be at Hilllingham tonight. `
` If not watching all the time, frequently visit and see that `
` flowers are as placed, very important, do not fail. Shall `
` be with you as soon as possible after arrival. `
` `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARD'S DIARY `
` `
` 18 September.--Just off train to London. The arrival of Van `
` Helsing's telegram filled me with dismay. A whole night lost, `
` and I know by bitter experience what may happen in a night. `
` Of course it is possible that all may be well, but what may `
` have happened? Surely there is some horrible doom hanging over us `
` that every possible accident should thwart us in all we try to do. `
` I shall take this cylinder with me, and then I can complete `
` my entry on Lucy's phonograph. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` MEMORANDUM LEFT BY LUCY WESTENRA `
` `
` 17 September, Night.--I write this and leave it to be seen, `
` so that no one may by any chance get into trouble through `
` me. This is an exact record of what took place tonight. I `
` feel I am dying of weakness, and have barely strength to `
` write, but it must be done if I die in the doing. `
` `
` I went to bed as usual, taking care that the flowers were `
` placed as Dr. Van Helsing directed, and soon fell asleep. `
` `
` I was waked by the flapping at the window, which had begun after `
` that sleep-walking on the cliff at Whitby when Mina saved me, and `
` which now I know so well. I was not afraid, but I did wish that `
` Dr. Seward was in the next room, as Dr. Van Helsing said he would `
` be, so that I might have called him. I tried to sleep, but I `
` could not. Then there came to me the old fear of sleep, and I `
` determined to keep awake. Perversely sleep would try to come then `
` when I did not want it. So, as I feared to be alone, I opened my `
` door and called out, "Is there anybody there?" There was no `
` answer. I was afraid to wake mother, and so closed my door `
` again. Then outside in the shrubbery I heard a sort of howl like `
` a dog's, but more fierce and deeper. I went to the window and `
` looked out, but could see nothing, except a big bat, which had `
` evidently been buffeting its wings against the window. So I went `
` back to bed again, but determined not to go to sleep. Presently `
` the door opened, and mother looked in. Seeing by my moving that `
` I was not asleep, she came in and sat by me. She said to me even `
` more sweetly and softly than her wont, `
` `
` "I was uneasy about you, darling, and came in to see that `
` you were all right." `
` `
` I feared she might catch cold sitting there, and asked her `
` to come in and sleep with me, so she came into bed, and lay `
` down beside me. She did not take off her dressing gown, `
` for she said she would only stay a while and then go back `
` to her own bed. As she lay there in my arms, and I in hers `
` the flapping and buffeting came to the window again. She `
` was startled and a little frightened, and cried out, "What `
` is that?" `
` `
` I tried to pacify her, and at last succeeded, and she lay `
` quiet. But I could hear her poor dear heart still beating `
` terribly. After a while there was the howl again out in `
` the shrubbery, and shortly after there was a crash at the `
` window, and a lot of broken glass was hurled on the floor. `
` The window blind blew back with the wind that rushed in, `
` and in the aperture of the broken panes there was the head `
` of a great, gaunt gray wolf. `
` `
` Mother cried out in a fright, and struggled up into a `
` sitting posture, and clutched wildly at anything that would `
` help her. Amongst other things, she clutched the wreath of `
` flowers that Dr. Van Helsing insisted on my wearing round `
` my neck, and tore it away from me. For a second or two she `
` sat up, pointing at the wolf, and there was a strange and `
` horrible gurgling in her throat. Then she fell over, as if `
` struck with lightning, and her head hit my forehead and `
` made me dizzy for a moment or two. `
` `
` The room and all round seemed to spin round. I kept my eyes `
` fixed on the window, but the wolf drew his head back, and a whole `
` myriad of little specks seems to come blowing in through the `
` broken window, and wheeling and circling round like the pillar of `
` dust that travellers describe when there is a simoon in the `
` desert. I tried to stir, but there was some spell upon me, and `
` dear Mother's poor body, which seemed to grow cold already, for `
` her dear heart had ceased to beat, weighed me down, and I `
` remembered no more for a while. `
` `
` The time did not seem long, but very, very awful, till I `
` recovered consciousness again. Somewhere near, a passing `
` bell was tolling. The dogs all round the neighbourhood were `
` howling, and in our shrubbery, seemingly just outside, a `
` nightingale was singing. I was dazed and stupid with pain `
` and terror and weakness, but the sound of the nightingale `
` seemed like the voice of my dead mother come back to comfort me. `
` The sounds seemed to have awakened the maids, too, for I could `
` hear their bare feet pattering outside my door. I called to `
` them, and they came in, and when they saw what had happened, and `
` what it was that lay over me on the bed, they screamed out. The `
` wind rushed in through the broken window, and the door slammed `
` to. They lifted off the body of my dear mother, and laid her, `
` covered up with a sheet, on the bed after I had got up. They `
` were all so frightened and nervous that I directed them to go to `
` the dining room and each have a glass of wine. The door flew `
` open for an instant and closed again. The maids shrieked, and `
` then went in a body to the dining room, and I laid what flowers I `
` had on my dear mother's breast. When they were there I `
` remembered what Dr. Van Helsing had told me, but I didn't like to `
` remove them, and besides, I would have some of the servants to `
` sit up with me now. I was surprised that the maids did not come `
` back. I called them, but got no answer, so I went to the dining `
` room to look for them. `
` `
` My heart sank when I saw what had happened. They all four `
` lay helpless on the floor, breathing heavily. The decanter `
` of sherry was on the table half full, but there was a queer, `
` acrid smell about. I was suspicious, and examined the decanter. `
` It smelt of laudanum, and looking on the sideboard, I found that `
` the bottle which Mother's doctor uses for her--oh! did use--was `
` empty. What am I to do? What am I to do? I am back in the room `
` with Mother. I cannot leave her, and I am alone, save for the `
` sleeping servants, whom some one has drugged. Alone with the `
` dead! I dare not go out, for I can hear the low howl of the wolf `
` through the broken window. `
` `
` The air seems full of specks, floating and circling in the `
` draught from the window, and the lights burn blue and dim. `
` What am I to do? God shield me from harm this night! I `
` shall hide this paper in my breast, where they shall find `
` it when they come to lay me out. My dear mother gone! It `
` is time that I go too. Goodbye, dear Arthur, if I should `
` not survive this night. God keep you, dear, and God help `
` me! `
`
` was received and petted like a sort of vulpine prodigal `
` son. Old Bilder examined him all over with most tender `
` solicitude, and when he had finished with his penitent `
` said, `
` `
` "There, I knew the poor old chap would get into some kind of `
` trouble. Didn't I say it all along? Here's his head all `
` cut and full of broken glass. 'E's been a-gettin' over `
` some bloomin' wall or other. It's a shyme that people are `
` allowed to top their walls with broken bottles. This 'ere's `
` what comes of it. Come along, Bersicker." `
` `
` He took the wolf and locked him up in a cage, with a piece `
` of meat that satisfied, in quantity at any rate, the elementary `
` conditions of the fatted calf, and went off to report. `
` `
` I came off too, to report the only exclusive information `
` that is given today regarding the strange escapade at the `
` Zoo. `
` `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARD'S DIARY `
` `
` 17 September.--I was engaged after dinner in my study posting up my `
` books, which, through press of other work and the many visits to Lucy, `
` had fallen sadly into arrear. Suddenly the door was burst open, and `
` in rushed my patient, with his face distorted with passion. I was `
` thunderstruck, for such a thing as a patient getting of his own accord `
` into the Superintendent's study is almost unknown. `
` `
` Without an instant's notice he made straight at me. He had a dinner `
` knife in his hand, and as I saw he was dangerous, I tried to keep the `
` table between us. He was too quick and too strong for me, however, `
` for before I could get my balance he had struck at me and cut my left `
` wrist rather severely. `
` `
` Before he could strike again, however, I got in my right hand and he `
` was sprawling on his back on the floor. My wrist bled freely, and `
` quite a little pool trickled on to the carpet. I saw that my friend `
` was not intent on further effort, and occupied myself binding up my `
` wrist, keeping a wary eye on the prostrate figure all the time. When `
` the attendants rushed in, and we turned our attention to him, his `
` employment positively sickened me. He was lying on his belly on the `
` floor licking up, like a dog, the blood which had fallen from my `
` wounded wrist. He was easily secured, and to my surprise, went with `
` the attendants quite placidly, simply repeating over and over again, `
` "The blood is the life! The blood is the life!" `
` `
` I cannot afford to lose blood just at present. I have lost too much `
` of late for my physical good, and then the prolonged strain of Lucy's `
` illness and its horrible phases is telling on me. I am over excited `
` and weary, and I need rest, rest, rest. Happily Van Helsing has not `
` summoned me, so I need not forego my sleep. Tonight I could not well `
` do without it. `
` `
` `
` `
` TELEGRAM, VAN HELSING, ANTWERP, TO SEWARD, CARFAX `
` `
` (Sent to Carfax, Sussex, as no county given, delivered late `
` by twenty-two hours.) `
` `
` 17 September.--Do not fail to be at Hilllingham tonight. `
` If not watching all the time, frequently visit and see that `
` flowers are as placed, very important, do not fail. Shall `
` be with you as soon as possible after arrival. `
` `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARD'S DIARY `
` `
` 18 September.--Just off train to London. The arrival of Van `
` Helsing's telegram filled me with dismay. A whole night lost, `
` and I know by bitter experience what may happen in a night. `
` Of course it is possible that all may be well, but what may `
` have happened? Surely there is some horrible doom hanging over us `
` that every possible accident should thwart us in all we try to do. `
` I shall take this cylinder with me, and then I can complete `
` my entry on Lucy's phonograph. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` MEMORANDUM LEFT BY LUCY WESTENRA `
` `
` 17 September, Night.--I write this and leave it to be seen, `
` so that no one may by any chance get into trouble through `
` me. This is an exact record of what took place tonight. I `
` feel I am dying of weakness, and have barely strength to `
` write, but it must be done if I die in the doing. `
` `
` I went to bed as usual, taking care that the flowers were `
` placed as Dr. Van Helsing directed, and soon fell asleep. `
` `
` I was waked by the flapping at the window, which had begun after `
` that sleep-walking on the cliff at Whitby when Mina saved me, and `
` which now I know so well. I was not afraid, but I did wish that `
` Dr. Seward was in the next room, as Dr. Van Helsing said he would `
` be, so that I might have called him. I tried to sleep, but I `
` could not. Then there came to me the old fear of sleep, and I `
` determined to keep awake. Perversely sleep would try to come then `
` when I did not want it. So, as I feared to be alone, I opened my `
` door and called out, "Is there anybody there?" There was no `
` answer. I was afraid to wake mother, and so closed my door `
` again. Then outside in the shrubbery I heard a sort of howl like `
` a dog's, but more fierce and deeper. I went to the window and `
` looked out, but could see nothing, except a big bat, which had `
` evidently been buffeting its wings against the window. So I went `
` back to bed again, but determined not to go to sleep. Presently `
` the door opened, and mother looked in. Seeing by my moving that `
` I was not asleep, she came in and sat by me. She said to me even `
` more sweetly and softly than her wont, `
` `
` "I was uneasy about you, darling, and came in to see that `
` you were all right." `
` `
` I feared she might catch cold sitting there, and asked her `
` to come in and sleep with me, so she came into bed, and lay `
` down beside me. She did not take off her dressing gown, `
` for she said she would only stay a while and then go back `
` to her own bed. As she lay there in my arms, and I in hers `
` the flapping and buffeting came to the window again. She `
` was startled and a little frightened, and cried out, "What `
` is that?" `
` `
` I tried to pacify her, and at last succeeded, and she lay `
` quiet. But I could hear her poor dear heart still beating `
` terribly. After a while there was the howl again out in `
` the shrubbery, and shortly after there was a crash at the `
` window, and a lot of broken glass was hurled on the floor. `
` The window blind blew back with the wind that rushed in, `
` and in the aperture of the broken panes there was the head `
` of a great, gaunt gray wolf. `
` `
` Mother cried out in a fright, and struggled up into a `
` sitting posture, and clutched wildly at anything that would `
` help her. Amongst other things, she clutched the wreath of `
` flowers that Dr. Van Helsing insisted on my wearing round `
` my neck, and tore it away from me. For a second or two she `
` sat up, pointing at the wolf, and there was a strange and `
` horrible gurgling in her throat. Then she fell over, as if `
` struck with lightning, and her head hit my forehead and `
` made me dizzy for a moment or two. `
` `
` The room and all round seemed to spin round. I kept my eyes `
` fixed on the window, but the wolf drew his head back, and a whole `
` myriad of little specks seems to come blowing in through the `
` broken window, and wheeling and circling round like the pillar of `
` dust that travellers describe when there is a simoon in the `
` desert. I tried to stir, but there was some spell upon me, and `
` dear Mother's poor body, which seemed to grow cold already, for `
` her dear heart had ceased to beat, weighed me down, and I `
` remembered no more for a while. `
` `
` The time did not seem long, but very, very awful, till I `
` recovered consciousness again. Somewhere near, a passing `
` bell was tolling. The dogs all round the neighbourhood were `
` howling, and in our shrubbery, seemingly just outside, a `
` nightingale was singing. I was dazed and stupid with pain `
` and terror and weakness, but the sound of the nightingale `
` seemed like the voice of my dead mother come back to comfort me. `
` The sounds seemed to have awakened the maids, too, for I could `
` hear their bare feet pattering outside my door. I called to `
` them, and they came in, and when they saw what had happened, and `
` what it was that lay over me on the bed, they screamed out. The `
` wind rushed in through the broken window, and the door slammed `
` to. They lifted off the body of my dear mother, and laid her, `
` covered up with a sheet, on the bed after I had got up. They `
` were all so frightened and nervous that I directed them to go to `
` the dining room and each have a glass of wine. The door flew `
` open for an instant and closed again. The maids shrieked, and `
` then went in a body to the dining room, and I laid what flowers I `
` had on my dear mother's breast. When they were there I `
` remembered what Dr. Van Helsing had told me, but I didn't like to `
` remove them, and besides, I would have some of the servants to `
` sit up with me now. I was surprised that the maids did not come `
` back. I called them, but got no answer, so I went to the dining `
` room to look for them. `
` `
` My heart sank when I saw what had happened. They all four `
` lay helpless on the floor, breathing heavily. The decanter `
` of sherry was on the table half full, but there was a queer, `
` acrid smell about. I was suspicious, and examined the decanter. `
` It smelt of laudanum, and looking on the sideboard, I found that `
` the bottle which Mother's doctor uses for her--oh! did use--was `
` empty. What am I to do? What am I to do? I am back in the room `
` with Mother. I cannot leave her, and I am alone, save for the `
` sleeping servants, whom some one has drugged. Alone with the `
` dead! I dare not go out, for I can hear the low howl of the wolf `
` through the broken window. `
` `
` The air seems full of specks, floating and circling in the `
` draught from the window, and the lights burn blue and dim. `
` What am I to do? God shield me from harm this night! I `
` shall hide this paper in my breast, where they shall find `
` it when they come to lay me out. My dear mother gone! It `
` is time that I go too. Goodbye, dear Arthur, if I should `
` not survive this night. God keep you, dear, and God help `
` me! `
`