Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.13-27
27 September.--It was two o'clock before we found a suitable `
` opportunity for our attempt. The funeral held at noon was all `
` completed, and the last stragglers of the mourners had taken `
` themselves lazily away, when, looking carefully from behind a clump of `
` alder trees, we saw the sexton lock the gate after him. We knew that `
` we were safe till morning did we desire it, but the Professor told me `
` that we should not want more than an hour at most. Again I felt that `
` horrid sense of the reality of things, in which any effort of `
` imagination seemed out of place, and I realized distinctly the perils `
` of the law which we were incurring in our unhallowed work. Besides, I `
` felt it was all so useless. Outrageous as it was to open a leaden `
` coffin, to see if a woman dead nearly a week were really dead, it now `
` seemed the height of folly to open the tomb again, when we knew, from `
` the evidence of our own eyesight, that the coffin was empty. I `
` shrugged my shoulders, however, and rested silent, for Van Helsing had `
` a way of going on his own road, no matter who remonstrated. He took `
` the key, opened the vault, and again courteously motioned me to `
` precede. The place was not so gruesome as last night, but oh, how `
` unutterably mean looking when the sunshine streamed in. Van Helsing `
` walked over to Lucy's coffin, and I followed. He bent over and again `
` forced back the leaden flange, and a shock of surprise and dismay shot `
` through me. `
` `
` There lay Lucy, seemingly just as we had seen her the night before her `
` funeral. She was, if possible, more radiantly beautiful than ever, `
` and I could not believe that she was dead. The lips were red, nay `
` redder than before, and on the cheeks was a delicate bloom. `
` `
` "Is this a juggle?" I said to him. `
` `
` "Are you convinced now?" said the Professor, in response, and as he `
` spoke he put over his hand, and in a way that made me shudder, pulled `
` back the dead lips and showed the white teeth. "See," he went on, `
` "they are even sharper than before. With this and this," and he `
` touched one of the canine teeth and that below it, "the little `
` children can be bitten. Are you of belief now, friend John?" `
` `
` Once more argumentative hostility woke within me. I could not accept `
` such an overwhelming idea as he suggested. So, with an attempt to `
` argue of which I was even at the moment ashamed, I said, "She may have `
` been placed here since last night." `
` `
` "Indeed? That is so, and by whom?" `
` `
` "I do not know. Someone has done it." `
` `
` "And yet she has been dead one week. Most peoples in that time would `
` not look so." `
` `
` I had no answer for this, so was silent. Van Helsing did not seem to `
` notice my silence. At any rate, he showed neither chagrin nor `
` triumph. He was looking intently at the face of the dead woman, `
` raising the eyelids and looking at the eyes, and once more opening the `
` lips and examining the teeth. Then he turned to me and said, `
` `
` "Here, there is one thing which is different from all recorded. Here `
` is some dual life that is not as the common. She was bitten by the `
` vampire when she was in a trance, sleep-walking, oh, you start. You `
` do not know that, friend John, but you shall know it later, and in `
` trance could he best come to take more blood. In trance she dies, and `
` in trance she is UnDead, too. So it is that she differ from all `
` other. Usually when the UnDead sleep at home," as he spoke he made a `
` comprehensive sweep of his arm to designate what to a vampire was `
` 'home', "their face show what they are, but this so sweet that was `
` when she not UnDead she go back to the nothings of the common dead. `
` There is no malign there, see, and so it make hard that I must kill `
` her in her sleep." `
` `
` This turned my blood cold, and it began to dawn upon me that I was `
` accepting Van Helsing's theories. But if she were really dead, what `
` was there of terror in the idea of killing her? `
` `
` He looked up at me, and evidently saw the change in my face, for he `
` said almost joyously, "Ah, you believe now?" `
` `
` I answered, "Do not press me too hard all at once. I am willing to `
` accept. How will you do this bloody work?" `
` `
` "I shall cut off her head and fill her mouth with garlic, and I shall `
` drive a stake through her body." `
` `
` It made me shudder to think of so mutilating the body of the woman `
` whom I had loved. And yet the feeling was not so strong as I had `
` expected. I was, in fact, beginning to shudder at the presence of `
` this being, this UnDead, as Van Helsing called it, and to loathe it. `
` Is it possible that love is all subjective, or all objective? `
` `
` I waited a considerable time for Van Helsing to begin, but he stood as `
` if wrapped in thought. Presently he closed the catch of his bag with `
` a snap, and said, `
` `
` "I have been thinking, and have made up my mind as to what is best. `
` If I did simply follow my inclining I would do now, at this moment, `
` what is to be done. But there are other things to follow, and things `
` that are thousand times more difficult in that them we do not know. `
` This is simple. She have yet no life taken, though that is of time, `
` and to act now would be to take danger from her forever. But then we `
` may have to want Arthur, and how shall we tell him of this? If you, `
` who saw the wounds on Lucy's throat, and saw the wounds so similar on `
` the child's at the hospital, if you, who saw the coffin empty last `
` night and full today with a woman who have not change only to be more `
` rose and more beautiful in a whole week, after she die, if you know of `
` this and know of the white figure last night that brought the child to `
` the churchyard, and yet of your own senses you did not believe, how `
` then, can I expect Arthur, who know none of those things, to believe? `
` `
` "He doubted me when I took him from her kiss when she was dying. I `
` know he has forgiven me because in some mistaken idea I have done `
` things that prevent him say goodbye as he ought, and he may think that `
` in some more mistaken idea this woman was buried alive, and that in `
` most mistake of all we have killed her. He will then argue back that `
` it is we, mistaken ones, that have killed her by our ideas, and so he `
` will be much unhappy always. Yet he never can be sure, and that is `
` the worst of all. And he will sometimes think that she he loved was `
` buried alive, and that will paint his dreams with horrors of what she `
` must have suffered, and again, he will think that we may be right, and `
` that his so beloved was, after all, an UnDead. No! I told him once, `
` and since then I learn much. Now, since I know it is all true, a `
` hundred thousand times more do I know that he must pass through the `
` bitter waters to reach the sweet. He, poor fellow, must have one hour `
` that will make the very face of heaven grow black to him, then we can `
` act for good all round and send him peace. My mind is made up. Let `
` us go. You return home for tonight to your asylum, and see that all `
` be well. As for me, I shall spend the night here in this churchyard `
` in my own way. Tomorrow night you will come to me to the Berkeley `
` Hotel at ten of the clock. I shall send for Arthur to come too, and `
` also that so fine young man of America that gave his blood. Later we `
` shall all have work to do. I come with you so far as Piccadilly and `
` there dine, for I must be back here before the sun set." `
` `
` So we locked the tomb and came away, and got over the wall of the `
` churchyard, which was not much of a task, and drove back to `
` Piccadilly. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` NOTE LEFT BY VAN HELSING IN HIS PORTMANTEAU, BERKELEY HOTEL DIRECTED TO `
` JOHN SEWARD, M. D. (Not Delivered) `
` `
` 27 September `
` `
` "Friend John, `
` `
` "I write this in case anything should happen. I go alone to `
` watch in that churchyard. It pleases me that the UnDead, `
` Miss Lucy, shall not leave tonight, that so on the morrow `
` night she may be more eager. Therefore I shall fix some `
` things she like not, garlic and a crucifix, and so seal up `
` the door of the tomb. She is young as UnDead, and will `
` heed. Moreover, these are only to prevent her coming out. `
` They may not prevail on her wanting to get in, for then the `
` UnDead is desperate, and must find the line of least resistance, `
` whatsoever it may be. I shall be at hand all the night from `
` sunset till after sunrise, and if there be aught that may be `
` learned I shall learn it. For Miss Lucy or from her, I have no `
` fear, but that other to whom is there that she is UnDead, he have `
` not the power to seek her tomb and find shelter. He is cunning, `
` as I know from Mr. Jonathan and from the way that all along he `
` have fooled us when he played with us for Miss Lucy's life, and `
` we lost, and in many ways the UnDead are strong. He have always `
` the strength in his hand of twenty men, even we four who gave our `
` strength to Miss Lucy it also is all to him. Besides, he can `
` summon his wolf and I know not what. So if it be that he came `
` thither on this night he shall find me. But none other shall, `
` until it be too late. But it may be that he will not attempt the `
` place. There is no reason why he should. His hunting ground is `
` more full of game than the churchyard where the UnDead woman `
` sleeps, and the one old man watch. `
` `
` "Therefore I write this in case . . . Take the papers that `
` are with this, the diaries of Harker and the rest, and read `
` them, and then find this great UnDead, and cut off his head `
` and burn his heart or drive a stake through it, so that the `
` world may rest from him. `
` `
` "If it be so, farewell. `
` `
` "VAN HELSING." `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARD'S DIARY `
` `
` 28 September.--It is wonderful what a good night's sleep will do for `
` one. Yesterday I was almost willing to accept Van Helsing's monstrous `
` ideas, but now they seem to start out lurid before me as outrages on `
` common sense. I have no doubt that he believes it all. I wonder if `
` his mind can have become in any way unhinged. Surely there must be `
` some rational explanation of all these mysterious things. Is it `
` possible that the Professor can have done it himself? He is so `
` abnormally clever that if he went off his head he would carry out his `
` intent with regard to some fixed idea in a wonderful way. I am loathe `
` to think it, and indeed it would be almost as great a marvel as the `
` other to find that Van Helsing was mad, but anyhow I shall watch him `
` carefully. I may get some light on the mystery. `
` `
` `
` 29 September.--Last night, at a little before ten o'clock, Arthur and `
` Quincey came into Van Helsing's room. He told us all what he wanted `
`
` opportunity for our attempt. The funeral held at noon was all `
` completed, and the last stragglers of the mourners had taken `
` themselves lazily away, when, looking carefully from behind a clump of `
` alder trees, we saw the sexton lock the gate after him. We knew that `
` we were safe till morning did we desire it, but the Professor told me `
` that we should not want more than an hour at most. Again I felt that `
` horrid sense of the reality of things, in which any effort of `
` imagination seemed out of place, and I realized distinctly the perils `
` of the law which we were incurring in our unhallowed work. Besides, I `
` felt it was all so useless. Outrageous as it was to open a leaden `
` coffin, to see if a woman dead nearly a week were really dead, it now `
` seemed the height of folly to open the tomb again, when we knew, from `
` the evidence of our own eyesight, that the coffin was empty. I `
` shrugged my shoulders, however, and rested silent, for Van Helsing had `
` a way of going on his own road, no matter who remonstrated. He took `
` the key, opened the vault, and again courteously motioned me to `
` precede. The place was not so gruesome as last night, but oh, how `
` unutterably mean looking when the sunshine streamed in. Van Helsing `
` walked over to Lucy's coffin, and I followed. He bent over and again `
` forced back the leaden flange, and a shock of surprise and dismay shot `
` through me. `
` `
` There lay Lucy, seemingly just as we had seen her the night before her `
` funeral. She was, if possible, more radiantly beautiful than ever, `
` and I could not believe that she was dead. The lips were red, nay `
` redder than before, and on the cheeks was a delicate bloom. `
` `
` "Is this a juggle?" I said to him. `
` `
` "Are you convinced now?" said the Professor, in response, and as he `
` spoke he put over his hand, and in a way that made me shudder, pulled `
` back the dead lips and showed the white teeth. "See," he went on, `
` "they are even sharper than before. With this and this," and he `
` touched one of the canine teeth and that below it, "the little `
` children can be bitten. Are you of belief now, friend John?" `
` `
` Once more argumentative hostility woke within me. I could not accept `
` such an overwhelming idea as he suggested. So, with an attempt to `
` argue of which I was even at the moment ashamed, I said, "She may have `
` been placed here since last night." `
` `
` "Indeed? That is so, and by whom?" `
` `
` "I do not know. Someone has done it." `
` `
` "And yet she has been dead one week. Most peoples in that time would `
` not look so." `
` `
` I had no answer for this, so was silent. Van Helsing did not seem to `
` notice my silence. At any rate, he showed neither chagrin nor `
` triumph. He was looking intently at the face of the dead woman, `
` raising the eyelids and looking at the eyes, and once more opening the `
` lips and examining the teeth. Then he turned to me and said, `
` `
` "Here, there is one thing which is different from all recorded. Here `
` is some dual life that is not as the common. She was bitten by the `
` vampire when she was in a trance, sleep-walking, oh, you start. You `
` do not know that, friend John, but you shall know it later, and in `
` trance could he best come to take more blood. In trance she dies, and `
` in trance she is UnDead, too. So it is that she differ from all `
` other. Usually when the UnDead sleep at home," as he spoke he made a `
` comprehensive sweep of his arm to designate what to a vampire was `
` 'home', "their face show what they are, but this so sweet that was `
` when she not UnDead she go back to the nothings of the common dead. `
` There is no malign there, see, and so it make hard that I must kill `
` her in her sleep." `
` `
` This turned my blood cold, and it began to dawn upon me that I was `
` accepting Van Helsing's theories. But if she were really dead, what `
` was there of terror in the idea of killing her? `
` `
` He looked up at me, and evidently saw the change in my face, for he `
` said almost joyously, "Ah, you believe now?" `
` `
` I answered, "Do not press me too hard all at once. I am willing to `
` accept. How will you do this bloody work?" `
` `
` "I shall cut off her head and fill her mouth with garlic, and I shall `
` drive a stake through her body." `
` `
` It made me shudder to think of so mutilating the body of the woman `
` whom I had loved. And yet the feeling was not so strong as I had `
` expected. I was, in fact, beginning to shudder at the presence of `
` this being, this UnDead, as Van Helsing called it, and to loathe it. `
` Is it possible that love is all subjective, or all objective? `
` `
` I waited a considerable time for Van Helsing to begin, but he stood as `
` if wrapped in thought. Presently he closed the catch of his bag with `
` a snap, and said, `
` `
` "I have been thinking, and have made up my mind as to what is best. `
` If I did simply follow my inclining I would do now, at this moment, `
` what is to be done. But there are other things to follow, and things `
` that are thousand times more difficult in that them we do not know. `
` This is simple. She have yet no life taken, though that is of time, `
` and to act now would be to take danger from her forever. But then we `
` may have to want Arthur, and how shall we tell him of this? If you, `
` who saw the wounds on Lucy's throat, and saw the wounds so similar on `
` the child's at the hospital, if you, who saw the coffin empty last `
` night and full today with a woman who have not change only to be more `
` rose and more beautiful in a whole week, after she die, if you know of `
` this and know of the white figure last night that brought the child to `
` the churchyard, and yet of your own senses you did not believe, how `
` then, can I expect Arthur, who know none of those things, to believe? `
` `
` "He doubted me when I took him from her kiss when she was dying. I `
` know he has forgiven me because in some mistaken idea I have done `
` things that prevent him say goodbye as he ought, and he may think that `
` in some more mistaken idea this woman was buried alive, and that in `
` most mistake of all we have killed her. He will then argue back that `
` it is we, mistaken ones, that have killed her by our ideas, and so he `
` will be much unhappy always. Yet he never can be sure, and that is `
` the worst of all. And he will sometimes think that she he loved was `
` buried alive, and that will paint his dreams with horrors of what she `
` must have suffered, and again, he will think that we may be right, and `
` that his so beloved was, after all, an UnDead. No! I told him once, `
` and since then I learn much. Now, since I know it is all true, a `
` hundred thousand times more do I know that he must pass through the `
` bitter waters to reach the sweet. He, poor fellow, must have one hour `
` that will make the very face of heaven grow black to him, then we can `
` act for good all round and send him peace. My mind is made up. Let `
` us go. You return home for tonight to your asylum, and see that all `
` be well. As for me, I shall spend the night here in this churchyard `
` in my own way. Tomorrow night you will come to me to the Berkeley `
` Hotel at ten of the clock. I shall send for Arthur to come too, and `
` also that so fine young man of America that gave his blood. Later we `
` shall all have work to do. I come with you so far as Piccadilly and `
` there dine, for I must be back here before the sun set." `
` `
` So we locked the tomb and came away, and got over the wall of the `
` churchyard, which was not much of a task, and drove back to `
` Piccadilly. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` NOTE LEFT BY VAN HELSING IN HIS PORTMANTEAU, BERKELEY HOTEL DIRECTED TO `
` JOHN SEWARD, M. D. (Not Delivered) `
` `
` 27 September `
` `
` "Friend John, `
` `
` "I write this in case anything should happen. I go alone to `
` watch in that churchyard. It pleases me that the UnDead, `
` Miss Lucy, shall not leave tonight, that so on the morrow `
` night she may be more eager. Therefore I shall fix some `
` things she like not, garlic and a crucifix, and so seal up `
` the door of the tomb. She is young as UnDead, and will `
` heed. Moreover, these are only to prevent her coming out. `
` They may not prevail on her wanting to get in, for then the `
` UnDead is desperate, and must find the line of least resistance, `
` whatsoever it may be. I shall be at hand all the night from `
` sunset till after sunrise, and if there be aught that may be `
` learned I shall learn it. For Miss Lucy or from her, I have no `
` fear, but that other to whom is there that she is UnDead, he have `
` not the power to seek her tomb and find shelter. He is cunning, `
` as I know from Mr. Jonathan and from the way that all along he `
` have fooled us when he played with us for Miss Lucy's life, and `
` we lost, and in many ways the UnDead are strong. He have always `
` the strength in his hand of twenty men, even we four who gave our `
` strength to Miss Lucy it also is all to him. Besides, he can `
` summon his wolf and I know not what. So if it be that he came `
` thither on this night he shall find me. But none other shall, `
` until it be too late. But it may be that he will not attempt the `
` place. There is no reason why he should. His hunting ground is `
` more full of game than the churchyard where the UnDead woman `
` sleeps, and the one old man watch. `
` `
` "Therefore I write this in case . . . Take the papers that `
` are with this, the diaries of Harker and the rest, and read `
` them, and then find this great UnDead, and cut off his head `
` and burn his heart or drive a stake through it, so that the `
` world may rest from him. `
` `
` "If it be so, farewell. `
` `
` "VAN HELSING." `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARD'S DIARY `
` `
` 28 September.--It is wonderful what a good night's sleep will do for `
` one. Yesterday I was almost willing to accept Van Helsing's monstrous `
` ideas, but now they seem to start out lurid before me as outrages on `
` common sense. I have no doubt that he believes it all. I wonder if `
` his mind can have become in any way unhinged. Surely there must be `
` some rational explanation of all these mysterious things. Is it `
` possible that the Professor can have done it himself? He is so `
` abnormally clever that if he went off his head he would carry out his `
` intent with regard to some fixed idea in a wonderful way. I am loathe `
` to think it, and indeed it would be almost as great a marvel as the `
` other to find that Van Helsing was mad, but anyhow I shall watch him `
` carefully. I may get some light on the mystery. `
` `
` `
` 29 September.--Last night, at a little before ten o'clock, Arthur and `
` Quincey came into Van Helsing's room. He told us all what he wanted `
`