Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.13-27
To this he spoke out resolutely, "Nonsense, Mina. It is a shame to me `
` to hear such a word. I would not hear it of you. And I shall not `
` hear it from you. May God judge me by my deserts, and punish me with `
` more bitter suffering than even this hour, if by any act or will of `
` mine anything ever come between us!" `
` `
` He put out his arms and folded her to his breast. And for a while she `
` lay there sobbing. He looked at us over her bowed head, with eyes `
` that blinked damply above his quivering nostrils. His mouth was set `
` as steel. `
` `
` After a while her sobs became less frequent and more faint, and then `
` he said to me, speaking with a studied calmness which I felt tried his `
` nervous power to the utmost. `
` `
` "And now, Dr. Seward, tell me all about it. Too well I know the broad `
` fact. Tell me all that has been." `
` `
` I told him exactly what had happened and he listened with seeming `
` impassiveness, but his nostrils twitched and his eyes blazed as I told `
` how the ruthless hands of the Count had held his wife in that terrible `
` and horrid position, with her mouth to the open wound in his breast. `
` It interested me, even at that moment, to see that whilst the face of `
` white set passion worked convulsively over the bowed head, the hands `
` tenderly and lovingly stroked the ruffled hair. Just as I had `
` finished, Quincey and Godalming knocked at the door. They entered in `
` obedience to our summons. Van Helsing looked at me questioningly. I `
` understood him to mean if we were to take advantage of their coming to `
` divert if possible the thoughts of the unhappy husband and wife from `
` each other and from themselves. So on nodding acquiescence to him he `
` asked them what they had seen or done. To which Lord Godalming `
` answered. `
` `
` "I could not see him anywhere in the passage, or in any of our rooms. `
` I looked in the study but, though he had been there, he had gone. He `
` had, however . . ." He stopped suddenly, looking at the poor drooping `
` figure on the bed. `
` `
` Van Helsing said gravely, "Go on, friend Arthur. We want here no more `
` concealments. Our hope now is in knowing all. Tell freely!" `
` `
` So Art went on, "He had been there, and though it could only have been `
` for a few seconds, he made rare hay of the place. All the manuscript `
` had been burned, and the blue flames were flickering amongst the white `
` ashes. The cylinders of your phonograph too were thrown on the fire, `
` and the wax had helped the flames." `
` `
` Here I interrupted. "Thank God there is the other copy in the safe!" `
` `
` His face lit for a moment, but fell again as he went on. "I ran `
` downstairs then, but could see no sign of him. I looked into `
` Renfield's room, but there was no trace there except . . ." Again he `
` paused. `
` `
` "Go on," said Harker hoarsely. So he bowed his head and moistening his `
` lips with his tongue, added, "except that the poor fellow is dead." `
` `
` Mrs. Harker raised her head, looking from one to the other of us she `
` said solemnly, "God's will be done!" `
` `
` I could not but feel that Art was keeping back something. But, as I `
` took it that it was with a purpose, I said nothing. `
` `
` Van Helsing turned to Morris and asked, "And you, friend Quincey, have `
` you any to tell?" `
` `
` "A little," he answered. "It may be much eventually, but at present I `
` can't say. I thought it well to know if possible where the Count `
` would go when he left the house. I did not see him, but I saw a bat `
` rise from Renfield's window, and flap westward. I expected to see him `
` in some shape go back to Carfax, but he evidently sought some other `
` lair. He will not be back tonight, for the sky is reddening in the `
` east, and the dawn is close. We must work tomorrow!" `
` `
` He said the latter words through his shut teeth. For a space of `
` perhaps a couple of minutes there was silence, and I could fancy that `
` I could hear the sound of our hearts beating. `
` `
` Then Van Helsing said, placing his hand tenderly on Mrs. Harker's `
` head, "And now, Madam Mina, poor dear, dear, Madam Mina, tell us `
` exactly what happened. God knows that I do not want that you be `
` pained, but it is need that we know all. For now more than ever has `
` all work to be done quick and sharp, and in deadly earnest. The day `
` is close to us that must end all, if it may be so, and now is the `
` chance that we may live and learn." `
` `
` The poor dear lady shivered, and I could see the tension of her nerves `
` as she clasped her husband closer to her and bent her head lower and `
` lower still on his breast. Then she raised her head proudly, and held `
` out one hand to Van Helsing who took it in his, and after stooping and `
` kissing it reverently, held it fast. The other hand was locked in `
` that of her husband, who held his other arm thrown round her `
` protectingly. After a pause in which she was evidently ordering her `
` thoughts, she began. `
` `
` "I took the sleeping draught which you had so kindly given me, but for `
` a long time it did not act. I seemed to become more wakeful, and `
` myriads of horrible fancies began to crowd in upon my mind. All of `
` them connected with death, and vampires, with blood, and pain, and `
` trouble." Her husband involuntarily groaned as she turned to him and `
` said lovingly, "Do not fret, dear. You must be brave and strong, and `
` help me through the horrible task. If you only knew what an effort it `
` is to me to tell of this fearful thing at all, you would understand `
` how much I need your help. Well, I saw I must try to help the `
` medicine to its work with my will, if it was to do me any good, so I `
` resolutely set myself to sleep. Sure enough sleep must soon have come `
` to me, for I remember no more. Jonathan coming in had not waked me, `
` for he lay by my side when next I remember. There was in the room the `
` same thin white mist that I had before noticed. But I forget now if `
` you know of this. You will find it in my diary which I shall show you `
` later. I felt the same vague terror which had come to me before and `
` the same sense of some presence. I turned to wake Jonathan, but found `
` that he slept so soundly that it seemed as if it was he who had taken `
` the sleeping draught, and not I. I tried, but I could not wake him. `
` This caused me a great fear, and I looked around terrified. Then `
` indeed, my heart sank within me. Beside the bed, as if he had stepped `
` out of the mist, or rather as if the mist had turned into his figure, `
` for it had entirely disappeared, stood a tall, thin man, all in `
` black. I knew him at once from the description of the others. The `
` waxen face, the high aquiline nose, on which the light fell in a thin `
` white line, the parted red lips, with the sharp white teeth showing `
` between, and the red eyes that I had seemed to see in the sunset on `
` the windows of St. Mary's Church at Whitby. I knew, too, the red scar `
` on his forehead where Jonathan had struck him. For an instant my `
` heart stood still, and I would have screamed out, only that I was `
` paralyzed. In the pause he spoke in a sort of keen, cutting whisper, `
` pointing as he spoke to Jonathan. `
` `
` "'Silence! If you make a sound I shall take him and dash his brains `
` out before your very eyes.' I was appalled and was too bewildered to `
` do or say anything. With a mocking smile, he placed one hand upon my `
` shoulder and, holding me tight, bared my throat with the other, saying `
` as he did so, 'First, a little refreshment to reward my exertions. `
` You may as well be quiet. It is not the first time, or the second, `
` that your veins have appeased my thirst!' I was bewildered, and `
` strangely enough, I did not want to hinder him. I suppose it is a `
` part of the horrible curse that such is, when his touch is on his `
` victim. And oh, my God, my God, pity me! He placed his reeking lips `
` upon my throat!" Her husband groaned again. She clasped his hand `
` harder, and looked at him pityingly, as if he were the injured one, `
` and went on. `
` `
` "I felt my strength fading away, and I was in a half swoon. How long `
` this horrible thing lasted I know not, but it seemed that a long time `
` must have passed before he took his foul, awful, sneering mouth away. `
` I saw it drip with the fresh blood!" The remembrance seemed for a while `
` to overpower her, and she drooped and would have sunk down but for her `
` husband's sustaining arm. With a great effort she recovered herself `
` and went on. `
` `
` "Then he spoke to me mockingly, 'And so you, like the others, would `
` play your brains against mine. You would help these men to hunt me `
` and frustrate me in my design! You know now, and they know in part `
` already, and will know in full before long, what it is to cross my `
` path. They should have kept their energies for use closer to home. `
` Whilst they played wits against me, against me who commanded nations, `
` and intrigued for them, and fought for them, hundreds of years before `
` they were born, I was countermining them. And you, their best beloved `
` one, are now to me, flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood, kin of my `
` kin, my bountiful wine-press for a while, and shall be later on my `
` companion and my helper. You shall be avenged in turn, for not one of `
` them but shall minister to your needs. But as yet you are to be `
` punished for what you have done. You have aided in thwarting me. Now `
` you shall come to my call. When my brain says "Come!" to you, you `
` shall cross land or sea to do my bidding. And to that end this!' `
` `
` "With that he pulled open his shirt, and with his long sharp nails `
` opened a vein in his breast. When the blood began to spurt out, he `
` took my hands in one of his, holding them tight, and with the other `
` seized my neck and pressed my mouth to the wound, so that I must `
` either suffocate or swallow some to the . . . Oh, my God! My God! `
` What have I done? What have I done to deserve such a fate, I who have `
` tried to walk in meekness and righteousness all my days. God pity `
` me! Look down on a poor soul in worse than mortal peril. And in `
` mercy pity those to whom she is dear!" Then she began to rub her lips `
` as though to cleanse them from pollution. `
` `
` As she was telling her terrible story, the eastern sky began to `
` quicken, and everything became more and more clear. Harker was still `
` and quiet; but over his face, as the awful narrative went on, came a `
` grey look which deepened and deepened in the morning light, till when `
` the first red streak of the coming dawn shot up, the flesh stood `
` darkly out against the whitening hair. `
` `
` We have arranged that one of us is to stay within call of the unhappy `
` pair till we can meet together and arrange about taking action. `
` `
` Of this I am sure. The sun rises today on no more miserable house in `
` all the great round of its daily course. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER 22 `
` `
` `
` JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL `
` `
` 3 October.--As I must do something or go mad, I write this diary. It `
` is now six o'clock, and we are to meet in the study in half an hour `
` and take something to eat, for Dr. Van Helsing and Dr. Seward are `
`
` to hear such a word. I would not hear it of you. And I shall not `
` hear it from you. May God judge me by my deserts, and punish me with `
` more bitter suffering than even this hour, if by any act or will of `
` mine anything ever come between us!" `
` `
` He put out his arms and folded her to his breast. And for a while she `
` lay there sobbing. He looked at us over her bowed head, with eyes `
` that blinked damply above his quivering nostrils. His mouth was set `
` as steel. `
` `
` After a while her sobs became less frequent and more faint, and then `
` he said to me, speaking with a studied calmness which I felt tried his `
` nervous power to the utmost. `
` `
` "And now, Dr. Seward, tell me all about it. Too well I know the broad `
` fact. Tell me all that has been." `
` `
` I told him exactly what had happened and he listened with seeming `
` impassiveness, but his nostrils twitched and his eyes blazed as I told `
` how the ruthless hands of the Count had held his wife in that terrible `
` and horrid position, with her mouth to the open wound in his breast. `
` It interested me, even at that moment, to see that whilst the face of `
` white set passion worked convulsively over the bowed head, the hands `
` tenderly and lovingly stroked the ruffled hair. Just as I had `
` finished, Quincey and Godalming knocked at the door. They entered in `
` obedience to our summons. Van Helsing looked at me questioningly. I `
` understood him to mean if we were to take advantage of their coming to `
` divert if possible the thoughts of the unhappy husband and wife from `
` each other and from themselves. So on nodding acquiescence to him he `
` asked them what they had seen or done. To which Lord Godalming `
` answered. `
` `
` "I could not see him anywhere in the passage, or in any of our rooms. `
` I looked in the study but, though he had been there, he had gone. He `
` had, however . . ." He stopped suddenly, looking at the poor drooping `
` figure on the bed. `
` `
` Van Helsing said gravely, "Go on, friend Arthur. We want here no more `
` concealments. Our hope now is in knowing all. Tell freely!" `
` `
` So Art went on, "He had been there, and though it could only have been `
` for a few seconds, he made rare hay of the place. All the manuscript `
` had been burned, and the blue flames were flickering amongst the white `
` ashes. The cylinders of your phonograph too were thrown on the fire, `
` and the wax had helped the flames." `
` `
` Here I interrupted. "Thank God there is the other copy in the safe!" `
` `
` His face lit for a moment, but fell again as he went on. "I ran `
` downstairs then, but could see no sign of him. I looked into `
` Renfield's room, but there was no trace there except . . ." Again he `
` paused. `
` `
` "Go on," said Harker hoarsely. So he bowed his head and moistening his `
` lips with his tongue, added, "except that the poor fellow is dead." `
` `
` Mrs. Harker raised her head, looking from one to the other of us she `
` said solemnly, "God's will be done!" `
` `
` I could not but feel that Art was keeping back something. But, as I `
` took it that it was with a purpose, I said nothing. `
` `
` Van Helsing turned to Morris and asked, "And you, friend Quincey, have `
` you any to tell?" `
` `
` "A little," he answered. "It may be much eventually, but at present I `
` can't say. I thought it well to know if possible where the Count `
` would go when he left the house. I did not see him, but I saw a bat `
` rise from Renfield's window, and flap westward. I expected to see him `
` in some shape go back to Carfax, but he evidently sought some other `
` lair. He will not be back tonight, for the sky is reddening in the `
` east, and the dawn is close. We must work tomorrow!" `
` `
` He said the latter words through his shut teeth. For a space of `
` perhaps a couple of minutes there was silence, and I could fancy that `
` I could hear the sound of our hearts beating. `
` `
` Then Van Helsing said, placing his hand tenderly on Mrs. Harker's `
` head, "And now, Madam Mina, poor dear, dear, Madam Mina, tell us `
` exactly what happened. God knows that I do not want that you be `
` pained, but it is need that we know all. For now more than ever has `
` all work to be done quick and sharp, and in deadly earnest. The day `
` is close to us that must end all, if it may be so, and now is the `
` chance that we may live and learn." `
` `
` The poor dear lady shivered, and I could see the tension of her nerves `
` as she clasped her husband closer to her and bent her head lower and `
` lower still on his breast. Then she raised her head proudly, and held `
` out one hand to Van Helsing who took it in his, and after stooping and `
` kissing it reverently, held it fast. The other hand was locked in `
` that of her husband, who held his other arm thrown round her `
` protectingly. After a pause in which she was evidently ordering her `
` thoughts, she began. `
` `
` "I took the sleeping draught which you had so kindly given me, but for `
` a long time it did not act. I seemed to become more wakeful, and `
` myriads of horrible fancies began to crowd in upon my mind. All of `
` them connected with death, and vampires, with blood, and pain, and `
` trouble." Her husband involuntarily groaned as she turned to him and `
` said lovingly, "Do not fret, dear. You must be brave and strong, and `
` help me through the horrible task. If you only knew what an effort it `
` is to me to tell of this fearful thing at all, you would understand `
` how much I need your help. Well, I saw I must try to help the `
` medicine to its work with my will, if it was to do me any good, so I `
` resolutely set myself to sleep. Sure enough sleep must soon have come `
` to me, for I remember no more. Jonathan coming in had not waked me, `
` for he lay by my side when next I remember. There was in the room the `
` same thin white mist that I had before noticed. But I forget now if `
` you know of this. You will find it in my diary which I shall show you `
` later. I felt the same vague terror which had come to me before and `
` the same sense of some presence. I turned to wake Jonathan, but found `
` that he slept so soundly that it seemed as if it was he who had taken `
` the sleeping draught, and not I. I tried, but I could not wake him. `
` This caused me a great fear, and I looked around terrified. Then `
` indeed, my heart sank within me. Beside the bed, as if he had stepped `
` out of the mist, or rather as if the mist had turned into his figure, `
` for it had entirely disappeared, stood a tall, thin man, all in `
` black. I knew him at once from the description of the others. The `
` waxen face, the high aquiline nose, on which the light fell in a thin `
` white line, the parted red lips, with the sharp white teeth showing `
` between, and the red eyes that I had seemed to see in the sunset on `
` the windows of St. Mary's Church at Whitby. I knew, too, the red scar `
` on his forehead where Jonathan had struck him. For an instant my `
` heart stood still, and I would have screamed out, only that I was `
` paralyzed. In the pause he spoke in a sort of keen, cutting whisper, `
` pointing as he spoke to Jonathan. `
` `
` "'Silence! If you make a sound I shall take him and dash his brains `
` out before your very eyes.' I was appalled and was too bewildered to `
` do or say anything. With a mocking smile, he placed one hand upon my `
` shoulder and, holding me tight, bared my throat with the other, saying `
` as he did so, 'First, a little refreshment to reward my exertions. `
` You may as well be quiet. It is not the first time, or the second, `
` that your veins have appeased my thirst!' I was bewildered, and `
` strangely enough, I did not want to hinder him. I suppose it is a `
` part of the horrible curse that such is, when his touch is on his `
` victim. And oh, my God, my God, pity me! He placed his reeking lips `
` upon my throat!" Her husband groaned again. She clasped his hand `
` harder, and looked at him pityingly, as if he were the injured one, `
` and went on. `
` `
` "I felt my strength fading away, and I was in a half swoon. How long `
` this horrible thing lasted I know not, but it seemed that a long time `
` must have passed before he took his foul, awful, sneering mouth away. `
` I saw it drip with the fresh blood!" The remembrance seemed for a while `
` to overpower her, and she drooped and would have sunk down but for her `
` husband's sustaining arm. With a great effort she recovered herself `
` and went on. `
` `
` "Then he spoke to me mockingly, 'And so you, like the others, would `
` play your brains against mine. You would help these men to hunt me `
` and frustrate me in my design! You know now, and they know in part `
` already, and will know in full before long, what it is to cross my `
` path. They should have kept their energies for use closer to home. `
` Whilst they played wits against me, against me who commanded nations, `
` and intrigued for them, and fought for them, hundreds of years before `
` they were born, I was countermining them. And you, their best beloved `
` one, are now to me, flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood, kin of my `
` kin, my bountiful wine-press for a while, and shall be later on my `
` companion and my helper. You shall be avenged in turn, for not one of `
` them but shall minister to your needs. But as yet you are to be `
` punished for what you have done. You have aided in thwarting me. Now `
` you shall come to my call. When my brain says "Come!" to you, you `
` shall cross land or sea to do my bidding. And to that end this!' `
` `
` "With that he pulled open his shirt, and with his long sharp nails `
` opened a vein in his breast. When the blood began to spurt out, he `
` took my hands in one of his, holding them tight, and with the other `
` seized my neck and pressed my mouth to the wound, so that I must `
` either suffocate or swallow some to the . . . Oh, my God! My God! `
` What have I done? What have I done to deserve such a fate, I who have `
` tried to walk in meekness and righteousness all my days. God pity `
` me! Look down on a poor soul in worse than mortal peril. And in `
` mercy pity those to whom she is dear!" Then she began to rub her lips `
` as though to cleanse them from pollution. `
` `
` As she was telling her terrible story, the eastern sky began to `
` quicken, and everything became more and more clear. Harker was still `
` and quiet; but over his face, as the awful narrative went on, came a `
` grey look which deepened and deepened in the morning light, till when `
` the first red streak of the coming dawn shot up, the flesh stood `
` darkly out against the whitening hair. `
` `
` We have arranged that one of us is to stay within call of the unhappy `
` pair till we can meet together and arrange about taking action. `
` `
` Of this I am sure. The sun rises today on no more miserable house in `
` all the great round of its daily course. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER 22 `
` `
` `
` JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL `
` `
` 3 October.--As I must do something or go mad, I write this diary. It `
` is now six o'clock, and we are to meet in the study in half an hour `
` and take something to eat, for Dr. Van Helsing and Dr. Seward are `
`