Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.1-12
me! `
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` CHAPTER 12 `
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` DR. SEWARD'S DIARY `
` `
` 18 September.--I drove at once to Hillingham and arrived early. `
` Keeping my cab at the gate, I went up the avenue alone. I knocked `
` gently and rang as quietly as possible, for I feared to disturb Lucy `
` or her mother, and hoped to only bring a servant to the door. After a `
` while, finding no response, I knocked and rang again, still no `
` answer. I cursed the laziness of the servants that they should lie `
` abed at such an hour, for it was now ten o'clock, and so rang and `
` knocked again, but more impatiently, but still without response. `
` Hitherto I had blamed only the servants, but now a terrible fear began `
` to assail me. Was this desolation but another link in the chain of `
` doom which seemed drawing tight round us? Was it indeed a house of `
` death to which I had come, too late? I know that minutes, even `
` seconds of delay, might mean hours of danger to Lucy, if she had had `
` again one of those frightful relapses, and I went round the house to `
` try if I could find by chance an entry anywhere. `
` `
` I could find no means of ingress. Every window and door was fastened `
` and locked, and I returned baffled to the porch. As I did so, I heard `
` the rapid pit-pat of a swiftly driven horse's feet. They stopped at `
` the gate, and a few seconds later I met Van Helsing running up the `
` avenue. When he saw me, he gasped out, "Then it was you, and just `
` arrived. How is she? Are we too late? Did you not get my telegram?" `
` `
` I answered as quickly and coherently as I could that I had only got `
` his telegram early in the morning, and had not a minute in coming `
` here, and that I could not make any one in the house hear me. He `
` paused and raised his hat as he said solemnly, "Then I fear we are too `
` late. God's will be done!" `
` `
` With his usual recuperative energy, he went on, "Come. If there be no `
` way open to get in, we must make one. Time is all in all to us now." `
` `
` We went round to the back of the house, where there was a kitchen `
` window. The Professor took a small surgical saw from his case, and `
` handing it to me, pointed to the iron bars which guarded the window. `
` I attacked them at once and had very soon cut through three of them. `
` Then with a long, thin knife we pushed back the fastening of the `
` sashes and opened the window. I helped the Professor in, and followed `
` him. There was no one in the kitchen or in the servants' rooms, which `
` were close at hand. We tried all the rooms as we went along, and in `
` the dining room, dimly lit by rays of light through the shutters, `
` found four servant women lying on the floor. There was no need to `
` think them dead, for their stertorous breathing and the acrid smell of `
` laudanum in the room left no doubt as to their condition. `
` `
` Van Helsing and I looked at each other, and as we moved away he said, `
` "We can attend to them later." Then we ascended to Lucy's room. For an `
` instant or two we paused at the door to listen, but there was no sound `
` that we could hear. With white faces and trembling hands, we opened `
` the door gently, and entered the room. `
` `
` How shall I describe what we saw? On the bed lay two women, Lucy and `
` her mother. The latter lay farthest in, and she was covered with a `
` white sheet, the edge of which had been blown back by the drought `
` through the broken window, showing the drawn, white, face, with a look `
` of terror fixed upon it. By her side lay Lucy, with face white and `
` still more drawn. The flowers which had been round her neck we found `
` upon her mother's bosom, and her throat was bare, showing the two `
` little wounds which we had noticed before, but looking horribly white `
` and mangled. Without a word the Professor bent over the bed, his head `
` almost touching poor Lucy's breast. Then he gave a quick turn of his `
` head, as of one who listens, and leaping to his feet, he cried out to `
` me, "It is not yet too late! Quick! Quick! Bring the brandy!" `
` `
` I flew downstairs and returned with it, taking care to smell and taste `
` it, lest it, too, were drugged like the decanter of sherry which I `
` found on the table. The maids were still breathing, but more `
` restlessly, and I fancied that the narcotic was wearing off. I did `
` not stay to make sure, but returned to Van Helsing. He rubbed the `
` brandy, as on another occasion, on her lips and gums and on her wrists `
` and the palms of her hands. He said to me, "I can do this, all that `
` can be at the present. You go wake those maids. Flick them in the `
` face with a wet towel, and flick them hard. Make them get heat and `
` fire and a warm bath. This poor soul is nearly as cold as that beside `
` her. She will need be heated before we can do anything more." `
` `
` I went at once, and found little difficulty in waking three of the `
` women. The fourth was only a young girl, and the drug had evidently `
` affected her more strongly so I lifted her on the sofa and let her `
` sleep. `
` `
` The others were dazed at first, but as remembrance came back to them `
` they cried and sobbed in a hysterical manner. I was stern with them, `
` however, and would not let them talk. I told them that one life was `
` bad enough to lose, and if they delayed they would sacrifice Miss `
` Lucy. So, sobbing and crying they went about their way, half clad as `
` they were, and prepared fire and water. Fortunately, the kitchen and `
` boiler fires were still alive, and there was no lack of hot water. We `
` got a bath and carried Lucy out as she was and placed her in it. `
` Whilst we were busy chafing her limbs there was a knock at the hall `
` door. One of the maids ran off, hurried on some more clothes, and `
` opened it. Then she returned and whispered to us that there was a `
` gentleman who had come with a message from Mr. Holmwood. I bade her `
` simply tell him that he must wait, for we could see no one now. She `
` went away with the message, and, engrossed with our work, I clean `
` forgot all about him. `
` `
` I never saw in all my experience the Professor work in such deadly `
` earnest. I knew, as he knew, that it was a stand-up fight with death, `
` and in a pause told him so. He answered me in a way that I did not `
` understand, but with the sternest look that his face could wear. `
` `
` "If that were all, I would stop here where we are now, and let her `
` fade away into peace, for I see no light in life over her horizon." He `
` went on with his work with, if possible, renewed and more frenzied `
` vigour. `
` `
` Presently we both began to be conscious that the heat was beginning to `
` be of some effect. Lucy's heart beat a trifle more audibly to the `
` stethoscope, and her lungs had a perceptible movement. Van Helsing's `
` face almost beamed, and as we lifted her from the bath and rolled her `
` in a hot sheet to dry her he said to me, "The first gain is ours! `
` Check to the King!" `
` `
` We took Lucy into another room, which had by now been prepared, and `
` laid her in bed and forced a few drops of brandy down her throat. I `
` noticed that Van Helsing tied a soft silk handkerchief round her `
` throat. She was still unconscious, and was quite as bad as, if not `
` worse than, we had ever seen her. `
` `
` Van Helsing called in one of the women, and told her to stay with her `
` and not to take her eyes off her till we returned, and then beckoned `
` me out of the room. `
` `
` "We must consult as to what is to be done," he said as we descended `
` the stairs. In the hall he opened the dining room door, and we passed `
` in, he closing the door carefully behind him. The shutters had been `
` opened, but the blinds were already down, with that obedience to the `
` etiquette of death which the British woman of the lower classes always `
` rigidly observes. The room was, therefore, dimly dark. It was, `
` however, light enough for our purposes. Van Helsing's sternness was `
` somewhat relieved by a look of perplexity. He was evidently torturing `
` his mind about something, so I waited for an instant, and he spoke. `
` `
` "What are we to do now? Where are we to turn for help? We must have `
` another transfusion of blood, and that soon, or that poor girl's life `
` won't be worth an hour's purchase. You are exhausted already. I am `
` exhausted too. I fear to trust those women, even if they would have `
` courage to submit. What are we to do for some one who will open his `
` veins for her?" `
` `
` "What's the matter with me, anyhow?" `
` `
` The voice came from the sofa across the room, and its tones brought `
` relief and joy to my heart, for they were those of Quincey Morris. `
` `
` Van Helsing started angrily at the first sound, but his face softened `
` and a glad look came into his eyes as I cried out, "Quincey Morris!" `
` and rushed towards him with outstretched hands. `
` `
` "What brought you here?" I cried as our hands met. `
` `
` "I guess Art is the cause." `
` `
` He handed me a telegram.--'Have not heard from Seward for three days, `
` and am terribly anxious. Cannot leave. Father still in same `
` condition. Send me word how Lucy is. Do not delay.--Holmwood.' `
` `
` "I think I came just in the nick of time. You know you have only to `
` tell me what to do." `
` `
` Van Helsing strode forward, and took his hand, looking him straight in `
` the eyes as he said, "A brave man's blood is the best thing on this `
` earth when a woman is in trouble. You're a man and no mistake. Well, `
` the devil may work against us for all he's worth, but God sends us men `
` when we want them." `
` `
` Once again we went through that ghastly operation. I have not the `
` heart to go through with the details. Lucy had got a terrible shock `
` and it told on her more than before, for though plenty of blood went `
` into her veins, her body did not respond to the treatment as well as `
` on the other occasions. Her struggle back into life was something `
` frightful to see and hear. However, the action of both heart and `
` lungs improved, and Van Helsing made a sub-cutaneous injection of `
` morphia, as before, and with good effect. Her faint became a profound `
` slumber. The Professor watched whilst I went downstairs with Quincey `
` Morris, and sent one of the maids to pay off one of the cabmen who `
` were waiting. `
` `
` I left Quincey lying down after having a glass of wine, and told the `
` cook to get ready a good breakfast. Then a thought struck me, and I `
` went back to the room where Lucy now was. When I came softly in, I `
` found Van Helsing with a sheet or two of note paper in his hand. He `
` had evidently read it, and was thinking it over as he sat with his `
` hand to his brow. There was a look of grim satisfaction in his face, `
` as of one who has had a doubt solved. He handed me the paper saying `
` only, "It dropped from Lucy's breast when we carried her to the bath." `
` `
` When I had read it, I stood looking at the Professor, and after a `
` pause asked him, "In God's name, what does it all mean? Was she, or `
` is she, mad, or what sort of horrible danger is it?" I was so `
`
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER 12 `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARD'S DIARY `
` `
` 18 September.--I drove at once to Hillingham and arrived early. `
` Keeping my cab at the gate, I went up the avenue alone. I knocked `
` gently and rang as quietly as possible, for I feared to disturb Lucy `
` or her mother, and hoped to only bring a servant to the door. After a `
` while, finding no response, I knocked and rang again, still no `
` answer. I cursed the laziness of the servants that they should lie `
` abed at such an hour, for it was now ten o'clock, and so rang and `
` knocked again, but more impatiently, but still without response. `
` Hitherto I had blamed only the servants, but now a terrible fear began `
` to assail me. Was this desolation but another link in the chain of `
` doom which seemed drawing tight round us? Was it indeed a house of `
` death to which I had come, too late? I know that minutes, even `
` seconds of delay, might mean hours of danger to Lucy, if she had had `
` again one of those frightful relapses, and I went round the house to `
` try if I could find by chance an entry anywhere. `
` `
` I could find no means of ingress. Every window and door was fastened `
` and locked, and I returned baffled to the porch. As I did so, I heard `
` the rapid pit-pat of a swiftly driven horse's feet. They stopped at `
` the gate, and a few seconds later I met Van Helsing running up the `
` avenue. When he saw me, he gasped out, "Then it was you, and just `
` arrived. How is she? Are we too late? Did you not get my telegram?" `
` `
` I answered as quickly and coherently as I could that I had only got `
` his telegram early in the morning, and had not a minute in coming `
` here, and that I could not make any one in the house hear me. He `
` paused and raised his hat as he said solemnly, "Then I fear we are too `
` late. God's will be done!" `
` `
` With his usual recuperative energy, he went on, "Come. If there be no `
` way open to get in, we must make one. Time is all in all to us now." `
` `
` We went round to the back of the house, where there was a kitchen `
` window. The Professor took a small surgical saw from his case, and `
` handing it to me, pointed to the iron bars which guarded the window. `
` I attacked them at once and had very soon cut through three of them. `
` Then with a long, thin knife we pushed back the fastening of the `
` sashes and opened the window. I helped the Professor in, and followed `
` him. There was no one in the kitchen or in the servants' rooms, which `
` were close at hand. We tried all the rooms as we went along, and in `
` the dining room, dimly lit by rays of light through the shutters, `
` found four servant women lying on the floor. There was no need to `
` think them dead, for their stertorous breathing and the acrid smell of `
` laudanum in the room left no doubt as to their condition. `
` `
` Van Helsing and I looked at each other, and as we moved away he said, `
` "We can attend to them later." Then we ascended to Lucy's room. For an `
` instant or two we paused at the door to listen, but there was no sound `
` that we could hear. With white faces and trembling hands, we opened `
` the door gently, and entered the room. `
` `
` How shall I describe what we saw? On the bed lay two women, Lucy and `
` her mother. The latter lay farthest in, and she was covered with a `
` white sheet, the edge of which had been blown back by the drought `
` through the broken window, showing the drawn, white, face, with a look `
` of terror fixed upon it. By her side lay Lucy, with face white and `
` still more drawn. The flowers which had been round her neck we found `
` upon her mother's bosom, and her throat was bare, showing the two `
` little wounds which we had noticed before, but looking horribly white `
` and mangled. Without a word the Professor bent over the bed, his head `
` almost touching poor Lucy's breast. Then he gave a quick turn of his `
` head, as of one who listens, and leaping to his feet, he cried out to `
` me, "It is not yet too late! Quick! Quick! Bring the brandy!" `
` `
` I flew downstairs and returned with it, taking care to smell and taste `
` it, lest it, too, were drugged like the decanter of sherry which I `
` found on the table. The maids were still breathing, but more `
` restlessly, and I fancied that the narcotic was wearing off. I did `
` not stay to make sure, but returned to Van Helsing. He rubbed the `
` brandy, as on another occasion, on her lips and gums and on her wrists `
` and the palms of her hands. He said to me, "I can do this, all that `
` can be at the present. You go wake those maids. Flick them in the `
` face with a wet towel, and flick them hard. Make them get heat and `
` fire and a warm bath. This poor soul is nearly as cold as that beside `
` her. She will need be heated before we can do anything more." `
` `
` I went at once, and found little difficulty in waking three of the `
` women. The fourth was only a young girl, and the drug had evidently `
` affected her more strongly so I lifted her on the sofa and let her `
` sleep. `
` `
` The others were dazed at first, but as remembrance came back to them `
` they cried and sobbed in a hysterical manner. I was stern with them, `
` however, and would not let them talk. I told them that one life was `
` bad enough to lose, and if they delayed they would sacrifice Miss `
` Lucy. So, sobbing and crying they went about their way, half clad as `
` they were, and prepared fire and water. Fortunately, the kitchen and `
` boiler fires were still alive, and there was no lack of hot water. We `
` got a bath and carried Lucy out as she was and placed her in it. `
` Whilst we were busy chafing her limbs there was a knock at the hall `
` door. One of the maids ran off, hurried on some more clothes, and `
` opened it. Then she returned and whispered to us that there was a `
` gentleman who had come with a message from Mr. Holmwood. I bade her `
` simply tell him that he must wait, for we could see no one now. She `
` went away with the message, and, engrossed with our work, I clean `
` forgot all about him. `
` `
` I never saw in all my experience the Professor work in such deadly `
` earnest. I knew, as he knew, that it was a stand-up fight with death, `
` and in a pause told him so. He answered me in a way that I did not `
` understand, but with the sternest look that his face could wear. `
` `
` "If that were all, I would stop here where we are now, and let her `
` fade away into peace, for I see no light in life over her horizon." He `
` went on with his work with, if possible, renewed and more frenzied `
` vigour. `
` `
` Presently we both began to be conscious that the heat was beginning to `
` be of some effect. Lucy's heart beat a trifle more audibly to the `
` stethoscope, and her lungs had a perceptible movement. Van Helsing's `
` face almost beamed, and as we lifted her from the bath and rolled her `
` in a hot sheet to dry her he said to me, "The first gain is ours! `
` Check to the King!" `
` `
` We took Lucy into another room, which had by now been prepared, and `
` laid her in bed and forced a few drops of brandy down her throat. I `
` noticed that Van Helsing tied a soft silk handkerchief round her `
` throat. She was still unconscious, and was quite as bad as, if not `
` worse than, we had ever seen her. `
` `
` Van Helsing called in one of the women, and told her to stay with her `
` and not to take her eyes off her till we returned, and then beckoned `
` me out of the room. `
` `
` "We must consult as to what is to be done," he said as we descended `
` the stairs. In the hall he opened the dining room door, and we passed `
` in, he closing the door carefully behind him. The shutters had been `
` opened, but the blinds were already down, with that obedience to the `
` etiquette of death which the British woman of the lower classes always `
` rigidly observes. The room was, therefore, dimly dark. It was, `
` however, light enough for our purposes. Van Helsing's sternness was `
` somewhat relieved by a look of perplexity. He was evidently torturing `
` his mind about something, so I waited for an instant, and he spoke. `
` `
` "What are we to do now? Where are we to turn for help? We must have `
` another transfusion of blood, and that soon, or that poor girl's life `
` won't be worth an hour's purchase. You are exhausted already. I am `
` exhausted too. I fear to trust those women, even if they would have `
` courage to submit. What are we to do for some one who will open his `
` veins for her?" `
` `
` "What's the matter with me, anyhow?" `
` `
` The voice came from the sofa across the room, and its tones brought `
` relief and joy to my heart, for they were those of Quincey Morris. `
` `
` Van Helsing started angrily at the first sound, but his face softened `
` and a glad look came into his eyes as I cried out, "Quincey Morris!" `
` and rushed towards him with outstretched hands. `
` `
` "What brought you here?" I cried as our hands met. `
` `
` "I guess Art is the cause." `
` `
` He handed me a telegram.--'Have not heard from Seward for three days, `
` and am terribly anxious. Cannot leave. Father still in same `
` condition. Send me word how Lucy is. Do not delay.--Holmwood.' `
` `
` "I think I came just in the nick of time. You know you have only to `
` tell me what to do." `
` `
` Van Helsing strode forward, and took his hand, looking him straight in `
` the eyes as he said, "A brave man's blood is the best thing on this `
` earth when a woman is in trouble. You're a man and no mistake. Well, `
` the devil may work against us for all he's worth, but God sends us men `
` when we want them." `
` `
` Once again we went through that ghastly operation. I have not the `
` heart to go through with the details. Lucy had got a terrible shock `
` and it told on her more than before, for though plenty of blood went `
` into her veins, her body did not respond to the treatment as well as `
` on the other occasions. Her struggle back into life was something `
` frightful to see and hear. However, the action of both heart and `
` lungs improved, and Van Helsing made a sub-cutaneous injection of `
` morphia, as before, and with good effect. Her faint became a profound `
` slumber. The Professor watched whilst I went downstairs with Quincey `
` Morris, and sent one of the maids to pay off one of the cabmen who `
` were waiting. `
` `
` I left Quincey lying down after having a glass of wine, and told the `
` cook to get ready a good breakfast. Then a thought struck me, and I `
` went back to the room where Lucy now was. When I came softly in, I `
` found Van Helsing with a sheet or two of note paper in his hand. He `
` had evidently read it, and was thinking it over as he sat with his `
` hand to his brow. There was a look of grim satisfaction in his face, `
` as of one who has had a doubt solved. He handed me the paper saying `
` only, "It dropped from Lucy's breast when we carried her to the bath." `
` `
` When I had read it, I stood looking at the Professor, and after a `
` pause asked him, "In God's name, what does it all mean? Was she, or `
` is she, mad, or what sort of horrible danger is it?" I was so `
`