Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.1-12
thanked her, but my duty was imperative, and that I must go. `
` `
` She then rose and dried her eyes, and taking a crucifix from her neck `
` offered it to me. `
` `
` I did not know what to do, for, as an English Churchman, I have been `
` taught to regard such things as in some measure idolatrous, and yet it `
` seemed so ungracious to refuse an old lady meaning so well and in such `
` a state of mind. `
` `
` She saw, I suppose, the doubt in my face, for she put the rosary round `
` my neck and said, "For your mother's sake," and went out of the room. `
` `
` I am writing up this part of the diary whilst I am waiting for the `
` coach, which is, of course, late; and the crucifix is still round my `
` neck. `
` `
` Whether it is the old lady's fear, or the many ghostly traditions of `
` this place, or the crucifix itself, I do not know, but I am not `
` feeling nearly as easy in my mind as usual. `
` `
` If this book should ever reach Mina before I do, let it bring my `
` goodbye. Here comes the coach! `
` `
` `
` 5 May. The Castle.--The gray of the morning has passed, and the sun `
` is high over the distant horizon, which seems jagged, whether with `
` trees or hills I know not, for it is so far off that big things and `
` little are mixed. `
` `
` I am not sleepy, and, as I am not to be called till I awake, naturally `
` I write till sleep comes. `
` `
` There are many odd things to put down, and, lest who reads them may `
` fancy that I dined too well before I left Bistritz, let me put down my `
` dinner exactly. `
` `
` I dined on what they called "robber steak"--bits of bacon, onion, and `
` beef, seasoned with red pepper, and strung on sticks, and roasted over `
` the fire, in simple style of the London cat's meat! `
` `
` The wine was Golden Mediasch, which produces a queer sting on the `
` tongue, which is, however, not disagreeable. `
` `
` I had only a couple of glasses of this, and nothing else. `
` `
` When I got on the coach, the driver had not taken his seat, and I saw `
` him talking to the landlady. `
` `
` They were evidently talking of me, for every now and then they looked `
` at me, and some of the people who were sitting on the bench outside `
` the door--came and listened, and then looked at me, most of them `
` pityingly. I could hear a lot of words often repeated, queer words, `
` for there were many nationalities in the crowd, so I quietly got my `
` polyglot dictionary from my bag and looked them out. `
` `
` I must say they were not cheering to me, for amongst them were `
` "Ordog"--Satan, "Pokol"--hell, "stregoica"--witch, "vrolok" and `
` "vlkoslak"--both mean the same thing, one being Slovak and the other `
` Servian for something that is either werewolf or vampire. (Mem., I `
` must ask the Count about these superstitions.) `
` `
` When we started, the crowd round the inn door, which had by this time `
` swelled to a considerable size, all made the sign of the cross and `
` pointed two fingers towards me. `
` `
` With some difficulty, I got a fellow passenger to tell me what they `
` meant. He would not answer at first, but on learning that I was `
` English, he explained that it was a charm or guard against the evil `
` eye. `
` `
` This was not very pleasant for me, just starting for an unknown place `
` to meet an unknown man. But everyone seemed so kind-hearted, and so `
` sorrowful, and so sympathetic that I could not but be touched. `
` `
` I shall never forget the last glimpse which I had of the inn yard and `
` its crowd of picturesque figures, all crossing themselves, as they `
` stood round the wide archway, with its background of rich foliage of `
` oleander and orange trees in green tubs clustered in the centre of the `
` yard. `
` `
` Then our driver, whose wide linen drawers covered the whole front of `
` the boxseat,--"gotza" they call them--cracked his big whip over his `
` four small horses, which ran abreast, and we set off on our journey. `
` `
` I soon lost sight and recollection of ghostly fears in the beauty of `
` the scene as we drove along, although had I known the language, or `
` rather languages, which my fellow-passengers were speaking, I might `
` not have been able to throw them off so easily. Before us lay a green `
` sloping land full of forests and woods, with here and there steep `
` hills, crowned with clumps of trees or with farmhouses, the blank `
` gable end to the road. There was everywhere a bewildering mass of `
` fruit blossom--apple, plum, pear, cherry. And as we drove by I could `
` see the green grass under the trees spangled with the fallen petals. `
` In and out amongst these green hills of what they call here the `
` "Mittel Land" ran the road, losing itself as it swept round the grassy `
` curve, or was shut out by the straggling ends of pine woods, which `
` here and there ran down the hillsides like tongues of flame. The road `
` was rugged, but still we seemed to fly over it with a feverish haste. `
` I could not understand then what the haste meant, but the driver was `
` evidently bent on losing no time in reaching Borgo Prund. I was told `
` that this road is in summertime excellent, but that it had not yet `
` been put in order after the winter snows. In this respect it is `
` different from the general run of roads in the Carpathians, for it is `
` an old tradition that they are not to be kept in too good order. Of `
` old the Hospadars would not repair them, lest the Turk should think `
` that they were preparing to bring in foreign troops, and so hasten the `
` war which was always really at loading point. `
` `
` Beyond the green swelling hills of the Mittel Land rose mighty slopes `
` of forest up to the lofty steeps of the Carpathians themselves. Right `
` and left of us they towered, with the afternoon sun falling full upon `
` them and bringing out all the glorious colours of this beautiful `
` range, deep blue and purple in the shadows of the peaks, green and `
` brown where grass and rock mingled, and an endless perspective of `
` jagged rock and pointed crags, till these were themselves lost in the `
` distance, where the snowy peaks rose grandly. Here and there seemed `
` mighty rifts in the mountains, through which, as the sun began to `
` sink, we saw now and again the white gleam of falling water. One of `
` my companions touched my arm as we swept round the base of a hill and `
` opened up the lofty, snow-covered peak of a mountain, which seemed, as `
` we wound on our serpentine way, to be right before us. `
` `
` "Look! Isten szek!"--"God's seat!"--and he crossed himself reverently. `
` `
` As we wound on our endless way, and the sun sank lower and lower `
` behind us, the shadows of the evening began to creep round us. This `
` was emphasized by the fact that the snowy mountain-top still held the `
` sunset, and seemed to glow out with a delicate cool pink. Here and `
` there we passed Cszeks and slovaks, all in picturesque attire, but I `
` noticed that goitre was painfully prevalent. By the roadside were `
` many crosses, and as we swept by, my companions all crossed `
` themselves. Here and there was a peasant man or woman kneeling before `
` a shrine, who did not even turn round as we approached, but seemed in `
` the self-surrender of devotion to have neither eyes nor ears for the `
` outer world. There were many things new to me. For instance, `
` hay-ricks in the trees, and here and there very beautiful masses of `
` weeping birch, their white stems shining like silver through the `
` delicate green of the leaves. `
` `
` Now and again we passed a leiter-wagon--the ordinary peasants's `
` cart--with its long, snakelike vertebra, calculated to suit the `
` inequalities of the road. On this were sure to be seated quite a `
` group of homecoming peasants, the Cszeks with their white, and the `
` Slovaks with their coloured sheepskins, the latter carrying `
` lance-fashion their long staves, with axe at end. As the evening fell `
` it began to get very cold, and the growing twilight seemed to merge `
` into one dark mistiness the gloom of the trees, oak, beech, and pine, `
` though in the valleys which ran deep between the spurs of the hills, `
` as we ascended through the Pass, the dark firs stood out here and `
` there against the background of late-lying snow. Sometimes, as the `
` road was cut through the pine woods that seemed in the darkness to be `
` closing down upon us, great masses of greyness which here and there `
` bestrewed the trees, produced a peculiarly weird and solemn effect, `
` which carried on the thoughts and grim fancies engendered earlier in `
` the evening, when the falling sunset threw into strange relief the `
` ghost-like clouds which amongst the Carpathians seem to wind `
` ceaselessly through the valleys. Sometimes the hills were so steep `
` that, despite our driver's haste, the horses could only go slowly. I `
` wished to get down and walk up them, as we do at home, but the driver `
` would not hear of it. "No, no," he said. "You must not walk here. `
` The dogs are too fierce." And then he added, with what he evidently `
` meant for grim pleasantry--for he looked round to catch the approving `
` smile of the rest--"And you may have enough of such matters before you `
` go to sleep." The only stop he would make was a moment's pause to `
` light his lamps. `
` `
` When it grew dark there seemed to be some excitement amongst the `
` passengers, and they kept speaking to him, one after the other, as `
` though urging him to further speed. He lashed the horses unmercifully `
` with his long whip, and with wild cries of encouragement urged them on `
` to further exertions. Then through the darkness I could see a sort of `
` patch of grey light ahead of us, as though there were a cleft in the `
` hills. The excitement of the passengers grew greater. The crazy `
` coach rocked on its great leather springs, and swayed like a boat `
` tossed on a stormy sea. I had to hold on. The road grew more level, `
` and we appeared to fly along. Then the mountains seemed to come `
` nearer to us on each side and to frown down upon us. We were entering `
` on the Borgo Pass. One by one several of the passengers offered me `
` gifts, which they pressed upon me with an earnestness which would take `
` no denial. These were certainly of an odd and varied kind, but each `
` was given in simple good faith, with a kindly word, and a blessing, `
` and that same strange mixture of fear-meaning movements which I had `
` seen outside the hotel at Bistritz--the sign of the cross and the `
` guard against the evil eye. Then, as we flew along, the driver leaned `
` forward, and on each side the passengers, craning over the edge of the `
` coach, peered eagerly into the darkness. It was evident that `
` something very exciting was either happening or expected, but though I `
` asked each passenger, no one would give me the slightest explanation. `
` This state of excitement kept on for some little time. And at last we `
` saw before us the Pass opening out on the eastern side. There were `
` dark, rolling clouds overhead, and in the air the heavy, oppressive `
` sense of thunder. It seemed as though the mountain range had `
` separated two atmospheres, and that now we had got into the thunderous `
` one. I was now myself looking out for the conveyance which was to `
` take me to the Count. Each moment I expected to see the glare of `
` lamps through the blackness, but all was dark. The only light was the `
` flickering rays of our own lamps, in which the steam from our `
` hard-driven horses rose in a white cloud. We could see now the sandy `
` road lying white before us, but there was on it no sign of a vehicle. `
` The passengers drew back with a sigh of gladness, which seemed to mock `
`
` `
` She then rose and dried her eyes, and taking a crucifix from her neck `
` offered it to me. `
` `
` I did not know what to do, for, as an English Churchman, I have been `
` taught to regard such things as in some measure idolatrous, and yet it `
` seemed so ungracious to refuse an old lady meaning so well and in such `
` a state of mind. `
` `
` She saw, I suppose, the doubt in my face, for she put the rosary round `
` my neck and said, "For your mother's sake," and went out of the room. `
` `
` I am writing up this part of the diary whilst I am waiting for the `
` coach, which is, of course, late; and the crucifix is still round my `
` neck. `
` `
` Whether it is the old lady's fear, or the many ghostly traditions of `
` this place, or the crucifix itself, I do not know, but I am not `
` feeling nearly as easy in my mind as usual. `
` `
` If this book should ever reach Mina before I do, let it bring my `
` goodbye. Here comes the coach! `
` `
` `
` 5 May. The Castle.--The gray of the morning has passed, and the sun `
` is high over the distant horizon, which seems jagged, whether with `
` trees or hills I know not, for it is so far off that big things and `
` little are mixed. `
` `
` I am not sleepy, and, as I am not to be called till I awake, naturally `
` I write till sleep comes. `
` `
` There are many odd things to put down, and, lest who reads them may `
` fancy that I dined too well before I left Bistritz, let me put down my `
` dinner exactly. `
` `
` I dined on what they called "robber steak"--bits of bacon, onion, and `
` beef, seasoned with red pepper, and strung on sticks, and roasted over `
` the fire, in simple style of the London cat's meat! `
` `
` The wine was Golden Mediasch, which produces a queer sting on the `
` tongue, which is, however, not disagreeable. `
` `
` I had only a couple of glasses of this, and nothing else. `
` `
` When I got on the coach, the driver had not taken his seat, and I saw `
` him talking to the landlady. `
` `
` They were evidently talking of me, for every now and then they looked `
` at me, and some of the people who were sitting on the bench outside `
` the door--came and listened, and then looked at me, most of them `
` pityingly. I could hear a lot of words often repeated, queer words, `
` for there were many nationalities in the crowd, so I quietly got my `
` polyglot dictionary from my bag and looked them out. `
` `
` I must say they were not cheering to me, for amongst them were `
` "Ordog"--Satan, "Pokol"--hell, "stregoica"--witch, "vrolok" and `
` "vlkoslak"--both mean the same thing, one being Slovak and the other `
` Servian for something that is either werewolf or vampire. (Mem., I `
` must ask the Count about these superstitions.) `
` `
` When we started, the crowd round the inn door, which had by this time `
` swelled to a considerable size, all made the sign of the cross and `
` pointed two fingers towards me. `
` `
` With some difficulty, I got a fellow passenger to tell me what they `
` meant. He would not answer at first, but on learning that I was `
` English, he explained that it was a charm or guard against the evil `
` eye. `
` `
` This was not very pleasant for me, just starting for an unknown place `
` to meet an unknown man. But everyone seemed so kind-hearted, and so `
` sorrowful, and so sympathetic that I could not but be touched. `
` `
` I shall never forget the last glimpse which I had of the inn yard and `
` its crowd of picturesque figures, all crossing themselves, as they `
` stood round the wide archway, with its background of rich foliage of `
` oleander and orange trees in green tubs clustered in the centre of the `
` yard. `
` `
` Then our driver, whose wide linen drawers covered the whole front of `
` the boxseat,--"gotza" they call them--cracked his big whip over his `
` four small horses, which ran abreast, and we set off on our journey. `
` `
` I soon lost sight and recollection of ghostly fears in the beauty of `
` the scene as we drove along, although had I known the language, or `
` rather languages, which my fellow-passengers were speaking, I might `
` not have been able to throw them off so easily. Before us lay a green `
` sloping land full of forests and woods, with here and there steep `
` hills, crowned with clumps of trees or with farmhouses, the blank `
` gable end to the road. There was everywhere a bewildering mass of `
` fruit blossom--apple, plum, pear, cherry. And as we drove by I could `
` see the green grass under the trees spangled with the fallen petals. `
` In and out amongst these green hills of what they call here the `
` "Mittel Land" ran the road, losing itself as it swept round the grassy `
` curve, or was shut out by the straggling ends of pine woods, which `
` here and there ran down the hillsides like tongues of flame. The road `
` was rugged, but still we seemed to fly over it with a feverish haste. `
` I could not understand then what the haste meant, but the driver was `
` evidently bent on losing no time in reaching Borgo Prund. I was told `
` that this road is in summertime excellent, but that it had not yet `
` been put in order after the winter snows. In this respect it is `
` different from the general run of roads in the Carpathians, for it is `
` an old tradition that they are not to be kept in too good order. Of `
` old the Hospadars would not repair them, lest the Turk should think `
` that they were preparing to bring in foreign troops, and so hasten the `
` war which was always really at loading point. `
` `
` Beyond the green swelling hills of the Mittel Land rose mighty slopes `
` of forest up to the lofty steeps of the Carpathians themselves. Right `
` and left of us they towered, with the afternoon sun falling full upon `
` them and bringing out all the glorious colours of this beautiful `
` range, deep blue and purple in the shadows of the peaks, green and `
` brown where grass and rock mingled, and an endless perspective of `
` jagged rock and pointed crags, till these were themselves lost in the `
` distance, where the snowy peaks rose grandly. Here and there seemed `
` mighty rifts in the mountains, through which, as the sun began to `
` sink, we saw now and again the white gleam of falling water. One of `
` my companions touched my arm as we swept round the base of a hill and `
` opened up the lofty, snow-covered peak of a mountain, which seemed, as `
` we wound on our serpentine way, to be right before us. `
` `
` "Look! Isten szek!"--"God's seat!"--and he crossed himself reverently. `
` `
` As we wound on our endless way, and the sun sank lower and lower `
` behind us, the shadows of the evening began to creep round us. This `
` was emphasized by the fact that the snowy mountain-top still held the `
` sunset, and seemed to glow out with a delicate cool pink. Here and `
` there we passed Cszeks and slovaks, all in picturesque attire, but I `
` noticed that goitre was painfully prevalent. By the roadside were `
` many crosses, and as we swept by, my companions all crossed `
` themselves. Here and there was a peasant man or woman kneeling before `
` a shrine, who did not even turn round as we approached, but seemed in `
` the self-surrender of devotion to have neither eyes nor ears for the `
` outer world. There were many things new to me. For instance, `
` hay-ricks in the trees, and here and there very beautiful masses of `
` weeping birch, their white stems shining like silver through the `
` delicate green of the leaves. `
` `
` Now and again we passed a leiter-wagon--the ordinary peasants's `
` cart--with its long, snakelike vertebra, calculated to suit the `
` inequalities of the road. On this were sure to be seated quite a `
` group of homecoming peasants, the Cszeks with their white, and the `
` Slovaks with their coloured sheepskins, the latter carrying `
` lance-fashion their long staves, with axe at end. As the evening fell `
` it began to get very cold, and the growing twilight seemed to merge `
` into one dark mistiness the gloom of the trees, oak, beech, and pine, `
` though in the valleys which ran deep between the spurs of the hills, `
` as we ascended through the Pass, the dark firs stood out here and `
` there against the background of late-lying snow. Sometimes, as the `
` road was cut through the pine woods that seemed in the darkness to be `
` closing down upon us, great masses of greyness which here and there `
` bestrewed the trees, produced a peculiarly weird and solemn effect, `
` which carried on the thoughts and grim fancies engendered earlier in `
` the evening, when the falling sunset threw into strange relief the `
` ghost-like clouds which amongst the Carpathians seem to wind `
` ceaselessly through the valleys. Sometimes the hills were so steep `
` that, despite our driver's haste, the horses could only go slowly. I `
` wished to get down and walk up them, as we do at home, but the driver `
` would not hear of it. "No, no," he said. "You must not walk here. `
` The dogs are too fierce." And then he added, with what he evidently `
` meant for grim pleasantry--for he looked round to catch the approving `
` smile of the rest--"And you may have enough of such matters before you `
` go to sleep." The only stop he would make was a moment's pause to `
` light his lamps. `
` `
` When it grew dark there seemed to be some excitement amongst the `
` passengers, and they kept speaking to him, one after the other, as `
` though urging him to further speed. He lashed the horses unmercifully `
` with his long whip, and with wild cries of encouragement urged them on `
` to further exertions. Then through the darkness I could see a sort of `
` patch of grey light ahead of us, as though there were a cleft in the `
` hills. The excitement of the passengers grew greater. The crazy `
` coach rocked on its great leather springs, and swayed like a boat `
` tossed on a stormy sea. I had to hold on. The road grew more level, `
` and we appeared to fly along. Then the mountains seemed to come `
` nearer to us on each side and to frown down upon us. We were entering `
` on the Borgo Pass. One by one several of the passengers offered me `
` gifts, which they pressed upon me with an earnestness which would take `
` no denial. These were certainly of an odd and varied kind, but each `
` was given in simple good faith, with a kindly word, and a blessing, `
` and that same strange mixture of fear-meaning movements which I had `
` seen outside the hotel at Bistritz--the sign of the cross and the `
` guard against the evil eye. Then, as we flew along, the driver leaned `
` forward, and on each side the passengers, craning over the edge of the `
` coach, peered eagerly into the darkness. It was evident that `
` something very exciting was either happening or expected, but though I `
` asked each passenger, no one would give me the slightest explanation. `
` This state of excitement kept on for some little time. And at last we `
` saw before us the Pass opening out on the eastern side. There were `
` dark, rolling clouds overhead, and in the air the heavy, oppressive `
` sense of thunder. It seemed as though the mountain range had `
` separated two atmospheres, and that now we had got into the thunderous `
` one. I was now myself looking out for the conveyance which was to `
` take me to the Count. Each moment I expected to see the glare of `
` lamps through the blackness, but all was dark. The only light was the `
` flickering rays of our own lamps, in which the steam from our `
` hard-driven horses rose in a white cloud. We could see now the sandy `
` road lying white before us, but there was on it no sign of a vehicle. `
` The passengers drew back with a sigh of gladness, which seemed to mock `
`