Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.13-27
back from his holiday in Switzerland he find only an empty hole where `
` his house had been. This was all done en regle, and in our work we `
` shall be en regle too. We shall not go so early that the policemen `
` who have then little to think of, shall deem it strange. But we shall `
` go after ten o'clock, when there are many about, and such things would `
` be done were we indeed owners of the house." `
` `
` I could not but see how right he was and the terrible despair of `
` Mina's face became relaxed in thought. There was hope in such good `
` counsel. `
` `
` Van Helsing went on, "When once within that house we may find more `
` clues. At any rate some of us can remain there whilst the rest find `
` the other places where there be more earth boxes, at Bermondsey and `
` Mile End." `
` `
` Lord Godalming stood up. "I can be of some use here," he said. "I `
` shall wire to my people to have horses and carriages where they will `
` be most convenient." `
` `
` "Look here, old fellow," said Morris, "it is a capital idea to have `
` all ready in case we want to go horse backing, but don't you think `
` that one of your snappy carriages with its heraldic adornments in a `
` byway of Walworth or Mile End would attract too much attention for our `
` purpose? It seems to me that we ought to take cabs when we go south `
` or east. And even leave them somewhere near the neighbourhood we are `
` going to." `
` `
` "Friend Quincey is right!" said the Professor. "His head is what you `
` call in plane with the horizon. It is a difficult thing that we go to `
` do, and we do not want no peoples to watch us if so it may." `
` `
` Mina took a growing interest in everything and I was rejoiced to see `
` that the exigency of affairs was helping her to forget for a time the `
` terrible experience of the night. She was very, very pale, almost `
` ghastly, and so thin that her lips were drawn away, showing her teeth `
` in somewhat of prominence. I did not mention this last, lest it `
` should give her needless pain, but it made my blood run cold in my `
` veins to think of what had occurred with poor Lucy when the Count had `
` sucked her blood. As yet there was no sign of the teeth growing `
` sharper, but the time as yet was short, and there was time for fear. `
` `
` When we came to the discussion of the sequence of our efforts and of `
` the disposition of our forces, there were new sources of doubt. It `
` was finally agreed that before starting for Piccadilly we should `
` destroy the Count's lair close at hand. In case he should find it out `
` too soon, we should thus be still ahead of him in our work of `
` destruction. And his presence in his purely material shape, and at `
` his weakest, might give us some new clue. `
` `
` As to the disposal of forces, it was suggested by the Professor that, `
` after our visit to Carfax, we should all enter the house in `
` Piccadilly. That the two doctors and I should remain there, whilst `
` Lord Godalming and Quincey found the lairs at Walworth and Mile End `
` and destroyed them. It was possible, if not likely, the Professor `
` urged, that the Count might appear in Piccadilly during the day, and `
` that if so we might be able to cope with him then and there. At any `
` rate, we might be able to follow him in force. To this plan I `
` strenuously objected, and so far as my going was concerned, for I said `
` that I intended to stay and protect Mina. I thought that my mind was `
` made up on the subject, but Mina would not listen to my objection. She `
` said that there might be some law matter in which I could be useful. `
` That amongst the Count's papers might be some clue which I could `
` understand out of my experience in Transylvania. And that, as it was, `
` all the strength we could muster was required to cope with the Count's `
` extraordinary power. I had to give in, for Mina's resolution was `
` fixed. She said that it was the last hope for her that we should all `
` work together. `
` `
` "As for me," she said, "I have no fear. Things have been as bad as `
` they can be. And whatever may happen must have in it some element of `
` hope or comfort. Go, my husband! God can, if He wishes it, guard me `
` as well alone as with any one present." `
` `
` So I started up crying out, "Then in God's name let us come at once, `
` for we are losing time. The Count may come to Piccadilly earlier than `
` we think." `
` `
` "Not so!" said Van Helsing, holding up his hand. `
` `
` "But why?" I asked. `
` `
` "Do you forget," he said, with actually a smile, "that last night he `
` banqueted heavily, and will sleep late?" `
` `
` Did I forget! Shall I ever . . . can I ever! Can any of us ever `
` forget that terrible scene! Mina struggled hard to keep her brave `
` countenance, but the pain overmastered her and she put her hands `
` before her face, and shuddered whilst she moaned. Van Helsing had not `
` intended to recall her frightful experience. He had simply lost sight `
` of her and her part in the affair in his intellectual effort. `
` `
` When it struck him what he said, he was horrified at his `
` thoughtlessness and tried to comfort her. `
` `
` "Oh, Madam Mina," he said, "dear, dear, Madam Mina, alas! That I of `
` all who so reverence you should have said anything so forgetful. These `
` stupid old lips of mine and this stupid old head do not deserve so, `
` but you will forget it, will you not?" He bent low beside her as he `
` spoke. `
` `
` She took his hand, and looking at him through her tears, said `
` hoarsely, "No, I shall not forget, for it is well that I remember. `
` And with it I have so much in memory of you that is sweet, that I take `
` it all together. Now, you must all be going soon. Breakfast is `
` ready, and we must all eat that we may be strong." `
` `
` Breakfast was a strange meal to us all. We tried to be cheerful and `
` encourage each other, and Mina was the brightest and most cheerful of `
` us. When it was over, Van Helsing stood up and said, "Now, my dear `
` friends, we go forth to our terrible enterprise. Are we all armed, as `
` we were on that night when first we visited our enemy's lair. Armed `
` against ghostly as well as carnal attack?" `
` `
` We all assured him. `
` `
` "Then it is well. Now, Madam Mina, you are in any case quite safe `
` here until the sunset. And before then we shall return . . . if . . . `
` We shall return! But before we go let me see you armed against personal `
` attack. I have myself, since you came down, prepared your chamber by `
` the placing of things of which we know, so that He may not enter. Now `
` let me guard yourself. On your forehead I touch this piece of Sacred `
` Wafer in the name of the Father, the Son, and . . ." `
` `
` There was a fearful scream which almost froze our hearts to hear. As `
` he had placed the Wafer on Mina's forehead, it had seared it . . . had `
` burned into the flesh as though it had been a piece of white-hot metal. `
` My poor darling's brain had told her the significance of the fact as `
` quickly as her nerves received the pain of it, and the two so `
` overwhelmed her that her overwrought nature had its voice in that `
` dreadful scream. `
` `
` But the words to her thought came quickly. The echo of the scream had `
` not ceased to ring on the air when there came the reaction, and she `
` sank on her knees on the floor in an agony of abasement. Pulling her `
` beautiful hair over her face, as the leper of old his mantle, she `
` wailed out. `
` `
` "Unclean! Unclean! Even the Almighty shuns my polluted flesh! I `
` must bear this mark of shame upon my forehead until the Judgement `
` Day." `
` `
` They all paused. I had thrown myself beside her in an agony of `
` helpless grief, and putting my arms around held her tight. For a few `
` minutes our sorrowful hearts beat together, whilst the friends around `
` us turned away their eyes that ran tears silently. Then Van Helsing `
` turned and said gravely. So gravely that I could not help feeling `
` that he was in some way inspired, and was stating things outside `
` himself. `
` `
` "It may be that you may have to bear that mark till God himself see `
` fit, as He most surely shall, on the Judgement Day, to redress all `
` wrongs of the earth and of His children that He has placed thereon. `
` And oh, Madam Mina, my dear, my dear, may we who love you be there to `
` see, when that red scar, the sign of God's knowledge of what has been, `
` shall pass away, and leave your forehead as pure as the heart we know. `
` For so surely as we live, that scar shall pass away when God sees `
` right to lift the burden that is hard upon us. Till then we bear our `
` Cross, as His Son did in obedience to His Will. It may be that we are `
` chosen instruments of His good pleasure, and that we ascend to His `
` bidding as that other through stripes and shame. Through tears and `
` blood. Through doubts and fear, and all that makes the difference `
` between God and man." `
` `
` There was hope in his words, and comfort. And they made for `
` resignation. Mina and I both felt so, and simultaneously we each took `
` one of the old man's hands and bent over and kissed it. Then without `
` a word we all knelt down together, and all holding hands, swore to be `
` true to each other. We men pledged ourselves to raise the veil of `
` sorrow from the head of her whom, each in his own way, we loved. And `
` we prayed for help and guidance in the terrible task which lay before `
` us. It was then time to start. So I said farewell to Mina, a parting `
` which neither of us shall forget to our dying day, and we set out. `
` `
` To one thing I have made up my mind. If we find out that Mina must be `
` a vampire in the end, then she shall not go into that unknown and `
` terrible land alone. I suppose it is thus that in old times one `
` vampire meant many. Just as their hideous bodies could only rest in `
` sacred earth, so the holiest love was the recruiting sergeant for `
` their ghastly ranks. `
` `
` We entered Carfax without trouble and found all things the same as on `
` the first occasion. It was hard to believe that amongst so prosaic `
` surroundings of neglect and dust and decay there was any ground for `
` such fear as already we knew. Had not our minds been made up, and had `
` there not been terrible memories to spur us on, we could hardly have `
` proceeded with our task. We found no papers, or any sign of use in `
` the house. And in the old chapel the great boxes looked just as we `
` had seen them last. `
` `
` Dr. Van Helsing said to us solemnly as we stood before him, "And now, `
` my friends, we have a duty here to do. We must sterilize this earth, `
` so sacred of holy memories, that he has brought from a far distant `
` land for such fell use. He has chosen this earth because it has been `
` holy. Thus we defeat him with his own weapon, for we make it more `
` holy still. It was sanctified to such use of man, now we sanctify it `
` to God." `
` `
` As he spoke he took from his bag a screwdriver and a wrench, and very `
` soon the top of one of the cases was thrown open. The earth smelled `
` musty and close, but we did not somehow seem to mind, for our `
`
` his house had been. This was all done en regle, and in our work we `
` shall be en regle too. We shall not go so early that the policemen `
` who have then little to think of, shall deem it strange. But we shall `
` go after ten o'clock, when there are many about, and such things would `
` be done were we indeed owners of the house." `
` `
` I could not but see how right he was and the terrible despair of `
` Mina's face became relaxed in thought. There was hope in such good `
` counsel. `
` `
` Van Helsing went on, "When once within that house we may find more `
` clues. At any rate some of us can remain there whilst the rest find `
` the other places where there be more earth boxes, at Bermondsey and `
` Mile End." `
` `
` Lord Godalming stood up. "I can be of some use here," he said. "I `
` shall wire to my people to have horses and carriages where they will `
` be most convenient." `
` `
` "Look here, old fellow," said Morris, "it is a capital idea to have `
` all ready in case we want to go horse backing, but don't you think `
` that one of your snappy carriages with its heraldic adornments in a `
` byway of Walworth or Mile End would attract too much attention for our `
` purpose? It seems to me that we ought to take cabs when we go south `
` or east. And even leave them somewhere near the neighbourhood we are `
` going to." `
` `
` "Friend Quincey is right!" said the Professor. "His head is what you `
` call in plane with the horizon. It is a difficult thing that we go to `
` do, and we do not want no peoples to watch us if so it may." `
` `
` Mina took a growing interest in everything and I was rejoiced to see `
` that the exigency of affairs was helping her to forget for a time the `
` terrible experience of the night. She was very, very pale, almost `
` ghastly, and so thin that her lips were drawn away, showing her teeth `
` in somewhat of prominence. I did not mention this last, lest it `
` should give her needless pain, but it made my blood run cold in my `
` veins to think of what had occurred with poor Lucy when the Count had `
` sucked her blood. As yet there was no sign of the teeth growing `
` sharper, but the time as yet was short, and there was time for fear. `
` `
` When we came to the discussion of the sequence of our efforts and of `
` the disposition of our forces, there were new sources of doubt. It `
` was finally agreed that before starting for Piccadilly we should `
` destroy the Count's lair close at hand. In case he should find it out `
` too soon, we should thus be still ahead of him in our work of `
` destruction. And his presence in his purely material shape, and at `
` his weakest, might give us some new clue. `
` `
` As to the disposal of forces, it was suggested by the Professor that, `
` after our visit to Carfax, we should all enter the house in `
` Piccadilly. That the two doctors and I should remain there, whilst `
` Lord Godalming and Quincey found the lairs at Walworth and Mile End `
` and destroyed them. It was possible, if not likely, the Professor `
` urged, that the Count might appear in Piccadilly during the day, and `
` that if so we might be able to cope with him then and there. At any `
` rate, we might be able to follow him in force. To this plan I `
` strenuously objected, and so far as my going was concerned, for I said `
` that I intended to stay and protect Mina. I thought that my mind was `
` made up on the subject, but Mina would not listen to my objection. She `
` said that there might be some law matter in which I could be useful. `
` That amongst the Count's papers might be some clue which I could `
` understand out of my experience in Transylvania. And that, as it was, `
` all the strength we could muster was required to cope with the Count's `
` extraordinary power. I had to give in, for Mina's resolution was `
` fixed. She said that it was the last hope for her that we should all `
` work together. `
` `
` "As for me," she said, "I have no fear. Things have been as bad as `
` they can be. And whatever may happen must have in it some element of `
` hope or comfort. Go, my husband! God can, if He wishes it, guard me `
` as well alone as with any one present." `
` `
` So I started up crying out, "Then in God's name let us come at once, `
` for we are losing time. The Count may come to Piccadilly earlier than `
` we think." `
` `
` "Not so!" said Van Helsing, holding up his hand. `
` `
` "But why?" I asked. `
` `
` "Do you forget," he said, with actually a smile, "that last night he `
` banqueted heavily, and will sleep late?" `
` `
` Did I forget! Shall I ever . . . can I ever! Can any of us ever `
` forget that terrible scene! Mina struggled hard to keep her brave `
` countenance, but the pain overmastered her and she put her hands `
` before her face, and shuddered whilst she moaned. Van Helsing had not `
` intended to recall her frightful experience. He had simply lost sight `
` of her and her part in the affair in his intellectual effort. `
` `
` When it struck him what he said, he was horrified at his `
` thoughtlessness and tried to comfort her. `
` `
` "Oh, Madam Mina," he said, "dear, dear, Madam Mina, alas! That I of `
` all who so reverence you should have said anything so forgetful. These `
` stupid old lips of mine and this stupid old head do not deserve so, `
` but you will forget it, will you not?" He bent low beside her as he `
` spoke. `
` `
` She took his hand, and looking at him through her tears, said `
` hoarsely, "No, I shall not forget, for it is well that I remember. `
` And with it I have so much in memory of you that is sweet, that I take `
` it all together. Now, you must all be going soon. Breakfast is `
` ready, and we must all eat that we may be strong." `
` `
` Breakfast was a strange meal to us all. We tried to be cheerful and `
` encourage each other, and Mina was the brightest and most cheerful of `
` us. When it was over, Van Helsing stood up and said, "Now, my dear `
` friends, we go forth to our terrible enterprise. Are we all armed, as `
` we were on that night when first we visited our enemy's lair. Armed `
` against ghostly as well as carnal attack?" `
` `
` We all assured him. `
` `
` "Then it is well. Now, Madam Mina, you are in any case quite safe `
` here until the sunset. And before then we shall return . . . if . . . `
` We shall return! But before we go let me see you armed against personal `
` attack. I have myself, since you came down, prepared your chamber by `
` the placing of things of which we know, so that He may not enter. Now `
` let me guard yourself. On your forehead I touch this piece of Sacred `
` Wafer in the name of the Father, the Son, and . . ." `
` `
` There was a fearful scream which almost froze our hearts to hear. As `
` he had placed the Wafer on Mina's forehead, it had seared it . . . had `
` burned into the flesh as though it had been a piece of white-hot metal. `
` My poor darling's brain had told her the significance of the fact as `
` quickly as her nerves received the pain of it, and the two so `
` overwhelmed her that her overwrought nature had its voice in that `
` dreadful scream. `
` `
` But the words to her thought came quickly. The echo of the scream had `
` not ceased to ring on the air when there came the reaction, and she `
` sank on her knees on the floor in an agony of abasement. Pulling her `
` beautiful hair over her face, as the leper of old his mantle, she `
` wailed out. `
` `
` "Unclean! Unclean! Even the Almighty shuns my polluted flesh! I `
` must bear this mark of shame upon my forehead until the Judgement `
` Day." `
` `
` They all paused. I had thrown myself beside her in an agony of `
` helpless grief, and putting my arms around held her tight. For a few `
` minutes our sorrowful hearts beat together, whilst the friends around `
` us turned away their eyes that ran tears silently. Then Van Helsing `
` turned and said gravely. So gravely that I could not help feeling `
` that he was in some way inspired, and was stating things outside `
` himself. `
` `
` "It may be that you may have to bear that mark till God himself see `
` fit, as He most surely shall, on the Judgement Day, to redress all `
` wrongs of the earth and of His children that He has placed thereon. `
` And oh, Madam Mina, my dear, my dear, may we who love you be there to `
` see, when that red scar, the sign of God's knowledge of what has been, `
` shall pass away, and leave your forehead as pure as the heart we know. `
` For so surely as we live, that scar shall pass away when God sees `
` right to lift the burden that is hard upon us. Till then we bear our `
` Cross, as His Son did in obedience to His Will. It may be that we are `
` chosen instruments of His good pleasure, and that we ascend to His `
` bidding as that other through stripes and shame. Through tears and `
` blood. Through doubts and fear, and all that makes the difference `
` between God and man." `
` `
` There was hope in his words, and comfort. And they made for `
` resignation. Mina and I both felt so, and simultaneously we each took `
` one of the old man's hands and bent over and kissed it. Then without `
` a word we all knelt down together, and all holding hands, swore to be `
` true to each other. We men pledged ourselves to raise the veil of `
` sorrow from the head of her whom, each in his own way, we loved. And `
` we prayed for help and guidance in the terrible task which lay before `
` us. It was then time to start. So I said farewell to Mina, a parting `
` which neither of us shall forget to our dying day, and we set out. `
` `
` To one thing I have made up my mind. If we find out that Mina must be `
` a vampire in the end, then she shall not go into that unknown and `
` terrible land alone. I suppose it is thus that in old times one `
` vampire meant many. Just as their hideous bodies could only rest in `
` sacred earth, so the holiest love was the recruiting sergeant for `
` their ghastly ranks. `
` `
` We entered Carfax without trouble and found all things the same as on `
` the first occasion. It was hard to believe that amongst so prosaic `
` surroundings of neglect and dust and decay there was any ground for `
` such fear as already we knew. Had not our minds been made up, and had `
` there not been terrible memories to spur us on, we could hardly have `
` proceeded with our task. We found no papers, or any sign of use in `
` the house. And in the old chapel the great boxes looked just as we `
` had seen them last. `
` `
` Dr. Van Helsing said to us solemnly as we stood before him, "And now, `
` my friends, we have a duty here to do. We must sterilize this earth, `
` so sacred of holy memories, that he has brought from a far distant `
` land for such fell use. He has chosen this earth because it has been `
` holy. Thus we defeat him with his own weapon, for we make it more `
` holy still. It was sanctified to such use of man, now we sanctify it `
` to God." `
` `
` As he spoke he took from his bag a screwdriver and a wrench, and very `
` soon the top of one of the cases was thrown open. The earth smelled `
` musty and close, but we did not somehow seem to mind, for our `
`