Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.13-27
world. And the inheritors, being remote, would not be likely to `
` abandon their just rights, for sentimental reasons regarding an entire `
` stranger. I assure you, my dear sirs, I am rejoiced at the result, `
` perfectly rejoiced." `
` `
` He was a good fellow, but his rejoicing at the one little part, in `
` which he was officially interested, of so great a tragedy, was an `
` object-lesson in the limitations of sympathetic understanding. `
` `
` He did not remain long, but said he would look in later in the day and `
` see Lord Godalming. His coming, however, had been a certain comfort `
` to us, since it assured us that we should not have to dread hostile `
` criticism as to any of our acts. Arthur was expected at five o'clock, `
` so a little before that time we visited the death chamber. It was so `
` in very truth, for now both mother and daughter lay in it. The `
` undertaker, true to his craft, had made the best display he could of `
` his goods, and there was a mortuary air about the place that lowered `
` our spirits at once. `
` `
` Van Helsing ordered the former arrangement to be adhered to, `
` explaining that, as Lord Godalming was coming very soon, it would be `
` less harrowing to his feelings to see all that was left of his fiancee `
` quite alone. `
` `
` The undertaker seemed shocked at his own stupidity and exerted himself `
` to restore things to the condition in which we left them the night `
` before, so that when Arthur came such shocks to his feelings as we `
` could avoid were saved. `
` `
` Poor fellow! He looked desperately sad and broken. Even his stalwart `
` manhood seemed to have shrunk somewhat under the strain of his `
` much-tried emotions. He had, I knew, been very genuinely and `
` devotedly attached to his father, and to lose him, and at such a time, `
` was a bitter blow to him. With me he was warm as ever, and to Van `
` Helsing he was sweetly courteous. But I could not help seeing that `
` there was some constraint with him. The professor noticed it too, and `
` motioned me to bring him upstairs. I did so, and left him at the door `
` of the room, as I felt he would like to be quite alone with her, but `
` he took my arm and led me in, saying huskily, `
` `
` "You loved her too, old fellow. She told me all about it, and there `
` was no friend had a closer place in her heart than you. I don't know `
` how to thank you for all you have done for her. I can't think `
` yet . . ." `
` `
` Here he suddenly broke down, and threw his arms round my shoulders and `
` laid his head on my breast, crying, "Oh, Jack! Jack! What shall I `
` do? The whole of life seems gone from me all at once, and there is `
` nothing in the wide world for me to live for." `
` `
` I comforted him as well as I could. In such cases men do not need `
` much expression. A grip of the hand, the tightening of an arm over `
` the shoulder, a sob in unison, are expressions of sympathy dear to a `
` man's heart. I stood still and silent till his sobs died away, and `
` then I said softly to him, "Come and look at her." `
` `
` Together we moved over to the bed, and I lifted the lawn from her `
` face. God! How beautiful she was. Every hour seemed to be enhancing `
` her loveliness. It frightened and amazed me somewhat. And as for `
` Arthur, he fell to trembling, and finally was shaken with doubt as `
` with an ague. At last, after a long pause, he said to me in a faint `
` whisper, "Jack, is she really dead?" `
` `
` I assured him sadly that it was so, and went on to suggest, for I felt `
` that such a horrible doubt should not have life for a moment longer `
` than I could help, that it often happened that after death faces `
` become softened and even resolved into their youthful beauty, that `
` this was especially so when death had been preceded by any acute or `
` prolonged suffering. I seemed to quite do away with any doubt, and `
` after kneeling beside the couch for a while and looking at her `
` lovingly and long, he turned aside. I told him that that must be `
` goodbye, as the coffin had to be prepared, so he went back and took `
` her dead hand in his and kissed it, and bent over and kissed her `
` forehead. He came away, fondly looking back over his shoulder at her `
` as he came. `
` `
` I left him in the drawing room, and told Van Helsing that he had said `
` goodbye, so the latter went to the kitchen to tell the undertaker's `
` men to proceed with the preparations and to screw up the coffin. When `
` he came out of the room again I told him of Arthur's question, and he `
` replied, "I am not surprised. Just now I doubted for a moment `
` myself!" `
` `
` We all dined together, and I could see that poor Art was trying to `
` make the best of things. Van Helsing had been silent all dinner time, `
` but when we had lit our cigars he said, "Lord . . ." but Arthur `
` interrupted him. `
` `
` "No, no, not that, for God's sake! Not yet at any rate. Forgive me, `
` sir. I did not mean to speak offensively. It is only because my loss `
` is so recent." `
` `
` The Professor answered very sweetly, "I only used that name because I `
` was in doubt. I must not call you 'Mr.' and I have grown to love you, `
` yes, my dear boy, to love you, as Arthur." `
` `
` Arthur held out his hand, and took the old man's warmly. "Call me `
` what you will," he said. "I hope I may always have the title of a `
` friend. And let me say that I am at a loss for words to thank you for `
` your goodness to my poor dear." He paused a moment, and went on, "I `
` know that she understood your goodness even better than I do. And if `
` I was rude or in any way wanting at that time you acted so, you `
` remember"--the Professor nodded--"you must forgive me." `
` `
` He answered with a grave kindness, "I know it was hard for you to `
` quite trust me then, for to trust such violence needs to understand, `
` and I take it that you do not, that you cannot, trust me now, for you `
` do not yet understand. And there may be more times when I shall want `
` you to trust when you cannot, and may not, and must not yet `
` understand. But the time will come when your trust shall be whole and `
` complete in me, and when you shall understand as though the sunlight `
` himself shone through. Then you shall bless me from first to last for `
` your own sake, and for the sake of others, and for her dear sake to `
` whom I swore to protect." `
` `
` "And indeed, indeed, sir," said Arthur warmly. "I shall in all ways `
` trust you. I know and believe you have a very noble heart, and you `
` are Jack's friend, and you were hers. You shall do what you like." `
` `
` The Professor cleared his throat a couple of times, as though about to `
` speak, and finally said, "May I ask you something now?" `
` `
` "Certainly." `
` `
` "You know that Mrs. Westenra left you all her property?" `
` `
` "No, poor dear. I never thought of it." `
` `
` "And as it is all yours, you have a right to deal with it as you will. `
` I want you to give me permission to read all Miss Lucy's papers and `
` letters. Believe me, it is no idle curiosity. I have a motive of `
` which, be sure, she would have approved. I have them all here. I `
` took them before we knew that all was yours, so that no strange hand `
` might touch them, no strange eye look through words into her soul. I `
` shall keep them, if I may. Even you may not see them yet, but I shall `
` keep them safe. No word shall be lost, and in the good time I shall `
` give them back to you. It is a hard thing that I ask, but you will do `
` it, will you not, for Lucy's sake?" `
` `
` Arthur spoke out heartily, like his old self, "Dr. Van Helsing, you `
` may do what you will. I feel that in saying this I am doing what my `
` dear one would have approved. I shall not trouble you with questions `
` till the time comes." `
` `
` The old Professor stood up as he said solemnly, "And you are right. `
` There will be pain for us all, but it will not be all pain, nor will `
` this pain be the last. We and you too, you most of all, dear boy, `
` will have to pass through the bitter water before we reach the sweet. `
` But we must be brave of heart and unselfish, and do our duty, and all `
` will be well!" `
` `
` I slept on a sofa in Arthur's room that night. Van Helsing did not go `
` to bed at all. He went to and fro, as if patroling the house, and was `
` never out of sight of the room where Lucy lay in her coffin, strewn `
` with the wild garlic flowers, which sent through the odour of lily and `
` rose, a heavy, overpowering smell into the night. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL `
` `
` 22 September.--In the train to Exeter. Jonathan sleeping. It seems `
` only yesterday that the last entry was made, and yet how much between `
` then, in Whitby and all the world before me, Jonathan away and no news `
` of him, and now, married to Jonathan, Jonathan a solicitor, a partner, `
` rich, master of his business, Mr. Hawkins dead and buried, and `
` Jonathan with another attack that may harm him. Some day he may ask `
` me about it. Down it all goes. I am rusty in my shorthand, see what `
` unexpected prosperity does for us, so it may be as well to freshen it `
` up again with an exercise anyhow. `
` `
` The service was very simple and very solemn. There were only `
` ourselves and the servants there, one or two old friends of his from `
` Exeter, his London agent, and a gentleman representing Sir John `
` Paxton, the President of the Incorporated Law Society. Jonathan and I `
` stood hand in hand, and we felt that our best and dearest friend was `
` gone from us. `
` `
` We came back to town quietly, taking a bus to Hyde Park Corner. `
` Jonathan thought it would interest me to go into the Row for a while, `
` so we sat down. But there were very few people there, and it was `
` sad-looking and desolate to see so many empty chairs. It made us `
` think of the empty chair at home. So we got up and walked down `
` Piccadilly. Jonathan was holding me by the arm, the way he used to in `
` the old days before I went to school. I felt it very improper, for `
` you can't go on for some years teaching etiquette and decorum to other `
` girls without the pedantry of it biting into yourself a bit. But it `
` was Jonathan, and he was my husband, and we didn't know anybody who `
` saw us, and we didn't care if they did, so on we walked. I was `
` looking at a very beautiful girl, in a big cart-wheel hat, sitting in `
` a victoria outside Guiliano's, when I felt Jonathan clutch my arm so `
` tight that he hurt me, and he said under his breath, "My God!" `
` `
` I am always anxious about Jonathan, for I fear that some nervous fit `
` may upset him again. So I turned to him quickly, and asked him what `
` it was that disturbed him. `
` `
` He was very pale, and his eyes seemed bulging out as, half in terror `
` and half in amazement, he gazed at a tall, thin man, with a beaky nose `
` and black moustache and pointed beard, who was also observing the `
`
` abandon their just rights, for sentimental reasons regarding an entire `
` stranger. I assure you, my dear sirs, I am rejoiced at the result, `
` perfectly rejoiced." `
` `
` He was a good fellow, but his rejoicing at the one little part, in `
` which he was officially interested, of so great a tragedy, was an `
` object-lesson in the limitations of sympathetic understanding. `
` `
` He did not remain long, but said he would look in later in the day and `
` see Lord Godalming. His coming, however, had been a certain comfort `
` to us, since it assured us that we should not have to dread hostile `
` criticism as to any of our acts. Arthur was expected at five o'clock, `
` so a little before that time we visited the death chamber. It was so `
` in very truth, for now both mother and daughter lay in it. The `
` undertaker, true to his craft, had made the best display he could of `
` his goods, and there was a mortuary air about the place that lowered `
` our spirits at once. `
` `
` Van Helsing ordered the former arrangement to be adhered to, `
` explaining that, as Lord Godalming was coming very soon, it would be `
` less harrowing to his feelings to see all that was left of his fiancee `
` quite alone. `
` `
` The undertaker seemed shocked at his own stupidity and exerted himself `
` to restore things to the condition in which we left them the night `
` before, so that when Arthur came such shocks to his feelings as we `
` could avoid were saved. `
` `
` Poor fellow! He looked desperately sad and broken. Even his stalwart `
` manhood seemed to have shrunk somewhat under the strain of his `
` much-tried emotions. He had, I knew, been very genuinely and `
` devotedly attached to his father, and to lose him, and at such a time, `
` was a bitter blow to him. With me he was warm as ever, and to Van `
` Helsing he was sweetly courteous. But I could not help seeing that `
` there was some constraint with him. The professor noticed it too, and `
` motioned me to bring him upstairs. I did so, and left him at the door `
` of the room, as I felt he would like to be quite alone with her, but `
` he took my arm and led me in, saying huskily, `
` `
` "You loved her too, old fellow. She told me all about it, and there `
` was no friend had a closer place in her heart than you. I don't know `
` how to thank you for all you have done for her. I can't think `
` yet . . ." `
` `
` Here he suddenly broke down, and threw his arms round my shoulders and `
` laid his head on my breast, crying, "Oh, Jack! Jack! What shall I `
` do? The whole of life seems gone from me all at once, and there is `
` nothing in the wide world for me to live for." `
` `
` I comforted him as well as I could. In such cases men do not need `
` much expression. A grip of the hand, the tightening of an arm over `
` the shoulder, a sob in unison, are expressions of sympathy dear to a `
` man's heart. I stood still and silent till his sobs died away, and `
` then I said softly to him, "Come and look at her." `
` `
` Together we moved over to the bed, and I lifted the lawn from her `
` face. God! How beautiful she was. Every hour seemed to be enhancing `
` her loveliness. It frightened and amazed me somewhat. And as for `
` Arthur, he fell to trembling, and finally was shaken with doubt as `
` with an ague. At last, after a long pause, he said to me in a faint `
` whisper, "Jack, is she really dead?" `
` `
` I assured him sadly that it was so, and went on to suggest, for I felt `
` that such a horrible doubt should not have life for a moment longer `
` than I could help, that it often happened that after death faces `
` become softened and even resolved into their youthful beauty, that `
` this was especially so when death had been preceded by any acute or `
` prolonged suffering. I seemed to quite do away with any doubt, and `
` after kneeling beside the couch for a while and looking at her `
` lovingly and long, he turned aside. I told him that that must be `
` goodbye, as the coffin had to be prepared, so he went back and took `
` her dead hand in his and kissed it, and bent over and kissed her `
` forehead. He came away, fondly looking back over his shoulder at her `
` as he came. `
` `
` I left him in the drawing room, and told Van Helsing that he had said `
` goodbye, so the latter went to the kitchen to tell the undertaker's `
` men to proceed with the preparations and to screw up the coffin. When `
` he came out of the room again I told him of Arthur's question, and he `
` replied, "I am not surprised. Just now I doubted for a moment `
` myself!" `
` `
` We all dined together, and I could see that poor Art was trying to `
` make the best of things. Van Helsing had been silent all dinner time, `
` but when we had lit our cigars he said, "Lord . . ." but Arthur `
` interrupted him. `
` `
` "No, no, not that, for God's sake! Not yet at any rate. Forgive me, `
` sir. I did not mean to speak offensively. It is only because my loss `
` is so recent." `
` `
` The Professor answered very sweetly, "I only used that name because I `
` was in doubt. I must not call you 'Mr.' and I have grown to love you, `
` yes, my dear boy, to love you, as Arthur." `
` `
` Arthur held out his hand, and took the old man's warmly. "Call me `
` what you will," he said. "I hope I may always have the title of a `
` friend. And let me say that I am at a loss for words to thank you for `
` your goodness to my poor dear." He paused a moment, and went on, "I `
` know that she understood your goodness even better than I do. And if `
` I was rude or in any way wanting at that time you acted so, you `
` remember"--the Professor nodded--"you must forgive me." `
` `
` He answered with a grave kindness, "I know it was hard for you to `
` quite trust me then, for to trust such violence needs to understand, `
` and I take it that you do not, that you cannot, trust me now, for you `
` do not yet understand. And there may be more times when I shall want `
` you to trust when you cannot, and may not, and must not yet `
` understand. But the time will come when your trust shall be whole and `
` complete in me, and when you shall understand as though the sunlight `
` himself shone through. Then you shall bless me from first to last for `
` your own sake, and for the sake of others, and for her dear sake to `
` whom I swore to protect." `
` `
` "And indeed, indeed, sir," said Arthur warmly. "I shall in all ways `
` trust you. I know and believe you have a very noble heart, and you `
` are Jack's friend, and you were hers. You shall do what you like." `
` `
` The Professor cleared his throat a couple of times, as though about to `
` speak, and finally said, "May I ask you something now?" `
` `
` "Certainly." `
` `
` "You know that Mrs. Westenra left you all her property?" `
` `
` "No, poor dear. I never thought of it." `
` `
` "And as it is all yours, you have a right to deal with it as you will. `
` I want you to give me permission to read all Miss Lucy's papers and `
` letters. Believe me, it is no idle curiosity. I have a motive of `
` which, be sure, she would have approved. I have them all here. I `
` took them before we knew that all was yours, so that no strange hand `
` might touch them, no strange eye look through words into her soul. I `
` shall keep them, if I may. Even you may not see them yet, but I shall `
` keep them safe. No word shall be lost, and in the good time I shall `
` give them back to you. It is a hard thing that I ask, but you will do `
` it, will you not, for Lucy's sake?" `
` `
` Arthur spoke out heartily, like his old self, "Dr. Van Helsing, you `
` may do what you will. I feel that in saying this I am doing what my `
` dear one would have approved. I shall not trouble you with questions `
` till the time comes." `
` `
` The old Professor stood up as he said solemnly, "And you are right. `
` There will be pain for us all, but it will not be all pain, nor will `
` this pain be the last. We and you too, you most of all, dear boy, `
` will have to pass through the bitter water before we reach the sweet. `
` But we must be brave of heart and unselfish, and do our duty, and all `
` will be well!" `
` `
` I slept on a sofa in Arthur's room that night. Van Helsing did not go `
` to bed at all. He went to and fro, as if patroling the house, and was `
` never out of sight of the room where Lucy lay in her coffin, strewn `
` with the wild garlic flowers, which sent through the odour of lily and `
` rose, a heavy, overpowering smell into the night. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL `
` `
` 22 September.--In the train to Exeter. Jonathan sleeping. It seems `
` only yesterday that the last entry was made, and yet how much between `
` then, in Whitby and all the world before me, Jonathan away and no news `
` of him, and now, married to Jonathan, Jonathan a solicitor, a partner, `
` rich, master of his business, Mr. Hawkins dead and buried, and `
` Jonathan with another attack that may harm him. Some day he may ask `
` me about it. Down it all goes. I am rusty in my shorthand, see what `
` unexpected prosperity does for us, so it may be as well to freshen it `
` up again with an exercise anyhow. `
` `
` The service was very simple and very solemn. There were only `
` ourselves and the servants there, one or two old friends of his from `
` Exeter, his London agent, and a gentleman representing Sir John `
` Paxton, the President of the Incorporated Law Society. Jonathan and I `
` stood hand in hand, and we felt that our best and dearest friend was `
` gone from us. `
` `
` We came back to town quietly, taking a bus to Hyde Park Corner. `
` Jonathan thought it would interest me to go into the Row for a while, `
` so we sat down. But there were very few people there, and it was `
` sad-looking and desolate to see so many empty chairs. It made us `
` think of the empty chair at home. So we got up and walked down `
` Piccadilly. Jonathan was holding me by the arm, the way he used to in `
` the old days before I went to school. I felt it very improper, for `
` you can't go on for some years teaching etiquette and decorum to other `
` girls without the pedantry of it biting into yourself a bit. But it `
` was Jonathan, and he was my husband, and we didn't know anybody who `
` saw us, and we didn't care if they did, so on we walked. I was `
` looking at a very beautiful girl, in a big cart-wheel hat, sitting in `
` a victoria outside Guiliano's, when I felt Jonathan clutch my arm so `
` tight that he hurt me, and he said under his breath, "My God!" `
` `
` I am always anxious about Jonathan, for I fear that some nervous fit `
` may upset him again. So I turned to him quickly, and asked him what `
` it was that disturbed him. `
` `
` He was very pale, and his eyes seemed bulging out as, half in terror `
` and half in amazement, he gazed at a tall, thin man, with a beaky nose `
` and black moustache and pointed beard, who was also observing the `
`