Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.1-12
`
` TELEGRAM, SEWARD, LONDON, TO VAN HELSING, AMSTERDAM `
` `
` "5 September.--Patient greatly improved. Good appetite, sleeps `
` naturally, good spirits, colour coming back." `
` `
` `
` `
` TELEGRAM, SEWARD, LONDON, TO VAN HELSING, AMSTERDAM `
` `
` "6 September.--Terrible change for the worse. Come at once. `
` Do not lose an hour. I hold over telegram to Holmwood till `
` have seen you." `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER 10 `
` `
` `
` LETTER, DR. SEWARD TO HON. ARTHUR HOLMWOOD `
` `
` `
` 6 September `
` `
` "My dear Art, `
` `
` "My news today is not so good. Lucy this morning had gone back a `
` bit. There is, however, one good thing which has arisen from it. `
` Mrs. Westenra was naturally anxious concerning Lucy, and has `
` consulted me professionally about her. I took advantage of the `
` opportunity, and told her that my old master, Van Helsing, the great `
` specialist, was coming to stay with me, and that I would put her in `
` his charge conjointly with myself. So now we can come and go `
` without alarming her unduly, for a shock to her would mean sudden `
` death, and this, in Lucy's weak condition, might be disastrous to `
` her. We are hedged in with difficulties, all of us, my poor fellow, `
` but, please God, we shall come through them all right. If any need `
` I shall write, so that, if you do not hear from me, take it for `
` granted that I am simply waiting for news, In haste, `
` `
` "Yours ever," `
` `
` John Seward `
` `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARD'S DIARY `
` `
` 7 September.--The first thing Van Helsing said to me when we met at `
` Liverpool Street was, "Have you said anything to our young friend, to `
` lover of her?" `
` `
` "No," I said. "I waited till I had seen you, as I said in my `
` telegram. I wrote him a letter simply telling him that you were `
` coming, as Miss Westenra was not so well, and that I should let him `
` know if need be." `
` `
` "Right, my friend," he said. "Quite right! Better he not know as `
` yet. Perhaps he will never know. I pray so, but if it be needed, `
` then he shall know all. And, my good friend John, let me caution you. `
` You deal with the madmen. All men are mad in some way or the other, `
` and inasmuch as you deal discreetly with your madmen, so deal with `
` God's madmen too, the rest of the world. You tell not your madmen `
` what you do nor why you do it. You tell them not what you think. So `
` you shall keep knowledge in its place, where it may rest, where it may `
` gather its kind around it and breed. You and I shall keep as yet what `
` we know here, and here." He touched me on the heart and on the `
` forehead, and then touched himself the same way. "I have for myself `
` thoughts at the present. Later I shall unfold to you." `
` `
` "Why not now?" I asked. "It may do some good. We may arrive at some `
` decision." He looked at me and said, "My friend John, when the corn is `
` grown, even before it has ripened, while the milk of its mother earth `
` is in him, and the sunshine has not yet begun to paint him with his `
` gold, the husbandman he pull the ear and rub him between his rough `
` hands, and blow away the green chaff, and say to you, 'Look! He's `
` good corn, he will make a good crop when the time comes.'" `
` `
` I did not see the application and told him so. For reply he reached `
` over and took my ear in his hand and pulled it playfully, as he used `
` long ago to do at lectures, and said, "The good husbandman tell you so `
` then because he knows, but not till then. But you do not find the `
` good husbandman dig up his planted corn to see if he grow. That is `
` for the children who play at husbandry, and not for those who take it `
` as of the work of their life. See you now, friend John? I have sown `
` my corn, and Nature has her work to do in making it sprout, if he `
` sprout at all, there's some promise, and I wait till the ear begins to `
` swell." He broke off, for he evidently saw that I understood. Then he `
` went on gravely, "You were always a careful student, and your case `
` book was ever more full than the rest. And I trust that good habit `
` have not fail. Remember, my friend, that knowledge is stronger than `
` memory, and we should not trust the weaker. Even if you have not kept `
` the good practice, let me tell you that this case of our dear miss is `
` one that may be, mind, I say may be, of such interest to us and others `
` that all the rest may not make him kick the beam, as your people say. `
` Take then good note of it. Nothing is too small. I counsel you, put `
` down in record even your doubts and surmises. Hereafter it may be of `
` interest to you to see how true you guess. We learn from failure, not `
` from success!" `
` `
` When I described Lucy's symptoms, the same as before, but infinitely `
` more marked, he looked very grave, but said nothing. He took with him `
` a bag in which were many instruments and drugs, "the ghastly `
` paraphernalia of our beneficial trade," as he once called, in one of `
` his lectures, the equipment of a professor of the healing craft. `
` `
` When we were shown in, Mrs. Westenra met us. She was alarmed, but not `
` nearly so much as I expected to find her. Nature in one of her `
` beneficient moods has ordained that even death has some antidote to `
` its own terrors. Here, in a case where any shock may prove fatal, `
` matters are so ordered that, from some cause or other, the things not `
` personal, even the terrible change in her daughter to whom she is so `
` attached, do not seem to reach her. It is something like the way dame `
` Nature gathers round a foreign body an envelope of some insensitive `
` tissue which can protect from evil that which it would otherwise harm `
` by contact. If this be an ordered selfishness, then we should pause `
` before we condemn any one for the vice of egoism, for there may be `
` deeper root for its causes than we have knowledge of. `
` `
` I used my knowledge of this phase of spiritual pathology, and set down `
` a rule that she should not be present with Lucy, or think of her `
` illness more than was absolutely required. She assented readily, so `
` readily that I saw again the hand of Nature fighting for life. Van `
` Helsing and I were shown up to Lucy's room. If I was shocked when I `
` saw her yesterday, I was horrified when I saw her today. `
` `
` She was ghastly, chalkily pale. The red seemed to have gone even from `
` her lips and gums, and the bones of her face stood out prominently. `
` Her breathing was painful to see or hear. Van Helsing's face grew set `
` as marble, and his eyebrows converged till they almost touched over his `
` nose. Lucy lay motionless, and did not seem to have strength to `
` speak, so for a while we were all silent. Then Van Helsing beckoned `
` to me, and we went gently out of the room. The instant we had closed `
` the door he stepped quickly along the passage to the next door, which `
` was open. Then he pulled me quickly in with him and closed the door. `
` "My god!" he said. "This is dreadful. There is not time to be lost. `
` She will die for sheer want of blood to keep the heart's action as it `
` should be. There must be a transfusion of blood at once. Is it you `
` or me?" `
` `
` "I am younger and stronger, Professor. It must be me." `
` `
` "Then get ready at once. I will bring up my bag. I am prepared." `
` `
` I went downstairs with him, and as we were going there was a knock at `
` the hall door. When we reached the hall, the maid had just opened the `
` door, and Arthur was stepping quickly in. He rushed up to me, saying `
` in an eager whisper, `
` `
` "Jack, I was so anxious. I read between the lines of your letter, and `
` have been in an agony. The dad was better, so I ran down here to see `
` for myself. Is not that gentleman Dr. Van Helsing? I am so thankful `
` to you, sir, for coming." `
` `
` When first the Professor's eye had lit upon him, he had been angry at `
` his interruption at such a time, but now, as he took in his stalwart `
` proportions and recognized the strong young manhood which seemed to `
` emanate from him, his eyes gleamed. Without a pause he said to him as `
` he held out his hand, `
` `
` "Sir, you have come in time. You are the lover of our dear miss. She `
` is bad, very, very bad. Nay, my child, do not go like that." For he `
` suddenly grew pale and sat down in a chair almost fainting. "You are `
` to help her. You can do more than any that live, and your courage is `
` your best help." `
` `
` "What can I do?" asked Arthur hoarsely. "Tell me, and I shall do it. `
` My life is hers, and I would give the last drop of blood in my body for `
` her." `
` `
` The Professor has a strongly humorous side, and I could from old `
` knowledge detect a trace of its origin in his answer. `
` `
` "My young sir, I do not ask so much as that, not the last!" `
` `
` "What shall I do?" There was fire in his eyes, and his open nostrils `
` quivered with intent. Van Helsing slapped him on the shoulder. `
` `
` "Come!" he said. "You are a man, and it is a man we want. You are `
` better than me, better than my friend John." Arthur looked bewildered, `
` and the Professor went on by explaining in a kindly way. `
` `
` "Young miss is bad, very bad. She wants blood, and blood she must `
` have or die. My friend John and I have consulted, and we are about to `
` perform what we call transfusion of blood, to transfer from full veins `
` of one to the empty veins which pine for him. John was to give his `
` blood, as he is the more young and strong than me."--Here Arthur took `
` my hand and wrung it hard in silence.--"But now you are here, you are `
` more good than us, old or young, who toil much in the world of `
` thought. Our nerves are not so calm and our blood so bright than `
` yours!" `
` `
` Arthur turned to him and said, "If you only knew how gladly I would `
` die for her you would understand . . ." He stopped with a sort of `
` choke in his voice. `
` `
` "Good boy!" said Van Helsing. "In the not-so-far-off you will be `
` happy that you have done all for her you love. Come now and be `
` silent. You shall kiss her once before it is done, but then you must `
` go, and you must leave at my sign. Say no word to Madame. You know `
`
` TELEGRAM, SEWARD, LONDON, TO VAN HELSING, AMSTERDAM `
` `
` "5 September.--Patient greatly improved. Good appetite, sleeps `
` naturally, good spirits, colour coming back." `
` `
` `
` `
` TELEGRAM, SEWARD, LONDON, TO VAN HELSING, AMSTERDAM `
` `
` "6 September.--Terrible change for the worse. Come at once. `
` Do not lose an hour. I hold over telegram to Holmwood till `
` have seen you." `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER 10 `
` `
` `
` LETTER, DR. SEWARD TO HON. ARTHUR HOLMWOOD `
` `
` `
` 6 September `
` `
` "My dear Art, `
` `
` "My news today is not so good. Lucy this morning had gone back a `
` bit. There is, however, one good thing which has arisen from it. `
` Mrs. Westenra was naturally anxious concerning Lucy, and has `
` consulted me professionally about her. I took advantage of the `
` opportunity, and told her that my old master, Van Helsing, the great `
` specialist, was coming to stay with me, and that I would put her in `
` his charge conjointly with myself. So now we can come and go `
` without alarming her unduly, for a shock to her would mean sudden `
` death, and this, in Lucy's weak condition, might be disastrous to `
` her. We are hedged in with difficulties, all of us, my poor fellow, `
` but, please God, we shall come through them all right. If any need `
` I shall write, so that, if you do not hear from me, take it for `
` granted that I am simply waiting for news, In haste, `
` `
` "Yours ever," `
` `
` John Seward `
` `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARD'S DIARY `
` `
` 7 September.--The first thing Van Helsing said to me when we met at `
` Liverpool Street was, "Have you said anything to our young friend, to `
` lover of her?" `
` `
` "No," I said. "I waited till I had seen you, as I said in my `
` telegram. I wrote him a letter simply telling him that you were `
` coming, as Miss Westenra was not so well, and that I should let him `
` know if need be." `
` `
` "Right, my friend," he said. "Quite right! Better he not know as `
` yet. Perhaps he will never know. I pray so, but if it be needed, `
` then he shall know all. And, my good friend John, let me caution you. `
` You deal with the madmen. All men are mad in some way or the other, `
` and inasmuch as you deal discreetly with your madmen, so deal with `
` God's madmen too, the rest of the world. You tell not your madmen `
` what you do nor why you do it. You tell them not what you think. So `
` you shall keep knowledge in its place, where it may rest, where it may `
` gather its kind around it and breed. You and I shall keep as yet what `
` we know here, and here." He touched me on the heart and on the `
` forehead, and then touched himself the same way. "I have for myself `
` thoughts at the present. Later I shall unfold to you." `
` `
` "Why not now?" I asked. "It may do some good. We may arrive at some `
` decision." He looked at me and said, "My friend John, when the corn is `
` grown, even before it has ripened, while the milk of its mother earth `
` is in him, and the sunshine has not yet begun to paint him with his `
` gold, the husbandman he pull the ear and rub him between his rough `
` hands, and blow away the green chaff, and say to you, 'Look! He's `
` good corn, he will make a good crop when the time comes.'" `
` `
` I did not see the application and told him so. For reply he reached `
` over and took my ear in his hand and pulled it playfully, as he used `
` long ago to do at lectures, and said, "The good husbandman tell you so `
` then because he knows, but not till then. But you do not find the `
` good husbandman dig up his planted corn to see if he grow. That is `
` for the children who play at husbandry, and not for those who take it `
` as of the work of their life. See you now, friend John? I have sown `
` my corn, and Nature has her work to do in making it sprout, if he `
` sprout at all, there's some promise, and I wait till the ear begins to `
` swell." He broke off, for he evidently saw that I understood. Then he `
` went on gravely, "You were always a careful student, and your case `
` book was ever more full than the rest. And I trust that good habit `
` have not fail. Remember, my friend, that knowledge is stronger than `
` memory, and we should not trust the weaker. Even if you have not kept `
` the good practice, let me tell you that this case of our dear miss is `
` one that may be, mind, I say may be, of such interest to us and others `
` that all the rest may not make him kick the beam, as your people say. `
` Take then good note of it. Nothing is too small. I counsel you, put `
` down in record even your doubts and surmises. Hereafter it may be of `
` interest to you to see how true you guess. We learn from failure, not `
` from success!" `
` `
` When I described Lucy's symptoms, the same as before, but infinitely `
` more marked, he looked very grave, but said nothing. He took with him `
` a bag in which were many instruments and drugs, "the ghastly `
` paraphernalia of our beneficial trade," as he once called, in one of `
` his lectures, the equipment of a professor of the healing craft. `
` `
` When we were shown in, Mrs. Westenra met us. She was alarmed, but not `
` nearly so much as I expected to find her. Nature in one of her `
` beneficient moods has ordained that even death has some antidote to `
` its own terrors. Here, in a case where any shock may prove fatal, `
` matters are so ordered that, from some cause or other, the things not `
` personal, even the terrible change in her daughter to whom she is so `
` attached, do not seem to reach her. It is something like the way dame `
` Nature gathers round a foreign body an envelope of some insensitive `
` tissue which can protect from evil that which it would otherwise harm `
` by contact. If this be an ordered selfishness, then we should pause `
` before we condemn any one for the vice of egoism, for there may be `
` deeper root for its causes than we have knowledge of. `
` `
` I used my knowledge of this phase of spiritual pathology, and set down `
` a rule that she should not be present with Lucy, or think of her `
` illness more than was absolutely required. She assented readily, so `
` readily that I saw again the hand of Nature fighting for life. Van `
` Helsing and I were shown up to Lucy's room. If I was shocked when I `
` saw her yesterday, I was horrified when I saw her today. `
` `
` She was ghastly, chalkily pale. The red seemed to have gone even from `
` her lips and gums, and the bones of her face stood out prominently. `
` Her breathing was painful to see or hear. Van Helsing's face grew set `
` as marble, and his eyebrows converged till they almost touched over his `
` nose. Lucy lay motionless, and did not seem to have strength to `
` speak, so for a while we were all silent. Then Van Helsing beckoned `
` to me, and we went gently out of the room. The instant we had closed `
` the door he stepped quickly along the passage to the next door, which `
` was open. Then he pulled me quickly in with him and closed the door. `
` "My god!" he said. "This is dreadful. There is not time to be lost. `
` She will die for sheer want of blood to keep the heart's action as it `
` should be. There must be a transfusion of blood at once. Is it you `
` or me?" `
` `
` "I am younger and stronger, Professor. It must be me." `
` `
` "Then get ready at once. I will bring up my bag. I am prepared." `
` `
` I went downstairs with him, and as we were going there was a knock at `
` the hall door. When we reached the hall, the maid had just opened the `
` door, and Arthur was stepping quickly in. He rushed up to me, saying `
` in an eager whisper, `
` `
` "Jack, I was so anxious. I read between the lines of your letter, and `
` have been in an agony. The dad was better, so I ran down here to see `
` for myself. Is not that gentleman Dr. Van Helsing? I am so thankful `
` to you, sir, for coming." `
` `
` When first the Professor's eye had lit upon him, he had been angry at `
` his interruption at such a time, but now, as he took in his stalwart `
` proportions and recognized the strong young manhood which seemed to `
` emanate from him, his eyes gleamed. Without a pause he said to him as `
` he held out his hand, `
` `
` "Sir, you have come in time. You are the lover of our dear miss. She `
` is bad, very, very bad. Nay, my child, do not go like that." For he `
` suddenly grew pale and sat down in a chair almost fainting. "You are `
` to help her. You can do more than any that live, and your courage is `
` your best help." `
` `
` "What can I do?" asked Arthur hoarsely. "Tell me, and I shall do it. `
` My life is hers, and I would give the last drop of blood in my body for `
` her." `
` `
` The Professor has a strongly humorous side, and I could from old `
` knowledge detect a trace of its origin in his answer. `
` `
` "My young sir, I do not ask so much as that, not the last!" `
` `
` "What shall I do?" There was fire in his eyes, and his open nostrils `
` quivered with intent. Van Helsing slapped him on the shoulder. `
` `
` "Come!" he said. "You are a man, and it is a man we want. You are `
` better than me, better than my friend John." Arthur looked bewildered, `
` and the Professor went on by explaining in a kindly way. `
` `
` "Young miss is bad, very bad. She wants blood, and blood she must `
` have or die. My friend John and I have consulted, and we are about to `
` perform what we call transfusion of blood, to transfer from full veins `
` of one to the empty veins which pine for him. John was to give his `
` blood, as he is the more young and strong than me."--Here Arthur took `
` my hand and wrung it hard in silence.--"But now you are here, you are `
` more good than us, old or young, who toil much in the world of `
` thought. Our nerves are not so calm and our blood so bright than `
` yours!" `
` `
` Arthur turned to him and said, "If you only knew how gladly I would `
` die for her you would understand . . ." He stopped with a sort of `
` choke in his voice. `
` `
` "Good boy!" said Van Helsing. "In the not-so-far-off you will be `
` happy that you have done all for her you love. Come now and be `
` silent. You shall kiss her once before it is done, but then you must `
` go, and you must leave at my sign. Say no word to Madame. You know `
`