Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.13-27
`
` Mrs. Harker smiled sweetly as she replied, "Oh no! I have a husband `
` of my own, to whom I was married before I ever saw Dr. Seward, or he `
` me. I am Mrs. Harker." `
` `
` "Then what are you doing here?" `
` `
` "My husband and I are staying on a visit with Dr. Seward." `
` `
` "Then don't stay." `
` `
` "But why not?" `
` `
` I thought that this style of conversation might not be pleasant to `
` Mrs. Harker, any more than it was to me, so I joined in, "How did you `
` know I wanted to marry anyone?" `
` `
` His reply was simply contemptuous, given in a pause in which he turned `
` his eyes from Mrs. Harker to me, instantly turning them back again, `
` "What an asinine question!" `
` `
` "I don't see that at all, Mr. Renfield," said Mrs. Harker, at once `
` championing me. `
` `
` He replied to her with as much courtesy and respect as he had shown `
` contempt to me, "You will, of course, understand, Mrs. Harker, that `
` when a man is so loved and honoured as our host is, everything `
` regarding him is of interest in our little community. Dr. Seward is `
` loved not only by his household and his friends, but even by his `
` patients, who, being some of them hardly in mental equilibrium, are `
` apt to distort causes and effects. Since I myself have been an inmate `
` of a lunatic asylum, I cannot but notice that the sophistic tendencies `
` of some of its inmates lean towards the errors of non causa and `
` ignoratio elenche." `
` `
` I positively opened my eyes at this new development. Here was my own `
` pet lunatic, the most pronounced of his type that I had ever met with, `
` talking elemental philosophy, and with the manner of a polished `
` gentleman. I wonder if it was Mrs. Harker's presence which had `
` touched some chord in his memory. If this new phase was spontaneous, `
` or in any way due to her unconscious influence, she must have some `
` rare gift or power. `
` `
` We continued to talk for some time, and seeing that he was seemingly `
` quite reasonable, she ventured, looking at me questioningly as she `
` began, to lead him to his favourite topic. I was again astonished, `
` for he addressed himself to the question with the impartiality of `
` the completest sanity. He even took himself as an example when he `
` mentioned certain things. `
` `
` "Why, I myself am an instance of a man who had a strange belief. `
` Indeed, it was no wonder that my friends were alarmed, and insisted on `
` my being put under control. I used to fancy that life was a positive `
` and perpetual entity, and that by consuming a multitude of live `
` things, no matter how low in the scale of creation, one might `
` indefinitely prolong life. At times I held the belief so strongly `
` that I actually tried to take human life. The doctor here will bear `
` me out that on one occasion I tried to kill him for the purpose of `
` strengthening my vital powers by the assimilation with my own body of `
` his life through the medium of his blood, relying of course, upon the `
` Scriptural phrase, 'For the blood is the life.' Though, indeed, the `
` vendor of a certain nostrum has vulgarized the truism to the very `
` point of contempt. Isn't that true, doctor?" `
` `
` I nodded assent, for I was so amazed that I hardly knew what to either `
` think or say, it was hard to imagine that I had seen him eat up his `
` spiders and flies not five minutes before. Looking at my watch, I saw `
` that I should go to the station to meet Van Helsing, so I told Mrs. `
` Harker that it was time to leave. `
` `
` She came at once, after saying pleasantly to Mr. Renfield, "Goodbye, `
` and I hope I may see you often, under auspices pleasanter to `
` yourself." `
` `
` To which, to my astonishment, he replied, "Goodbye, my dear. I pray `
` God I may never see your sweet face again. May He bless and keep `
` you!" `
` `
` When I went to the station to meet Van Helsing I left the boys behind `
` me. Poor Art seemed more cheerful than he has been since Lucy first `
` took ill, and Quincey is more like his own bright self than he has `
` been for many a long day. `
` `
` Van Helsing stepped from the carriage with the eager nimbleness of a `
` boy. He saw me at once, and rushed up to me, saying, "Ah, friend `
` John, how goes all? Well? So! I have been busy, for I come here to `
` stay if need be. All affairs are settled with me, and I have much to `
` tell. Madam Mina is with you? Yes. And her so fine husband? And `
` Arthur and my friend Quincey, they are with you, too? Good!" `
` `
` As I drove to the house I told him of what had passed, and of how my `
` own diary had come to be of some use through Mrs. Harker's suggestion, `
` at which the Professor interrupted me. `
` `
` "Ah, that wonderful Madam Mina! She has man's brain, a brain that a `
` man should have were he much gifted, and a woman's heart. The good `
` God fashioned her for a purpose, believe me, when He made that so good `
` combination. Friend John, up to now fortune has made that woman of `
` help to us, after tonight she must not have to do with this so `
` terrible affair. It is not good that she run a risk so great. We men `
` are determined, nay, are we not pledged, to destroy this monster? But `
` it is no part for a woman. Even if she be not harmed, her heart may `
` fail her in so much and so many horrors and hereafter she may suffer, `
` both in waking, from her nerves, and in sleep, from her dreams. And, `
` besides, she is young woman and not so long married, there may be `
` other things to think of some time, if not now. You tell me she has `
` wrote all, then she must consult with us, but tomorrow she say goodbye `
` to this work, and we go alone." `
` `
` I agreed heartily with him, and then I told him what we had found in `
` his absence, that the house which Dracula had bought was the very next `
` one to my own. He was amazed, and a great concern seemed to come on `
` him. `
` `
` "Oh that we had known it before!" he said, "for then we might have `
` reached him in time to save poor Lucy. However, 'the milk that is `
` spilt cries not out afterwards,' as you say. We shall not think of `
` that, but go on our way to the end." Then he fell into a silence that `
` lasted till we entered my own gateway. Before we went to prepare for `
` dinner he said to Mrs. Harker, "I am told, Madam Mina, by my friend `
` John that you and your husband have put up in exact order all things `
` that have been, up to this moment." `
` `
` "Not up to this moment, Professor," she said impulsively, "but up to `
` this morning." `
` `
` "But why not up to now? We have seen hitherto how good light all the `
` little things have made. We have told our secrets, and yet no one who `
` has told is the worse for it." `
` `
` Mrs. Harker began to blush, and taking a paper from her pockets, she `
` said, "Dr. Van Helsing, will you read this, and tell me if it must go `
` in. It is my record of today. I too have seen the need of putting `
` down at present everything, however trivial, but there is little in `
` this except what is personal. Must it go in?" `
` `
` The Professor read it over gravely, and handed it back, saying, "It `
` need not go in if you do not wish it, but I pray that it may. It can `
` but make your husband love you the more, and all us, your friends, `
` more honour you, as well as more esteem and love." She took it back `
` with another blush and a bright smile. `
` `
` And so now, up to this very hour, all the records we have are complete `
` and in order. The Professor took away one copy to study after dinner, `
` and before our meeting, which is fixed for nine o'clock. The rest of `
` us have already read everything, so when we meet in the study we shall `
` all be informed as to facts, and can arrange our plan of battle with `
` this terrible and mysterious enemy. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL `
` `
` 30 September.--When we met in Dr. Seward's study two hours after `
` dinner, which had been at six o'clock, we unconsciously formed a sort `
` of board or committee. Professor Van Helsing took the head of the `
` table, to which Dr. Seward motioned him as he came into the room. He `
` made me sit next to him on his right, and asked me to act as `
` secretary. Jonathan sat next to me. Opposite us were Lord Godalming, `
` Dr. Seward, and Mr. Morris, Lord Godalming being next the Professor, `
` and Dr. Seward in the centre. `
` `
` The Professor said, "I may, I suppose, take it that we are all `
` acquainted with the facts that are in these papers." We all expressed `
` assent, and he went on, "Then it were, I think, good that I tell you `
` something of the kind of enemy with which we have to deal. I shall `
` then make known to you something of the history of this man, which has `
` been ascertained for me. So we then can discuss how we shall act, and `
` can take our measure according. `
` `
` "There are such beings as vampires, some of us have evidence that they `
` exist. Even had we not the proof of our own unhappy experience, the `
` teachings and the records of the past give proof enough for sane `
` peoples. I admit that at the first I was sceptic. Were it not that `
` through long years I have trained myself to keep an open mind, I could `
` not have believed until such time as that fact thunder on my ear. 'See! `
` See! I prove, I prove.' Alas! Had I known at first what now I know, `
` nay, had I even guess at him, one so precious life had been spared to `
` many of us who did love her. But that is gone, and we must so work, `
` that other poor souls perish not, whilst we can save. The nosferatu `
` do not die like the bee when he sting once. He is only stronger, and `
` being stronger, have yet more power to work evil. This vampire which `
` is amongst us is of himself so strong in person as twenty men, he is `
` of cunning more than mortal, for his cunning be the growth of ages, he `
` have still the aids of necromancy, which is, as his etymology imply, `
` the divination by the dead, and all the dead that he can come nigh to `
` are for him at command; he is brute, and more than brute; he is devil `
` in callous, and the heart of him is not; he can, within his range, `
` direct the elements, the storm, the fog, the thunder; he can command `
` all the meaner things, the rat, and the owl, and the bat, the moth, `
` and the fox, and the wolf, he can grow and become small; and he can at `
` times vanish and come unknown. How then are we to begin our strike to `
` destroy him? How shall we find his where, and having found it, how `
` can we destroy? My friends, this is much, it is a terrible task that `
` we undertake, and there may be consequence to make the brave shudder. `
` For if we fail in this our fight he must surely win, and then where `
` end we? Life is nothings, I heed him not. But to fail here, is not `
` mere life or death. It is that we become as him, that we henceforward `
` become foul things of the night like him, without heart or conscience, `
`
` Mrs. Harker smiled sweetly as she replied, "Oh no! I have a husband `
` of my own, to whom I was married before I ever saw Dr. Seward, or he `
` me. I am Mrs. Harker." `
` `
` "Then what are you doing here?" `
` `
` "My husband and I are staying on a visit with Dr. Seward." `
` `
` "Then don't stay." `
` `
` "But why not?" `
` `
` I thought that this style of conversation might not be pleasant to `
` Mrs. Harker, any more than it was to me, so I joined in, "How did you `
` know I wanted to marry anyone?" `
` `
` His reply was simply contemptuous, given in a pause in which he turned `
` his eyes from Mrs. Harker to me, instantly turning them back again, `
` "What an asinine question!" `
` `
` "I don't see that at all, Mr. Renfield," said Mrs. Harker, at once `
` championing me. `
` `
` He replied to her with as much courtesy and respect as he had shown `
` contempt to me, "You will, of course, understand, Mrs. Harker, that `
` when a man is so loved and honoured as our host is, everything `
` regarding him is of interest in our little community. Dr. Seward is `
` loved not only by his household and his friends, but even by his `
` patients, who, being some of them hardly in mental equilibrium, are `
` apt to distort causes and effects. Since I myself have been an inmate `
` of a lunatic asylum, I cannot but notice that the sophistic tendencies `
` of some of its inmates lean towards the errors of non causa and `
` ignoratio elenche." `
` `
` I positively opened my eyes at this new development. Here was my own `
` pet lunatic, the most pronounced of his type that I had ever met with, `
` talking elemental philosophy, and with the manner of a polished `
` gentleman. I wonder if it was Mrs. Harker's presence which had `
` touched some chord in his memory. If this new phase was spontaneous, `
` or in any way due to her unconscious influence, she must have some `
` rare gift or power. `
` `
` We continued to talk for some time, and seeing that he was seemingly `
` quite reasonable, she ventured, looking at me questioningly as she `
` began, to lead him to his favourite topic. I was again astonished, `
` for he addressed himself to the question with the impartiality of `
` the completest sanity. He even took himself as an example when he `
` mentioned certain things. `
` `
` "Why, I myself am an instance of a man who had a strange belief. `
` Indeed, it was no wonder that my friends were alarmed, and insisted on `
` my being put under control. I used to fancy that life was a positive `
` and perpetual entity, and that by consuming a multitude of live `
` things, no matter how low in the scale of creation, one might `
` indefinitely prolong life. At times I held the belief so strongly `
` that I actually tried to take human life. The doctor here will bear `
` me out that on one occasion I tried to kill him for the purpose of `
` strengthening my vital powers by the assimilation with my own body of `
` his life through the medium of his blood, relying of course, upon the `
` Scriptural phrase, 'For the blood is the life.' Though, indeed, the `
` vendor of a certain nostrum has vulgarized the truism to the very `
` point of contempt. Isn't that true, doctor?" `
` `
` I nodded assent, for I was so amazed that I hardly knew what to either `
` think or say, it was hard to imagine that I had seen him eat up his `
` spiders and flies not five minutes before. Looking at my watch, I saw `
` that I should go to the station to meet Van Helsing, so I told Mrs. `
` Harker that it was time to leave. `
` `
` She came at once, after saying pleasantly to Mr. Renfield, "Goodbye, `
` and I hope I may see you often, under auspices pleasanter to `
` yourself." `
` `
` To which, to my astonishment, he replied, "Goodbye, my dear. I pray `
` God I may never see your sweet face again. May He bless and keep `
` you!" `
` `
` When I went to the station to meet Van Helsing I left the boys behind `
` me. Poor Art seemed more cheerful than he has been since Lucy first `
` took ill, and Quincey is more like his own bright self than he has `
` been for many a long day. `
` `
` Van Helsing stepped from the carriage with the eager nimbleness of a `
` boy. He saw me at once, and rushed up to me, saying, "Ah, friend `
` John, how goes all? Well? So! I have been busy, for I come here to `
` stay if need be. All affairs are settled with me, and I have much to `
` tell. Madam Mina is with you? Yes. And her so fine husband? And `
` Arthur and my friend Quincey, they are with you, too? Good!" `
` `
` As I drove to the house I told him of what had passed, and of how my `
` own diary had come to be of some use through Mrs. Harker's suggestion, `
` at which the Professor interrupted me. `
` `
` "Ah, that wonderful Madam Mina! She has man's brain, a brain that a `
` man should have were he much gifted, and a woman's heart. The good `
` God fashioned her for a purpose, believe me, when He made that so good `
` combination. Friend John, up to now fortune has made that woman of `
` help to us, after tonight she must not have to do with this so `
` terrible affair. It is not good that she run a risk so great. We men `
` are determined, nay, are we not pledged, to destroy this monster? But `
` it is no part for a woman. Even if she be not harmed, her heart may `
` fail her in so much and so many horrors and hereafter she may suffer, `
` both in waking, from her nerves, and in sleep, from her dreams. And, `
` besides, she is young woman and not so long married, there may be `
` other things to think of some time, if not now. You tell me she has `
` wrote all, then she must consult with us, but tomorrow she say goodbye `
` to this work, and we go alone." `
` `
` I agreed heartily with him, and then I told him what we had found in `
` his absence, that the house which Dracula had bought was the very next `
` one to my own. He was amazed, and a great concern seemed to come on `
` him. `
` `
` "Oh that we had known it before!" he said, "for then we might have `
` reached him in time to save poor Lucy. However, 'the milk that is `
` spilt cries not out afterwards,' as you say. We shall not think of `
` that, but go on our way to the end." Then he fell into a silence that `
` lasted till we entered my own gateway. Before we went to prepare for `
` dinner he said to Mrs. Harker, "I am told, Madam Mina, by my friend `
` John that you and your husband have put up in exact order all things `
` that have been, up to this moment." `
` `
` "Not up to this moment, Professor," she said impulsively, "but up to `
` this morning." `
` `
` "But why not up to now? We have seen hitherto how good light all the `
` little things have made. We have told our secrets, and yet no one who `
` has told is the worse for it." `
` `
` Mrs. Harker began to blush, and taking a paper from her pockets, she `
` said, "Dr. Van Helsing, will you read this, and tell me if it must go `
` in. It is my record of today. I too have seen the need of putting `
` down at present everything, however trivial, but there is little in `
` this except what is personal. Must it go in?" `
` `
` The Professor read it over gravely, and handed it back, saying, "It `
` need not go in if you do not wish it, but I pray that it may. It can `
` but make your husband love you the more, and all us, your friends, `
` more honour you, as well as more esteem and love." She took it back `
` with another blush and a bright smile. `
` `
` And so now, up to this very hour, all the records we have are complete `
` and in order. The Professor took away one copy to study after dinner, `
` and before our meeting, which is fixed for nine o'clock. The rest of `
` us have already read everything, so when we meet in the study we shall `
` all be informed as to facts, and can arrange our plan of battle with `
` this terrible and mysterious enemy. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL `
` `
` 30 September.--When we met in Dr. Seward's study two hours after `
` dinner, which had been at six o'clock, we unconsciously formed a sort `
` of board or committee. Professor Van Helsing took the head of the `
` table, to which Dr. Seward motioned him as he came into the room. He `
` made me sit next to him on his right, and asked me to act as `
` secretary. Jonathan sat next to me. Opposite us were Lord Godalming, `
` Dr. Seward, and Mr. Morris, Lord Godalming being next the Professor, `
` and Dr. Seward in the centre. `
` `
` The Professor said, "I may, I suppose, take it that we are all `
` acquainted with the facts that are in these papers." We all expressed `
` assent, and he went on, "Then it were, I think, good that I tell you `
` something of the kind of enemy with which we have to deal. I shall `
` then make known to you something of the history of this man, which has `
` been ascertained for me. So we then can discuss how we shall act, and `
` can take our measure according. `
` `
` "There are such beings as vampires, some of us have evidence that they `
` exist. Even had we not the proof of our own unhappy experience, the `
` teachings and the records of the past give proof enough for sane `
` peoples. I admit that at the first I was sceptic. Were it not that `
` through long years I have trained myself to keep an open mind, I could `
` not have believed until such time as that fact thunder on my ear. 'See! `
` See! I prove, I prove.' Alas! Had I known at first what now I know, `
` nay, had I even guess at him, one so precious life had been spared to `
` many of us who did love her. But that is gone, and we must so work, `
` that other poor souls perish not, whilst we can save. The nosferatu `
` do not die like the bee when he sting once. He is only stronger, and `
` being stronger, have yet more power to work evil. This vampire which `
` is amongst us is of himself so strong in person as twenty men, he is `
` of cunning more than mortal, for his cunning be the growth of ages, he `
` have still the aids of necromancy, which is, as his etymology imply, `
` the divination by the dead, and all the dead that he can come nigh to `
` are for him at command; he is brute, and more than brute; he is devil `
` in callous, and the heart of him is not; he can, within his range, `
` direct the elements, the storm, the fog, the thunder; he can command `
` all the meaner things, the rat, and the owl, and the bat, the moth, `
` and the fox, and the wolf, he can grow and become small; and he can at `
` times vanish and come unknown. How then are we to begin our strike to `
` destroy him? How shall we find his where, and having found it, how `
` can we destroy? My friends, this is much, it is a terrible task that `
` we undertake, and there may be consequence to make the brave shudder. `
` For if we fail in this our fight he must surely win, and then where `
` end we? Life is nothings, I heed him not. But to fail here, is not `
` mere life or death. It is that we become as him, that we henceforward `
` become foul things of the night like him, without heart or conscience, `
`