Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.13-27
could and said that we had better hasten, as the afternoon was `
` passing. `
` `
` We found the child awake. It had had a sleep and taken some food, and `
` altogether was going on well. Dr. Vincent took the bandage from its `
` throat, and showed us the punctures. There was no mistaking the `
` similarity to those which had been on Lucy's throat. They were `
` smaller, and the edges looked fresher, that was all. We asked Vincent `
` to what he attributed them, and he replied that it must have been a `
` bite of some animal, perhaps a rat, but for his own part, he was `
` inclined to think it was one of the bats which are so numerous on the `
` northern heights of London. "Out of so many harmless ones," he said, `
` "there may be some wild specimen from the South of a more malignant `
` species. Some sailor may have brought one home, and it managed to `
` escape, or even from the Zoological Gardens a young one may have got `
` loose, or one be bred there from a vampire. These things do occur, `
` you, know. Only ten days ago a wolf got out, and was, I believe, `
` traced up in this direction. For a week after, the children were `
` playing nothing but Red Riding Hood on the Heath and in every alley in `
` the place until this 'bloofer lady' scare came along, since then it `
` has been quite a gala time with them. Even this poor little mite, `
` when he woke up today, asked the nurse if he might go away. When she `
` asked him why he wanted to go, he said he wanted to play with the `
` 'bloofer lady'." `
` `
` "I hope," said Van Helsing, "that when you are sending the child home `
` you will caution its parents to keep strict watch over it. These `
` fancies to stray are most dangerous, and if the child were to remain `
` out another night, it would probably be fatal. But in any case I `
` suppose you will not let it away for some days?" `
` `
` "Certainly not, not for a week at least, longer if the wound is not `
` healed." `
` `
` Our visit to the hospital took more time than we had reckoned on, and `
` the sun had dipped before we came out. When Van Helsing saw how dark `
` it was, he said, `
` `
` "There is not hurry. It is more late than I thought. Come, let us `
` seek somewhere that we may eat, and then we shall go on our way." `
` `
` We dined at 'Jack Straw's Castle' along with a little crowd of `
` bicyclists and others who were genially noisy. About ten o'clock we `
` started from the inn. It was then very dark, and the scattered lamps `
` made the darkness greater when we were once outside their individual `
` radius. The Professor had evidently noted the road we were to go, for `
` he went on unhesitatingly, but, as for me, I was in quite a mixup as `
` to locality. As we went further, we met fewer and fewer people, till `
` at last we were somewhat surprised when we met even the patrol of `
` horse police going their usual suburban round. At last we reached the `
` wall of the churchyard, which we climbed over. With some little `
` difficulty, for it was very dark, and the whole place seemed so `
` strange to us, we found the Westenra tomb. The Professor took the `
` key, opened the creaky door, and standing back, politely, but quite `
` unconsciously, motioned me to precede him. There was a delicious `
` irony in the offer, in the courtliness of giving preference on such a `
` ghastly occasion. My companion followed me quickly, and cautiously `
` drew the door to, after carefully ascertaining that the lock was a `
` falling, and not a spring one. In the latter case we should have been `
` in a bad plight. Then he fumbled in his bag, and taking out a `
` matchbox and a piece of candle, proceeded to make a light. The tomb `
` in the daytime, and when wreathed with fresh flowers, had looked grim `
` and gruesome enough, but now, some days afterwards, when the flowers `
` hung lank and dead, their whites turning to rust and their greens to `
` browns, when the spider and the beetle had resumed their accustomed `
` dominance, when the time-discoloured stone, and dust-encrusted mortar, `
` and rusty, dank iron, and tarnished brass, and clouded silver-plating `
` gave back the feeble glimmer of a candle, the effect was more `
` miserable and sordid than could have been imagined. It conveyed `
` irresistibly the idea that life, animal life, was not the only thing `
` which could pass away. `
` `
` Van Helsing went about his work systematically. Holding his candle so `
` that he could read the coffin plates, and so holding it that the sperm `
` dropped in white patches which congealed as they touched the metal, he `
` made assurance of Lucy's coffin. Another search in his bag, and he `
` took out a turnscrew. `
` `
` "What are you going to do?" I asked. `
` `
` "To open the coffin. You shall yet be convinced." `
` `
` Straightway he began taking out the screws, and finally lifted off the `
` lid, showing the casing of lead beneath. The sight was almost too `
` much for me. It seemed to be as much an affront to the dead as it `
` would have been to have stripped off her clothing in her sleep whilst `
` living. I actually took hold of his hand to stop him. `
` `
` He only said, "You shall see," and again fumbling in his bag took out `
` a tiny fret saw. Striking the turnscrew through the lead with a swift `
` downward stab, which made me wince, he made a small hole, which was, `
` however, big enough to admit the point of the saw. I had expected a `
` rush of gas from the week-old corpse. We doctors, who have had to `
` study our dangers, have to become accustomed to such things, and I `
` drew back towards the door. But the Professor never stopped for a `
` moment. He sawed down a couple of feet along one side of the lead `
` coffin, and then across, and down the other side. Taking the edge of `
` the loose flange, he bent it back towards the foot of the coffin, and `
` holding up the candle into the aperture, motioned to me to look. `
` `
` I drew near and looked. The coffin was empty. It was certainly a `
` surprise to me, and gave me a considerable shock, but Van Helsing was `
` unmoved. He was now more sure than ever of his ground, and so `
` emboldened to proceed in his task. "Are you satisfied now, friend `
` John?" he asked. `
` `
` I felt all the dogged argumentativeness of my nature awake within me as `
` I answered him, "I am satisfied that Lucy's body is not in that `
` coffin, but that only proves one thing." `
` `
` "And what is that, friend John?" `
` `
` "That it is not there." `
` `
` "That is good logic," he said, "so far as it goes. But how do you, `
` how can you, account for it not being there?" `
` `
` "Perhaps a body-snatcher," I suggested. "Some of the undertaker's `
` people may have stolen it." I felt that I was speaking folly, and yet `
` it was the only real cause which I could suggest. `
` `
` The Professor sighed. "Ah well!" he said, "we must have more proof. `
` Come with me." `
` `
` He put on the coffin lid again, gathered up all his things and placed `
` them in the bag, blew out the light, and placed the candle also in the `
` bag. We opened the door, and went out. Behind us he closed the door `
` and locked it. He handed me the key, saying, "Will you keep it? You `
` had better be assured." `
` `
` I laughed, it was not a very cheerful laugh, I am bound to say, as I `
` motioned him to keep it. "A key is nothing," I said, "there are many `
` duplicates, and anyhow it is not difficult to pick a lock of this `
` kind." `
` `
` He said nothing, but put the key in his pocket. Then he told me to `
` watch at one side of the churchyard whilst he would watch at the `
` other. `
` `
` I took up my place behind a yew tree, and I saw his dark figure move `
` until the intervening headstones and trees hid it from my sight. `
` `
` It was a lonely vigil. Just after I had taken my place I heard a `
` distant clock strike twelve, and in time came one and two. I was `
` chilled and unnerved, and angry with the Professor for taking me on `
` such an errand and with myself for coming. I was too cold and too `
` sleepy to be keenly observant, and not sleepy enough to betray my `
` trust, so altogether I had a dreary, miserable time. `
` `
` Suddenly, as I turned round, I thought I saw something like a white `
` streak, moving between two dark yew trees at the side of the `
` churchyard farthest from the tomb. At the same time a dark mass moved `
` from the Professor's side of the ground, and hurriedly went towards `
` it. Then I too moved, but I had to go round headstones and railed-off `
` tombs, and I stumbled over graves. The sky was overcast, and `
` somewhere far off an early cock crew. A little ways off, beyond a `
` line of scattered juniper trees, which marked the pathway to the `
` church, a white dim figure flitted in the direction of the tomb. The `
` tomb itself was hidden by trees, and I could not see where the figure `
` had disappeared. I heard the rustle of actual movement where I had `
` first seen the white figure, and coming over, found the Professor `
` holding in his arms a tiny child. When he saw me he held it out to `
` me, and said, "Are you satisfied now?" `
` `
` "No," I said, in a way that I felt was aggressive. `
` `
` "Do you not see the child?" `
` `
` "Yes, it is a child, but who brought it here? And is it wounded?" `
` `
` "We shall see," said the Professor, and with one impulse we took our `
` way out of the churchyard, he carrying the sleeping child. `
` `
` When we had got some little distance away, we went into a clump of `
` trees, and struck a match, and looked at the child's throat. It was `
` without a scratch or scar of any kind. `
` `
` "Was I right?" I asked triumphantly. `
` `
` "We were just in time," said the Professor thankfully. `
` `
` We had now to decide what we were to do with the child, and so `
` consulted about it. If we were to take it to a police station we `
` should have to give some account of our movements during the night. `
` At least, we should have had to make some statement as to how we had `
` come to find the child. So finally we decided that we would take it `
` to the Heath, and when we heard a policeman coming, would leave it `
` where he could not fail to find it. We would then seek our way home `
` as quickly as we could. All fell out well. At the edge of Hampstead `
` Heath we heard a policeman's heavy tramp, and laying the child on the `
` pathway, we waited and watched until he saw it as he flashed his `
` lantern to and fro. We heard his exclamation of astonishment, and `
` then we went away silently. By good chance we got a cab near the `
` 'Spainiards,' and drove to town. `
` `
` I cannot sleep, so I make this entry. But I must try to get a few `
` hours' sleep, as Van Helsing is to call for me at noon. He insists `
` that I go with him on another expedition. `
` `
` `
` 27 September.--It was two o'clock before we found a suitable `
`
` passing. `
` `
` We found the child awake. It had had a sleep and taken some food, and `
` altogether was going on well. Dr. Vincent took the bandage from its `
` throat, and showed us the punctures. There was no mistaking the `
` similarity to those which had been on Lucy's throat. They were `
` smaller, and the edges looked fresher, that was all. We asked Vincent `
` to what he attributed them, and he replied that it must have been a `
` bite of some animal, perhaps a rat, but for his own part, he was `
` inclined to think it was one of the bats which are so numerous on the `
` northern heights of London. "Out of so many harmless ones," he said, `
` "there may be some wild specimen from the South of a more malignant `
` species. Some sailor may have brought one home, and it managed to `
` escape, or even from the Zoological Gardens a young one may have got `
` loose, or one be bred there from a vampire. These things do occur, `
` you, know. Only ten days ago a wolf got out, and was, I believe, `
` traced up in this direction. For a week after, the children were `
` playing nothing but Red Riding Hood on the Heath and in every alley in `
` the place until this 'bloofer lady' scare came along, since then it `
` has been quite a gala time with them. Even this poor little mite, `
` when he woke up today, asked the nurse if he might go away. When she `
` asked him why he wanted to go, he said he wanted to play with the `
` 'bloofer lady'." `
` `
` "I hope," said Van Helsing, "that when you are sending the child home `
` you will caution its parents to keep strict watch over it. These `
` fancies to stray are most dangerous, and if the child were to remain `
` out another night, it would probably be fatal. But in any case I `
` suppose you will not let it away for some days?" `
` `
` "Certainly not, not for a week at least, longer if the wound is not `
` healed." `
` `
` Our visit to the hospital took more time than we had reckoned on, and `
` the sun had dipped before we came out. When Van Helsing saw how dark `
` it was, he said, `
` `
` "There is not hurry. It is more late than I thought. Come, let us `
` seek somewhere that we may eat, and then we shall go on our way." `
` `
` We dined at 'Jack Straw's Castle' along with a little crowd of `
` bicyclists and others who were genially noisy. About ten o'clock we `
` started from the inn. It was then very dark, and the scattered lamps `
` made the darkness greater when we were once outside their individual `
` radius. The Professor had evidently noted the road we were to go, for `
` he went on unhesitatingly, but, as for me, I was in quite a mixup as `
` to locality. As we went further, we met fewer and fewer people, till `
` at last we were somewhat surprised when we met even the patrol of `
` horse police going their usual suburban round. At last we reached the `
` wall of the churchyard, which we climbed over. With some little `
` difficulty, for it was very dark, and the whole place seemed so `
` strange to us, we found the Westenra tomb. The Professor took the `
` key, opened the creaky door, and standing back, politely, but quite `
` unconsciously, motioned me to precede him. There was a delicious `
` irony in the offer, in the courtliness of giving preference on such a `
` ghastly occasion. My companion followed me quickly, and cautiously `
` drew the door to, after carefully ascertaining that the lock was a `
` falling, and not a spring one. In the latter case we should have been `
` in a bad plight. Then he fumbled in his bag, and taking out a `
` matchbox and a piece of candle, proceeded to make a light. The tomb `
` in the daytime, and when wreathed with fresh flowers, had looked grim `
` and gruesome enough, but now, some days afterwards, when the flowers `
` hung lank and dead, their whites turning to rust and their greens to `
` browns, when the spider and the beetle had resumed their accustomed `
` dominance, when the time-discoloured stone, and dust-encrusted mortar, `
` and rusty, dank iron, and tarnished brass, and clouded silver-plating `
` gave back the feeble glimmer of a candle, the effect was more `
` miserable and sordid than could have been imagined. It conveyed `
` irresistibly the idea that life, animal life, was not the only thing `
` which could pass away. `
` `
` Van Helsing went about his work systematically. Holding his candle so `
` that he could read the coffin plates, and so holding it that the sperm `
` dropped in white patches which congealed as they touched the metal, he `
` made assurance of Lucy's coffin. Another search in his bag, and he `
` took out a turnscrew. `
` `
` "What are you going to do?" I asked. `
` `
` "To open the coffin. You shall yet be convinced." `
` `
` Straightway he began taking out the screws, and finally lifted off the `
` lid, showing the casing of lead beneath. The sight was almost too `
` much for me. It seemed to be as much an affront to the dead as it `
` would have been to have stripped off her clothing in her sleep whilst `
` living. I actually took hold of his hand to stop him. `
` `
` He only said, "You shall see," and again fumbling in his bag took out `
` a tiny fret saw. Striking the turnscrew through the lead with a swift `
` downward stab, which made me wince, he made a small hole, which was, `
` however, big enough to admit the point of the saw. I had expected a `
` rush of gas from the week-old corpse. We doctors, who have had to `
` study our dangers, have to become accustomed to such things, and I `
` drew back towards the door. But the Professor never stopped for a `
` moment. He sawed down a couple of feet along one side of the lead `
` coffin, and then across, and down the other side. Taking the edge of `
` the loose flange, he bent it back towards the foot of the coffin, and `
` holding up the candle into the aperture, motioned to me to look. `
` `
` I drew near and looked. The coffin was empty. It was certainly a `
` surprise to me, and gave me a considerable shock, but Van Helsing was `
` unmoved. He was now more sure than ever of his ground, and so `
` emboldened to proceed in his task. "Are you satisfied now, friend `
` John?" he asked. `
` `
` I felt all the dogged argumentativeness of my nature awake within me as `
` I answered him, "I am satisfied that Lucy's body is not in that `
` coffin, but that only proves one thing." `
` `
` "And what is that, friend John?" `
` `
` "That it is not there." `
` `
` "That is good logic," he said, "so far as it goes. But how do you, `
` how can you, account for it not being there?" `
` `
` "Perhaps a body-snatcher," I suggested. "Some of the undertaker's `
` people may have stolen it." I felt that I was speaking folly, and yet `
` it was the only real cause which I could suggest. `
` `
` The Professor sighed. "Ah well!" he said, "we must have more proof. `
` Come with me." `
` `
` He put on the coffin lid again, gathered up all his things and placed `
` them in the bag, blew out the light, and placed the candle also in the `
` bag. We opened the door, and went out. Behind us he closed the door `
` and locked it. He handed me the key, saying, "Will you keep it? You `
` had better be assured." `
` `
` I laughed, it was not a very cheerful laugh, I am bound to say, as I `
` motioned him to keep it. "A key is nothing," I said, "there are many `
` duplicates, and anyhow it is not difficult to pick a lock of this `
` kind." `
` `
` He said nothing, but put the key in his pocket. Then he told me to `
` watch at one side of the churchyard whilst he would watch at the `
` other. `
` `
` I took up my place behind a yew tree, and I saw his dark figure move `
` until the intervening headstones and trees hid it from my sight. `
` `
` It was a lonely vigil. Just after I had taken my place I heard a `
` distant clock strike twelve, and in time came one and two. I was `
` chilled and unnerved, and angry with the Professor for taking me on `
` such an errand and with myself for coming. I was too cold and too `
` sleepy to be keenly observant, and not sleepy enough to betray my `
` trust, so altogether I had a dreary, miserable time. `
` `
` Suddenly, as I turned round, I thought I saw something like a white `
` streak, moving between two dark yew trees at the side of the `
` churchyard farthest from the tomb. At the same time a dark mass moved `
` from the Professor's side of the ground, and hurriedly went towards `
` it. Then I too moved, but I had to go round headstones and railed-off `
` tombs, and I stumbled over graves. The sky was overcast, and `
` somewhere far off an early cock crew. A little ways off, beyond a `
` line of scattered juniper trees, which marked the pathway to the `
` church, a white dim figure flitted in the direction of the tomb. The `
` tomb itself was hidden by trees, and I could not see where the figure `
` had disappeared. I heard the rustle of actual movement where I had `
` first seen the white figure, and coming over, found the Professor `
` holding in his arms a tiny child. When he saw me he held it out to `
` me, and said, "Are you satisfied now?" `
` `
` "No," I said, in a way that I felt was aggressive. `
` `
` "Do you not see the child?" `
` `
` "Yes, it is a child, but who brought it here? And is it wounded?" `
` `
` "We shall see," said the Professor, and with one impulse we took our `
` way out of the churchyard, he carrying the sleeping child. `
` `
` When we had got some little distance away, we went into a clump of `
` trees, and struck a match, and looked at the child's throat. It was `
` without a scratch or scar of any kind. `
` `
` "Was I right?" I asked triumphantly. `
` `
` "We were just in time," said the Professor thankfully. `
` `
` We had now to decide what we were to do with the child, and so `
` consulted about it. If we were to take it to a police station we `
` should have to give some account of our movements during the night. `
` At least, we should have had to make some statement as to how we had `
` come to find the child. So finally we decided that we would take it `
` to the Heath, and when we heard a policeman coming, would leave it `
` where he could not fail to find it. We would then seek our way home `
` as quickly as we could. All fell out well. At the edge of Hampstead `
` Heath we heard a policeman's heavy tramp, and laying the child on the `
` pathway, we waited and watched until he saw it as he flashed his `
` lantern to and fro. We heard his exclamation of astonishment, and `
` then we went away silently. By good chance we got a cab near the `
` 'Spainiards,' and drove to town. `
` `
` I cannot sleep, so I make this entry. But I must try to get a few `
` hours' sleep, as Van Helsing is to call for me at noon. He insists `
` that I go with him on another expedition. `
` `
` `
` 27 September.--It was two o'clock before we found a suitable `
`