Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.13-27
honour or dishonour. Is this your doing?" `
` `
` "I swear to you by all that I hold sacred that I have not removed or `
` touched her. What happened was this. Two nights ago my friend Seward `
` and I came here, with good purpose, believe me. I opened that coffin, `
` which was then sealed up, and we found it as now, empty. We then `
` waited, and saw something white come through the trees. The next day `
` we came here in daytime and she lay there. Did she not, friend John? `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "That night we were just in time. One more so small child was `
` missing, and we find it, thank God, unharmed amongst the graves. `
` Yesterday I came here before sundown, for at sundown the UnDead can `
` move. I waited here all night till the sun rose, but I saw nothing. `
` It was most probable that it was because I had laid over the clamps of `
` those doors garlic, which the UnDead cannot bear, and other things `
` which they shun. Last night there was no exodus, so tonight before `
` the sundown I took away my garlic and other things. And so it is we `
` find this coffin empty. But bear with me. So far there is much that `
` is strange. Wait you with me outside, unseen and unheard, and things `
` much stranger are yet to be. So," here he shut the dark slide of his `
` lantern, "now to the outside." He opened the door, and we filed out, `
` he coming last and locking the door behind him. `
` `
` Oh! But it seemed fresh and pure in the night air after the terror of `
` that vault. How sweet it was to see the clouds race by, and the `
` passing gleams of the moonlight between the scudding clouds crossing `
` and passing, like the gladness and sorrow of a man's life. How sweet `
` it was to breathe the fresh air, that had no taint of death and decay. `
` How humanizing to see the red lighting of the sky beyond the hill, and `
` to hear far away the muffled roar that marks the life of a great `
` city. Each in his own way was solemn and overcome. Arthur was `
` silent, and was, I could see, striving to grasp the purpose and the `
` inner meaning of the mystery. I was myself tolerably patient, and `
` half inclined again to throw aside doubt and to accept Van Helsing's `
` conclusions. Quincey Morris was phlegmatic in the way of a man who `
` accepts all things, and accepts them in the spirit of cool bravery, `
` with hazard of all he has at stake. Not being able to smoke, he cut `
` himself a good-sized plug of tobacco and began to chew. As to Van `
` Helsing, he was employed in a definite way. First he took from his `
` bag a mass of what looked like thin, wafer-like biscuit, which was `
` carefully rolled up in a white napkin. Next he took out a double `
` handful of some whitish stuff, like dough or putty. He crumbled the `
` wafer up fine and worked it into the mass between his hands. This he `
` then took, and rolling it into thin strips, began to lay them into the `
` crevices between the door and its setting in the tomb. I was somewhat `
` puzzled at this, and being close, asked him what it was that he was `
` doing. Arthur and Quincey drew near also, as they too were curious. `
` `
` He answered, "I am closing the tomb so that the UnDead may not enter." `
` `
` "And is that stuff you have there going to do it?" `
` `
` "It is." `
` `
` "What is that which you are using?" This time the question was by `
` Arthur. Van Helsing reverently lifted his hat as he answered. `
` `
` "The Host. I brought it from Amsterdam. I have an Indulgence." `
` `
` It was an answer that appalled the most sceptical of us, and we felt `
` individually that in the presence of such earnest purpose as the `
` Professor's, a purpose which could thus use the to him most sacred of `
` things, it was impossible to distrust. In respectful silence we took `
` the places assigned to us close round the tomb, but hidden from the `
` sight of any one approaching. I pitied the others, especially Arthur. `
` I had myself been apprenticed by my former visits to this watching `
` horror, and yet I, who had up to an hour ago repudiated the proofs, `
` felt my heart sink within me. Never did tombs look so ghastly white. `
` Never did cypress, or yew, or juniper so seem the embodiment of `
` funeral gloom. Never did tree or grass wave or rustle so ominously. `
` Never did bough creak so mysteriously, and never did the far-away `
` howling of dogs send such a woeful presage through the night. `
` `
` There was a long spell of silence, big, aching, void, and then from `
` the Professor a keen "S-s-s-s!" He pointed, and far down the avenue of `
` yews we saw a white figure advance, a dim white figure, which held `
` something dark at its breast. The figure stopped, and at the moment a `
` ray of moonlight fell upon the masses of driving clouds, and showed in `
` startling prominence a dark-haired woman, dressed in the cerements of `
` the grave. We could not see the face, for it was bent down over what `
` we saw to be a fair-haired child. There was a pause and a sharp `
` little cry, such as a child gives in sleep, or a dog as it lies before `
` the fire and dreams. We were starting forward, but the Professor's `
` warning hand, seen by us as he stood behind a yew tree, kept us back. `
` And then as we looked the white figure moved forwards again. It was `
` now near enough for us to see clearly, and the moonlight still held. `
` My own heart grew cold as ice, and I could hear the gasp of Arthur, as `
` we recognized the features of Lucy Westenra. Lucy Westenra, but yet `
` how changed. The sweetness was turned to adamantine, heartless `
` cruelty, and the purity to voluptuous wantonness. `
` `
` Van Helsing stepped out, and obedient to his gesture, we all advanced `
` too. The four of us ranged in a line before the door of the tomb. Van `
` Helsing raised his lantern and drew the slide. By the concentrated `
` light that fell on Lucy's face we could see that the lips were crimson `
` with fresh blood, and that the stream had trickled over her chin and `
` stained the purity of her lawn death-robe. `
` `
` We shuddered with horror. I could see by the tremulous light that `
` even Van Helsing's iron nerve had failed. Arthur was next to me, and `
` if I had not seized his arm and held him up, he would have fallen. `
` `
` When Lucy, I call the thing that was before us Lucy because it bore `
` her shape, saw us she drew back with an angry snarl, such as a cat `
` gives when taken unawares, then her eyes ranged over us. Lucy's eyes `
` in form and colour, but Lucy's eyes unclean and full of hell fire, `
` instead of the pure, gentle orbs we knew. At that moment the remnant `
` of my love passed into hate and loathing. Had she then to be killed, `
` I could have done it with savage delight. As she looked, her eyes `
` blazed with unholy light, and the face became wreathed with a `
` voluptuous smile. Oh, God, how it made me shudder to see it! With a `
` careless motion, she flung to the ground, callous as a devil, the `
` child that up to now she had clutched strenuously to her breast, `
` growling over it as a dog growls over a bone. The child gave a sharp `
` cry, and lay there moaning. There was a cold-bloodedness in the act `
` which wrung a groan from Arthur. When she advanced to him with `
` outstretched arms and a wanton smile he fell back and hid his face in `
` his hands. `
` `
` She still advanced, however, and with a languorous, voluptuous grace, `
` said, "Come to me, Arthur. Leave these others and come to me. My `
` arms are hungry for you. Come, and we can rest together. Come, my `
` husband, come!" `
` `
` There was something diabolically sweet in her tones, something of the `
` tinkling of glass when struck, which rang through the brains even of `
` us who heard the words addressed to another. `
` `
` As for Arthur, he seemed under a spell, moving his hands from his `
` face, he opened wide his arms. She was leaping for them, when Van `
` Helsing sprang forward and held between them his little golden `
` crucifix. She recoiled from it, and, with a suddenly distorted face, `
` full of rage, dashed past him as if to enter the tomb. `
` `
` When within a foot or two of the door, however, she stopped, as if `
` arrested by some irresistible force. Then she turned, and her face `
` was shown in the clear burst of moonlight and by the lamp, which had `
` now no quiver from Van Helsing's nerves. Never did I see such baffled `
` malice on a face, and never, I trust, shall such ever be seen again by `
` mortal eyes. The beautiful colour became livid, the eyes seemed to `
` throw out sparks of hell fire, the brows were wrinkled as though the `
` folds of flesh were the coils of Medusa's snakes, and the lovely, `
` blood-stained mouth grew to an open square, as in the passion masks of `
` the Greeks and Japanese. If ever a face meant death, if looks could `
` kill, we saw it at that moment. `
` `
` And so for full half a minute, which seemed an eternity, she remained `
` between the lifted crucifix and the sacred closing of her means of `
` entry. `
` `
` Van Helsing broke the silence by asking Arthur, "Answer me, oh my `
` friend! Am I to proceed in my work?" `
` `
` "Do as you will, friend. Do as you will. There can be no horror like `
` this ever any more." And he groaned in spirit. `
` `
` Quincey and I simultaneously moved towards him, and took his arms. We `
` could hear the click of the closing lantern as Van Helsing held it `
` down. Coming close to the tomb, he began to remove from the chinks `
` some of the sacred emblem which he had placed there. We all looked on `
` with horrified amazement as we saw, when he stood back, the woman, `
` with a corporeal body as real at that moment as our own, pass through `
` the interstice where scarce a knife blade could have gone. We all `
` felt a glad sense of relief when we saw the Professor calmly restoring `
` the strings of putty to the edges of the door. `
` `
` When this was done, he lifted the child and said, "Come now, my `
` friends. We can do no more till tomorrow. There is a funeral at `
` noon, so here we shall all come before long after that. The friends `
` of the dead will all be gone by two, and when the sexton locks the `
` gate we shall remain. Then there is more to do, but not like this of `
` tonight. As for this little one, he is not much harmed, and by `
` tomorrow night he shall be well. We shall leave him where the police `
` will find him, as on the other night, and then to home." `
` `
` Coming close to Arthur, he said, "My friend Arthur, you have had a sore `
` trial, but after, when you look back, you will see how it was `
` necessary. You are now in the bitter waters, my child. By this time `
` tomorrow you will, please God, have passed them, and have drunk of the `
` sweet waters. So do not mourn over-much. Till then I shall not ask `
` you to forgive me." `
` `
` Arthur and Quincey came home with me, and we tried to cheer each other `
` on the way. We had left behind the child in safety, and were tired. `
` So we all slept with more or less reality of sleep. `
` `
` `
` 29 September, night.--A little before twelve o'clock we three, Arthur, `
` Quincey Morris, and myself, called for the Professor. It was odd to `
` notice that by common consent we had all put on black clothes. Of `
` course, Arthur wore black, for he was in deep mourning, but the rest `
` of us wore it by instinct. We got to the graveyard by half-past one, `
` and strolled about, keeping out of official observation, so that when `
` the gravediggers had completed their task and the sexton, under the `
` belief that every one had gone, had locked the gate, we had the place `
` all to ourselves. Van Helsing, instead of his little black bag, had `
` with him a long leather one, something like a cricketing bag. It was `
` manifestly of fair weight. `
` `
`
` `
` "I swear to you by all that I hold sacred that I have not removed or `
` touched her. What happened was this. Two nights ago my friend Seward `
` and I came here, with good purpose, believe me. I opened that coffin, `
` which was then sealed up, and we found it as now, empty. We then `
` waited, and saw something white come through the trees. The next day `
` we came here in daytime and she lay there. Did she not, friend John? `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "That night we were just in time. One more so small child was `
` missing, and we find it, thank God, unharmed amongst the graves. `
` Yesterday I came here before sundown, for at sundown the UnDead can `
` move. I waited here all night till the sun rose, but I saw nothing. `
` It was most probable that it was because I had laid over the clamps of `
` those doors garlic, which the UnDead cannot bear, and other things `
` which they shun. Last night there was no exodus, so tonight before `
` the sundown I took away my garlic and other things. And so it is we `
` find this coffin empty. But bear with me. So far there is much that `
` is strange. Wait you with me outside, unseen and unheard, and things `
` much stranger are yet to be. So," here he shut the dark slide of his `
` lantern, "now to the outside." He opened the door, and we filed out, `
` he coming last and locking the door behind him. `
` `
` Oh! But it seemed fresh and pure in the night air after the terror of `
` that vault. How sweet it was to see the clouds race by, and the `
` passing gleams of the moonlight between the scudding clouds crossing `
` and passing, like the gladness and sorrow of a man's life. How sweet `
` it was to breathe the fresh air, that had no taint of death and decay. `
` How humanizing to see the red lighting of the sky beyond the hill, and `
` to hear far away the muffled roar that marks the life of a great `
` city. Each in his own way was solemn and overcome. Arthur was `
` silent, and was, I could see, striving to grasp the purpose and the `
` inner meaning of the mystery. I was myself tolerably patient, and `
` half inclined again to throw aside doubt and to accept Van Helsing's `
` conclusions. Quincey Morris was phlegmatic in the way of a man who `
` accepts all things, and accepts them in the spirit of cool bravery, `
` with hazard of all he has at stake. Not being able to smoke, he cut `
` himself a good-sized plug of tobacco and began to chew. As to Van `
` Helsing, he was employed in a definite way. First he took from his `
` bag a mass of what looked like thin, wafer-like biscuit, which was `
` carefully rolled up in a white napkin. Next he took out a double `
` handful of some whitish stuff, like dough or putty. He crumbled the `
` wafer up fine and worked it into the mass between his hands. This he `
` then took, and rolling it into thin strips, began to lay them into the `
` crevices between the door and its setting in the tomb. I was somewhat `
` puzzled at this, and being close, asked him what it was that he was `
` doing. Arthur and Quincey drew near also, as they too were curious. `
` `
` He answered, "I am closing the tomb so that the UnDead may not enter." `
` `
` "And is that stuff you have there going to do it?" `
` `
` "It is." `
` `
` "What is that which you are using?" This time the question was by `
` Arthur. Van Helsing reverently lifted his hat as he answered. `
` `
` "The Host. I brought it from Amsterdam. I have an Indulgence." `
` `
` It was an answer that appalled the most sceptical of us, and we felt `
` individually that in the presence of such earnest purpose as the `
` Professor's, a purpose which could thus use the to him most sacred of `
` things, it was impossible to distrust. In respectful silence we took `
` the places assigned to us close round the tomb, but hidden from the `
` sight of any one approaching. I pitied the others, especially Arthur. `
` I had myself been apprenticed by my former visits to this watching `
` horror, and yet I, who had up to an hour ago repudiated the proofs, `
` felt my heart sink within me. Never did tombs look so ghastly white. `
` Never did cypress, or yew, or juniper so seem the embodiment of `
` funeral gloom. Never did tree or grass wave or rustle so ominously. `
` Never did bough creak so mysteriously, and never did the far-away `
` howling of dogs send such a woeful presage through the night. `
` `
` There was a long spell of silence, big, aching, void, and then from `
` the Professor a keen "S-s-s-s!" He pointed, and far down the avenue of `
` yews we saw a white figure advance, a dim white figure, which held `
` something dark at its breast. The figure stopped, and at the moment a `
` ray of moonlight fell upon the masses of driving clouds, and showed in `
` startling prominence a dark-haired woman, dressed in the cerements of `
` the grave. We could not see the face, for it was bent down over what `
` we saw to be a fair-haired child. There was a pause and a sharp `
` little cry, such as a child gives in sleep, or a dog as it lies before `
` the fire and dreams. We were starting forward, but the Professor's `
` warning hand, seen by us as he stood behind a yew tree, kept us back. `
` And then as we looked the white figure moved forwards again. It was `
` now near enough for us to see clearly, and the moonlight still held. `
` My own heart grew cold as ice, and I could hear the gasp of Arthur, as `
` we recognized the features of Lucy Westenra. Lucy Westenra, but yet `
` how changed. The sweetness was turned to adamantine, heartless `
` cruelty, and the purity to voluptuous wantonness. `
` `
` Van Helsing stepped out, and obedient to his gesture, we all advanced `
` too. The four of us ranged in a line before the door of the tomb. Van `
` Helsing raised his lantern and drew the slide. By the concentrated `
` light that fell on Lucy's face we could see that the lips were crimson `
` with fresh blood, and that the stream had trickled over her chin and `
` stained the purity of her lawn death-robe. `
` `
` We shuddered with horror. I could see by the tremulous light that `
` even Van Helsing's iron nerve had failed. Arthur was next to me, and `
` if I had not seized his arm and held him up, he would have fallen. `
` `
` When Lucy, I call the thing that was before us Lucy because it bore `
` her shape, saw us she drew back with an angry snarl, such as a cat `
` gives when taken unawares, then her eyes ranged over us. Lucy's eyes `
` in form and colour, but Lucy's eyes unclean and full of hell fire, `
` instead of the pure, gentle orbs we knew. At that moment the remnant `
` of my love passed into hate and loathing. Had she then to be killed, `
` I could have done it with savage delight. As she looked, her eyes `
` blazed with unholy light, and the face became wreathed with a `
` voluptuous smile. Oh, God, how it made me shudder to see it! With a `
` careless motion, she flung to the ground, callous as a devil, the `
` child that up to now she had clutched strenuously to her breast, `
` growling over it as a dog growls over a bone. The child gave a sharp `
` cry, and lay there moaning. There was a cold-bloodedness in the act `
` which wrung a groan from Arthur. When she advanced to him with `
` outstretched arms and a wanton smile he fell back and hid his face in `
` his hands. `
` `
` She still advanced, however, and with a languorous, voluptuous grace, `
` said, "Come to me, Arthur. Leave these others and come to me. My `
` arms are hungry for you. Come, and we can rest together. Come, my `
` husband, come!" `
` `
` There was something diabolically sweet in her tones, something of the `
` tinkling of glass when struck, which rang through the brains even of `
` us who heard the words addressed to another. `
` `
` As for Arthur, he seemed under a spell, moving his hands from his `
` face, he opened wide his arms. She was leaping for them, when Van `
` Helsing sprang forward and held between them his little golden `
` crucifix. She recoiled from it, and, with a suddenly distorted face, `
` full of rage, dashed past him as if to enter the tomb. `
` `
` When within a foot or two of the door, however, she stopped, as if `
` arrested by some irresistible force. Then she turned, and her face `
` was shown in the clear burst of moonlight and by the lamp, which had `
` now no quiver from Van Helsing's nerves. Never did I see such baffled `
` malice on a face, and never, I trust, shall such ever be seen again by `
` mortal eyes. The beautiful colour became livid, the eyes seemed to `
` throw out sparks of hell fire, the brows were wrinkled as though the `
` folds of flesh were the coils of Medusa's snakes, and the lovely, `
` blood-stained mouth grew to an open square, as in the passion masks of `
` the Greeks and Japanese. If ever a face meant death, if looks could `
` kill, we saw it at that moment. `
` `
` And so for full half a minute, which seemed an eternity, she remained `
` between the lifted crucifix and the sacred closing of her means of `
` entry. `
` `
` Van Helsing broke the silence by asking Arthur, "Answer me, oh my `
` friend! Am I to proceed in my work?" `
` `
` "Do as you will, friend. Do as you will. There can be no horror like `
` this ever any more." And he groaned in spirit. `
` `
` Quincey and I simultaneously moved towards him, and took his arms. We `
` could hear the click of the closing lantern as Van Helsing held it `
` down. Coming close to the tomb, he began to remove from the chinks `
` some of the sacred emblem which he had placed there. We all looked on `
` with horrified amazement as we saw, when he stood back, the woman, `
` with a corporeal body as real at that moment as our own, pass through `
` the interstice where scarce a knife blade could have gone. We all `
` felt a glad sense of relief when we saw the Professor calmly restoring `
` the strings of putty to the edges of the door. `
` `
` When this was done, he lifted the child and said, "Come now, my `
` friends. We can do no more till tomorrow. There is a funeral at `
` noon, so here we shall all come before long after that. The friends `
` of the dead will all be gone by two, and when the sexton locks the `
` gate we shall remain. Then there is more to do, but not like this of `
` tonight. As for this little one, he is not much harmed, and by `
` tomorrow night he shall be well. We shall leave him where the police `
` will find him, as on the other night, and then to home." `
` `
` Coming close to Arthur, he said, "My friend Arthur, you have had a sore `
` trial, but after, when you look back, you will see how it was `
` necessary. You are now in the bitter waters, my child. By this time `
` tomorrow you will, please God, have passed them, and have drunk of the `
` sweet waters. So do not mourn over-much. Till then I shall not ask `
` you to forgive me." `
` `
` Arthur and Quincey came home with me, and we tried to cheer each other `
` on the way. We had left behind the child in safety, and were tired. `
` So we all slept with more or less reality of sleep. `
` `
` `
` 29 September, night.--A little before twelve o'clock we three, Arthur, `
` Quincey Morris, and myself, called for the Professor. It was odd to `
` notice that by common consent we had all put on black clothes. Of `
` course, Arthur wore black, for he was in deep mourning, but the rest `
` of us wore it by instinct. We got to the graveyard by half-past one, `
` and strolled about, keeping out of official observation, so that when `
` the gravediggers had completed their task and the sexton, under the `
` belief that every one had gone, had locked the gate, we had the place `
` all to ourselves. Van Helsing, instead of his little black bag, had `
` with him a long leather one, something like a cricketing bag. It was `
` manifestly of fair weight. `
` `
`