Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.1-12
taking one change of dress. Lucy will bring my trunk to London and `
` keep it till I send for it, for it may be that . . . I must write no `
` more. I must keep it to say to Jonathan, my husband. The letter that `
` he has seen and touched must comfort me till we meet. `
` `
` `
` `
` LETTER, SISTER AGATHA, HOSPITAL OF ST. JOSEPH AND `
` STE. MARY BUDA-PESTH, TO MISS WILLHELMINA MURRAY `
` `
` 12 August, `
` `
` "Dear Madam. `
` `
` "I write by desire of Mr. Jonathan Harker, who is himself not strong `
` enough to write, though progressing well, thanks to God and St. `
` Joseph and Ste. Mary. He has been under our care for nearly six `
` weeks, suffering from a violent brain fever. He wishes me to convey `
` his love, and to say that by this post I write for him to Mr. Peter `
` Hawkins, Exeter, to say, with his dutiful respects, that he is sorry `
` for his delay, and that all of his work is completed. He will `
` require some few weeks' rest in our sanatorium in the hills, but `
` will then return. He wishes me to say that he has not sufficient `
` money with him, and that he would like to pay for his staying here, `
` so that others who need shall not be wanting for help. `
` `
` "Believe me, `
` `
` "Yours, with sympathy `
` and all blessings. `
` Sister Agatha `
` `
` "P.S.--My patient being asleep, I open this to let you know `
` something more. He has told me all about you, and that you are `
` shortly to be his wife. All blessings to you both! He has had some `
` fearful shock, so says our doctor, and in his delirium his ravings `
` have been dreadful, of wolves and poison and blood, of ghosts and `
` demons, and I fear to say of what. Be careful of him always that `
` there may be nothing to excite him of this kind for a long time to `
` come. The traces of such an illness as his do not lightly die away. `
` We should have written long ago, but we knew nothing of his friends, `
` and there was nothing on him, nothing that anyone could understand. `
` He came in the train from Klausenburg, and the guard was told by the `
` station master there that he rushed into the station shouting for a `
` ticket for home. Seeing from his violent demeanour that he was `
` English, they gave him a ticket for the furthest station on the way `
` thither that the train reached. `
` `
` "Be assured that he is well cared for. He has won all hearts by his `
` sweetness and gentleness. He is truly getting on well, and I have `
` no doubt will in a few weeks be all himself. But be careful of him `
` for safety's sake. There are, I pray God and St. Joseph and Ste. `
` Mary, many, many, happy years for you both." `
` `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARD'S DIARY `
` `
` 19 August.--Strange and sudden change in Renfield last night. About `
` eight o'clock he began to get excited and sniff about as a dog does `
` when setting. The attendant was struck by his manner, and knowing my `
` interest in him, encouraged him to talk. He is usually respectful to `
` the attendant and at times servile, but tonight, the man tells me, he `
` was quite haughty. Would not condescend to talk with him at all. `
` `
` All he would say was, "I don't want to talk to you. You don't count `
` now. The master is at hand." `
` `
` The attendant thinks it is some sudden form of religious mania which `
` has seized him. If so, we must look out for squalls, for a strong man `
` with homicidal and religious mania at once might be dangerous. The `
` combination is a dreadful one. `
` `
` At nine o'clock I visited him myself. His attitude to me was the same `
` as that to the attendant. In his sublime self-feeling the difference `
` between myself and the attendant seemed to him as nothing. It looks `
` like religious mania, and he will soon think that he himself is God. `
` `
` These infinitesimal distinctions between man and man are too paltry for `
` `
` an Omnipotent Being. How these madmen give themselves away! The real `
` God taketh heed lest a sparrow fall. But the God created from human `
` vanity sees no difference between an eagle and a sparrow. Oh, if men `
` only knew! `
` `
` For half an hour or more Renfield kept getting excited in greater and `
` greater degree. I did not pretend to be watching him, but I kept `
` strict observation all the same. All at once that shifty look came `
` into his eyes which we always see when a madman has seized an idea, and `
` with it the shifty movement of the head and back which asylum `
` attendants come to know so well. He became quite quiet, and went and `
` sat on the edge of his bed resignedly, and looked into space with `
` lack-luster eyes. `
` `
` I thought I would find out if his apathy were real or only assumed, and `
` tried to lead him to talk of his pets, a theme which had never failed `
` to excite his attention. `
` `
` At first he made no reply, but at length said testily, "Bother them `
` all! I don't care a pin about them." `
` `
` "What?" I said. "You don't mean to tell me you don't care about `
` spiders?" (Spiders at present are his hobby and the notebook is filling `
` up with columns of small figures.) `
` `
` To this he answered enigmatically, "The Bride maidens rejoice the eyes `
` that wait the coming of the bride. But when the bride draweth nigh, `
` then the maidens shine not to the eyes that are filled." `
` `
` He would not explain himself, but remained obstinately seated on his `
` bed all the time I remained with him. `
` `
` I am weary tonight and low in spirits. I cannot but think of Lucy, and `
` how different things might have been. If I don't sleep at once, `
` chloral, the modern Morpheus! I must be careful not to let it grow `
` into a habit. No, I shall take none tonight! I have thought of Lucy, `
` and I shall not dishonour her by mixing the two. If need be, tonight `
` shall be sleepless. `
` `
` `
` Later.--Glad I made the resolution, gladder that I kept to it. I had `
` lain tossing about, and had heard the clock strike only twice, when the `
` night watchman came to me, sent up from the ward, to say that Renfield `
` had escaped. I threw on my clothes and ran down at once. My patient `
` is too dangerous a person to be roaming about. Those ideas of his `
` might work out dangerously with strangers. `
` `
` The attendant was waiting for me. He said he had seen him not ten `
` minutes before, seemingly asleep in his bed, when he had looked through `
` the observation trap in the door. His attention was called by the `
` sound of the window being wrenched out. He ran back and saw his feet `
` disappear through the window, and had at once sent up for me. He was `
` only in his night gear, and cannot be far off. `
` `
` The attendant thought it would be more useful to watch where he should `
` go than to follow him, as he might lose sight of him whilst getting out `
` of the building by the door. He is a bulky man, and couldn't get `
` through the window. `
` `
` I am thin, so, with his aid, I got out, but feet foremost, and as we `
` were only a few feet above ground landed unhurt. `
` `
` The attendant told me the patient had gone to the left, and had taken a `
` straight line, so I ran as quickly as I could. As I got through the `
` belt of trees I saw a white figure scale the high wall which separates `
` our grounds from those of the deserted house. `
` `
` I ran back at once, told the watchman to get three or four men `
` immediately and follow me into the grounds of Carfax, in case our `
` friend might be dangerous. I got a ladder myself, and crossing the `
` wall, dropped down on the other side. I could see Renfield's figure `
` just disappearing behind the angle of the house, so I ran after him. On `
` the far side of the house I found him pressed close against the old `
` iron-bound oak door of the chapel. `
` `
` He was talking, apparently to some one, but I was afraid to go near `
` enough to hear what he was saying, lest I might frighten him, and he `
` should run off. `
` `
` Chasing an errant swarm of bees is nothing to following a naked `
` lunatic, when the fit of escaping is upon him! After a few minutes, `
` however, I could see that he did not take note of anything around him, `
` and so ventured to draw nearer to him, the more so as my men had now `
` crossed the wall and were closing him in. I heard him say . . . `
` `
` "I am here to do your bidding, Master. I am your slave, and you will `
` reward me, for I shall be faithful. I have worshipped you long and afar `
` off. Now that you are near, I await your commands, and you will not `
` pass me by, will you, dear Master, in your distribution of good `
` things?" `
` `
` He is a selfish old beggar anyhow. He thinks of the loaves and fishes `
` even when he believes his is in a real Presence. His manias make a `
` startling combination. When we closed in on him he fought like a `
` tiger. He is immensely strong, for he was more like a wild beast than `
` a man. `
` `
` I never saw a lunatic in such a paroxysm of rage before, and I hope I `
` shall not again. It is a mercy that we have found out his strength and `
` his danger in good time. With strength and determination like his, he `
` might have done wild work before he was caged. `
` `
` He is safe now, at any rate. Jack Sheppard himself couldn't get free `
` from the strait waistcoat that keeps him restrained, and he's chained `
` to the wall in the padded room. `
` `
` His cries are at times awful, but the silences that follow are more `
` deadly still, for he means murder in every turn and movement. `
` `
` Just now he spoke coherent words for the first time. "I shall be `
` patient, Master. It is coming, coming, coming!" `
` `
` So I took the hint, and came too. I was too excited to sleep, but this `
` diary has quieted me, and I feel I shall get some sleep tonight. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER 9 `
` `
` `
`
` keep it till I send for it, for it may be that . . . I must write no `
` more. I must keep it to say to Jonathan, my husband. The letter that `
` he has seen and touched must comfort me till we meet. `
` `
` `
` `
` LETTER, SISTER AGATHA, HOSPITAL OF ST. JOSEPH AND `
` STE. MARY BUDA-PESTH, TO MISS WILLHELMINA MURRAY `
` `
` 12 August, `
` `
` "Dear Madam. `
` `
` "I write by desire of Mr. Jonathan Harker, who is himself not strong `
` enough to write, though progressing well, thanks to God and St. `
` Joseph and Ste. Mary. He has been under our care for nearly six `
` weeks, suffering from a violent brain fever. He wishes me to convey `
` his love, and to say that by this post I write for him to Mr. Peter `
` Hawkins, Exeter, to say, with his dutiful respects, that he is sorry `
` for his delay, and that all of his work is completed. He will `
` require some few weeks' rest in our sanatorium in the hills, but `
` will then return. He wishes me to say that he has not sufficient `
` money with him, and that he would like to pay for his staying here, `
` so that others who need shall not be wanting for help. `
` `
` "Believe me, `
` `
` "Yours, with sympathy `
` and all blessings. `
` Sister Agatha `
` `
` "P.S.--My patient being asleep, I open this to let you know `
` something more. He has told me all about you, and that you are `
` shortly to be his wife. All blessings to you both! He has had some `
` fearful shock, so says our doctor, and in his delirium his ravings `
` have been dreadful, of wolves and poison and blood, of ghosts and `
` demons, and I fear to say of what. Be careful of him always that `
` there may be nothing to excite him of this kind for a long time to `
` come. The traces of such an illness as his do not lightly die away. `
` We should have written long ago, but we knew nothing of his friends, `
` and there was nothing on him, nothing that anyone could understand. `
` He came in the train from Klausenburg, and the guard was told by the `
` station master there that he rushed into the station shouting for a `
` ticket for home. Seeing from his violent demeanour that he was `
` English, they gave him a ticket for the furthest station on the way `
` thither that the train reached. `
` `
` "Be assured that he is well cared for. He has won all hearts by his `
` sweetness and gentleness. He is truly getting on well, and I have `
` no doubt will in a few weeks be all himself. But be careful of him `
` for safety's sake. There are, I pray God and St. Joseph and Ste. `
` Mary, many, many, happy years for you both." `
` `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARD'S DIARY `
` `
` 19 August.--Strange and sudden change in Renfield last night. About `
` eight o'clock he began to get excited and sniff about as a dog does `
` when setting. The attendant was struck by his manner, and knowing my `
` interest in him, encouraged him to talk. He is usually respectful to `
` the attendant and at times servile, but tonight, the man tells me, he `
` was quite haughty. Would not condescend to talk with him at all. `
` `
` All he would say was, "I don't want to talk to you. You don't count `
` now. The master is at hand." `
` `
` The attendant thinks it is some sudden form of religious mania which `
` has seized him. If so, we must look out for squalls, for a strong man `
` with homicidal and religious mania at once might be dangerous. The `
` combination is a dreadful one. `
` `
` At nine o'clock I visited him myself. His attitude to me was the same `
` as that to the attendant. In his sublime self-feeling the difference `
` between myself and the attendant seemed to him as nothing. It looks `
` like religious mania, and he will soon think that he himself is God. `
` `
` These infinitesimal distinctions between man and man are too paltry for `
` `
` an Omnipotent Being. How these madmen give themselves away! The real `
` God taketh heed lest a sparrow fall. But the God created from human `
` vanity sees no difference between an eagle and a sparrow. Oh, if men `
` only knew! `
` `
` For half an hour or more Renfield kept getting excited in greater and `
` greater degree. I did not pretend to be watching him, but I kept `
` strict observation all the same. All at once that shifty look came `
` into his eyes which we always see when a madman has seized an idea, and `
` with it the shifty movement of the head and back which asylum `
` attendants come to know so well. He became quite quiet, and went and `
` sat on the edge of his bed resignedly, and looked into space with `
` lack-luster eyes. `
` `
` I thought I would find out if his apathy were real or only assumed, and `
` tried to lead him to talk of his pets, a theme which had never failed `
` to excite his attention. `
` `
` At first he made no reply, but at length said testily, "Bother them `
` all! I don't care a pin about them." `
` `
` "What?" I said. "You don't mean to tell me you don't care about `
` spiders?" (Spiders at present are his hobby and the notebook is filling `
` up with columns of small figures.) `
` `
` To this he answered enigmatically, "The Bride maidens rejoice the eyes `
` that wait the coming of the bride. But when the bride draweth nigh, `
` then the maidens shine not to the eyes that are filled." `
` `
` He would not explain himself, but remained obstinately seated on his `
` bed all the time I remained with him. `
` `
` I am weary tonight and low in spirits. I cannot but think of Lucy, and `
` how different things might have been. If I don't sleep at once, `
` chloral, the modern Morpheus! I must be careful not to let it grow `
` into a habit. No, I shall take none tonight! I have thought of Lucy, `
` and I shall not dishonour her by mixing the two. If need be, tonight `
` shall be sleepless. `
` `
` `
` Later.--Glad I made the resolution, gladder that I kept to it. I had `
` lain tossing about, and had heard the clock strike only twice, when the `
` night watchman came to me, sent up from the ward, to say that Renfield `
` had escaped. I threw on my clothes and ran down at once. My patient `
` is too dangerous a person to be roaming about. Those ideas of his `
` might work out dangerously with strangers. `
` `
` The attendant was waiting for me. He said he had seen him not ten `
` minutes before, seemingly asleep in his bed, when he had looked through `
` the observation trap in the door. His attention was called by the `
` sound of the window being wrenched out. He ran back and saw his feet `
` disappear through the window, and had at once sent up for me. He was `
` only in his night gear, and cannot be far off. `
` `
` The attendant thought it would be more useful to watch where he should `
` go than to follow him, as he might lose sight of him whilst getting out `
` of the building by the door. He is a bulky man, and couldn't get `
` through the window. `
` `
` I am thin, so, with his aid, I got out, but feet foremost, and as we `
` were only a few feet above ground landed unhurt. `
` `
` The attendant told me the patient had gone to the left, and had taken a `
` straight line, so I ran as quickly as I could. As I got through the `
` belt of trees I saw a white figure scale the high wall which separates `
` our grounds from those of the deserted house. `
` `
` I ran back at once, told the watchman to get three or four men `
` immediately and follow me into the grounds of Carfax, in case our `
` friend might be dangerous. I got a ladder myself, and crossing the `
` wall, dropped down on the other side. I could see Renfield's figure `
` just disappearing behind the angle of the house, so I ran after him. On `
` the far side of the house I found him pressed close against the old `
` iron-bound oak door of the chapel. `
` `
` He was talking, apparently to some one, but I was afraid to go near `
` enough to hear what he was saying, lest I might frighten him, and he `
` should run off. `
` `
` Chasing an errant swarm of bees is nothing to following a naked `
` lunatic, when the fit of escaping is upon him! After a few minutes, `
` however, I could see that he did not take note of anything around him, `
` and so ventured to draw nearer to him, the more so as my men had now `
` crossed the wall and were closing him in. I heard him say . . . `
` `
` "I am here to do your bidding, Master. I am your slave, and you will `
` reward me, for I shall be faithful. I have worshipped you long and afar `
` off. Now that you are near, I await your commands, and you will not `
` pass me by, will you, dear Master, in your distribution of good `
` things?" `
` `
` He is a selfish old beggar anyhow. He thinks of the loaves and fishes `
` even when he believes his is in a real Presence. His manias make a `
` startling combination. When we closed in on him he fought like a `
` tiger. He is immensely strong, for he was more like a wild beast than `
` a man. `
` `
` I never saw a lunatic in such a paroxysm of rage before, and I hope I `
` shall not again. It is a mercy that we have found out his strength and `
` his danger in good time. With strength and determination like his, he `
` might have done wild work before he was caged. `
` `
` He is safe now, at any rate. Jack Sheppard himself couldn't get free `
` from the strait waistcoat that keeps him restrained, and he's chained `
` to the wall in the padded room. `
` `
` His cries are at times awful, but the silences that follow are more `
` deadly still, for he means murder in every turn and movement. `
` `
` Just now he spoke coherent words for the first time. "I shall be `
` patient, Master. It is coming, coming, coming!" `
` `
` So I took the hint, and came too. I was too excited to sleep, but this `
` diary has quieted me, and I feel I shall get some sleep tonight. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER 9 `
` `
` `
`