Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.1-12
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` `
` `
` LUCY WESTENRA'S DIARY `
` `
` 9 September.--I feel so happy tonight. I have been so miserably weak, `
` that to be able to think and move about is like feeling sunshine after `
` a long spell of east wind out of a steel sky. Somehow Arthur feels `
` very, very close to me. I seem to feel his presence warm about me. I `
` suppose it is that sickness and weakness are selfish things and turn `
` our inner eyes and sympathy on ourselves, whilst health and strength `
` give love rein, and in thought and feeling he can wander where he `
` wills. I know where my thoughts are. If only Arthur knew! My dear, `
` my dear, your ears must tingle as you sleep, as mine do waking. Oh, `
` the blissful rest of last night! How I slept, with that dear, good `
` Dr. Seward watching me. And tonight I shall not fear to sleep, since `
` he is close at hand and within call. Thank everybody for being so `
` good to me. Thank God! Goodnight Arthur. `
` `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARD'S DIARY `
` `
` 10 September.--I was conscious of the Professor's hand on my head, and `
` started awake all in a second. That is one of the things that we `
` learn in an asylum, at any rate. `
` `
` "And how is our patient?" `
` `
` "Well, when I left her, or rather when she left me," I answered. `
` `
` "Come, let us see," he said. And together we went into the room. `
` `
` The blind was down, and I went over to raise it gently, whilst Van `
` Helsing stepped, with his soft, cat-like tread, over to the bed. `
` `
` As I raised the blind, and the morning sunlight flooded the room, I `
` heard the Professor's low hiss of inspiration, and knowing its rarity, `
` a deadly fear shot through my heart. As I passed over he moved back, `
` and his exclamation of horror, "Gott in Himmel!" needed no enforcement `
` from his agonized face. He raised his hand and pointed to the bed, `
` and his iron face was drawn and ashen white. I felt my knees begin to `
` tremble. `
` `
` There on the bed, seemingly in a swoon, lay poor Lucy, more horribly `
` white and wan-looking than ever. Even the lips were white, and the `
` gums seemed to have shrunken back from the teeth, as we sometimes see `
` in a corpse after a prolonged illness. `
` `
` Van Helsing raised his foot to stamp in anger, but the instinct of his `
` life and all the long years of habit stood to him, and he put it down `
` again softly. `
` `
` "Quick!" he said. "Bring the brandy." `
` `
` I flew to the dining room, and returned with the decanter. He wetted `
` the poor white lips with it, and together we rubbed palm and wrist and `
` heart. He felt her heart, and after a few moments of agonizing `
` suspense said, `
` `
` "It is not too late. It beats, though but feebly. All our work is `
` undone. We must begin again. There is no young Arthur here now. I `
` have to call on you yourself this time, friend John." As he spoke, he `
` was dipping into his bag, and producing the instruments of `
` transfusion. I had taken off my coat and rolled up my shirt sleeve. `
` There was no possibility of an opiate just at present, and no need of `
` one; and so, without a moment's delay, we began the operation. `
` `
` After a time, it did not seem a short time either, for the draining `
` away of one's blood, no matter how willingly it be given, is a `
` terrible feeling, Van Helsing held up a warning finger. "Do not `
` stir," he said. "But I fear that with growing strength she may wake, `
` and that would make danger, oh, so much danger. But I shall `
` precaution take. I shall give hypodermic injection of morphia." He `
` proceeded then, swiftly and deftly, to carry out his intent. `
` `
` The effect on Lucy was not bad, for the faint seemed to merge subtly `
` into the narcotic sleep. It was with a feeling of personal pride that `
` I could see a faint tinge of colour steal back into the pallid cheeks `
` and lips. No man knows, till he experiences it, what it is to feel `
` his own lifeblood drawn away into the veins of the woman he loves. `
` `
` The Professor watched me critically. "That will do," he said. `
` "Already?" I remonstrated. "You took a great deal more from Art." To `
` which he smiled a sad sort of smile as he replied, `
` `
` "He is her lover, her fiance. You have work, much work to do for her `
` and for others, and the present will suffice." `
` `
` When we stopped the operation, he attended to Lucy, whilst I applied `
` digital pressure to my own incision. I laid down, while I waited his `
` leisure to attend to me, for I felt faint and a little sick. By and `
` by he bound up my wound, and sent me downstairs to get a glass of wine `
` for myself. As I was leaving the room, he came after me, and half `
` whispered. `
` `
` "Mind, nothing must be said of this. If our young lover should turn `
` up unexpected, as before, no word to him. It would at once frighten `
` him and enjealous him, too. There must be none. So!" `
` `
` When I came back he looked at me carefully, and then said, "You are `
` not much the worse. Go into the room, and lie on your sofa, and rest `
` awhile, then have much breakfast and come here to me." `
` `
` I followed out his orders, for I knew how right and wise they were. I `
` had done my part, and now my next duty was to keep up my strength. I `
` felt very weak, and in the weakness lost something of the amazement at `
` what had occurred. I fell asleep on the sofa, however, wondering over `
` and over again how Lucy had made such a retrograde movement, and how `
` she could have been drained of so much blood with no sign any where to `
` show for it. I think I must have continued my wonder in my dreams, `
` for, sleeping and waking my thoughts always came back to the little `
` punctures in her throat and the ragged, exhausted appearance of their `
` edges, tiny though they were. `
` `
` Lucy slept well into the day, and when she woke she was fairly well `
` and strong, though not nearly so much so as the day before. When Van `
` Helsing had seen her, he went out for a walk, leaving me in charge, `
` with strict injunctions that I was not to leave her for a moment. I `
` could hear his voice in the hall, asking the way to the nearest `
` telegraph office. `
` `
` Lucy chatted with me freely, and seemed quite unconscious that `
` anything had happened. I tried to keep her amused and interested. `
` When her mother came up to see her, she did not seem to notice any `
` change whatever, but said to me gratefully, `
` `
` "We owe you so much, Dr. Seward, for all you have done, but you really `
` must now take care not to overwork yourself. You are looking pale `
` yourself. You want a wife to nurse and look after you a bit, that you `
` do!" As she spoke, Lucy turned crimson, though it was only `
` momentarily, for her poor wasted veins could not stand for long an `
` unwonted drain to the head. The reaction came in excessive pallor as `
` she turned imploring eyes on me. I smiled and nodded, and laid my `
` finger on my lips. With a sigh, she sank back amid her pillows. `
` `
` Van Helsing returned in a couple of hours, and presently said to me: `
` "Now you go home, and eat much and drink enough. Make yourself `
` strong. I stay here tonight, and I shall sit up with little miss `
` myself. You and I must watch the case, and we must have none other to `
` know. I have grave reasons. No, do not ask me. Think what you will. `
` Do not fear to think even the most not-improbable. Goodnight." `
` `
` In the hall two of the maids came to me, and asked if they or either `
` of them might not sit up with Miss Lucy. They implored me to let `
` them, and when I said it was Dr. Van Helsing's wish that either he or `
` I should sit up, they asked me quite piteously to intercede with `
` the 'foreign gentleman'. I was much touched by their kindness. Perhaps `
` it is because I am weak at present, and perhaps because it was on `
` Lucy's account, that their devotion was manifested. For over and over `
` again have I seen similar instances of woman's kindness. I got back `
` here in time for a late dinner, went my rounds, all well, and set this `
` down whilst waiting for sleep. It is coming. `
` `
` `
` 11 September.--This afternoon I went over to Hillingham. Found Van `
` Helsing in excellent spirits, and Lucy much better. Shortly after I `
` had arrived, a big parcel from abroad came for the Professor. He `
` opened it with much impressment, assumed, of course, and showed a `
` great bundle of white flowers. `
` `
` "These are for you, Miss Lucy," he said. `
` `
` "For me? Oh, Dr. Van Helsing!" `
` `
` "Yes, my dear, but not for you to play with. These are medicines." `
` Here Lucy made a wry face. "Nay, but they are not to take in a `
` decoction or in nauseous form, so you need not snub that so charming `
` nose, or I shall point out to my friend Arthur what woes he may have `
` to endure in seeing so much beauty that he so loves so much distort. `
` Aha, my pretty miss, that bring the so nice nose all straight again. `
` This is medicinal, but you do not know how. I put him in your window, `
` I make pretty wreath, and hang him round your neck, so you sleep well. `
` Oh, yes! They, like the lotus flower, make your trouble forgotten. `
` It smell so like the waters of Lethe, and of that fountain of youth `
` that the Conquistadores sought for in the Floridas, and find him all `
` too late." `
` `
` Whilst he was speaking, Lucy had been examining the flowers and `
` smelling them. Now she threw them down saying, with half laughter, `
` and half disgust, `
` `
` "Oh, Professor, I believe you are only putting up a joke on me. Why, `
` these flowers are only common garlic." `
` `
` To my surprise, Van Helsing rose up and said with all his sternness, `
` his iron jaw set and his bushy eyebrows meeting, `
` `
` "No trifling with me! I never jest! There is grim purpose in what I `
` do, and I warn you that you do not thwart me. Take care, for the sake `
` of others if not for your own." Then seeing poor Lucy scared, as she `
` might well be, he went on more gently, "Oh, little miss, my dear, do `
` not fear me. I only do for your good, but there is much virtue to you `
` in those so common flowers. See, I place them myself in your room. I `
` make myself the wreath that you are to wear. But hush! No telling to `
` others that make so inquisitive questions. We must obey, and silence `
` is a part of obedience, and obedience is to bring you strong and well `
` into loving arms that wait for you. Now sit still a while. Come with `
` me, friend John, and you shall help me deck the room with my garlic, `
` which is all the way from Haarlem, where my friend Vanderpool raise `
` herb in his glass houses all the year. I had to telegraph yesterday, `
`
` `
` `
` LUCY WESTENRA'S DIARY `
` `
` 9 September.--I feel so happy tonight. I have been so miserably weak, `
` that to be able to think and move about is like feeling sunshine after `
` a long spell of east wind out of a steel sky. Somehow Arthur feels `
` very, very close to me. I seem to feel his presence warm about me. I `
` suppose it is that sickness and weakness are selfish things and turn `
` our inner eyes and sympathy on ourselves, whilst health and strength `
` give love rein, and in thought and feeling he can wander where he `
` wills. I know where my thoughts are. If only Arthur knew! My dear, `
` my dear, your ears must tingle as you sleep, as mine do waking. Oh, `
` the blissful rest of last night! How I slept, with that dear, good `
` Dr. Seward watching me. And tonight I shall not fear to sleep, since `
` he is close at hand and within call. Thank everybody for being so `
` good to me. Thank God! Goodnight Arthur. `
` `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARD'S DIARY `
` `
` 10 September.--I was conscious of the Professor's hand on my head, and `
` started awake all in a second. That is one of the things that we `
` learn in an asylum, at any rate. `
` `
` "And how is our patient?" `
` `
` "Well, when I left her, or rather when she left me," I answered. `
` `
` "Come, let us see," he said. And together we went into the room. `
` `
` The blind was down, and I went over to raise it gently, whilst Van `
` Helsing stepped, with his soft, cat-like tread, over to the bed. `
` `
` As I raised the blind, and the morning sunlight flooded the room, I `
` heard the Professor's low hiss of inspiration, and knowing its rarity, `
` a deadly fear shot through my heart. As I passed over he moved back, `
` and his exclamation of horror, "Gott in Himmel!" needed no enforcement `
` from his agonized face. He raised his hand and pointed to the bed, `
` and his iron face was drawn and ashen white. I felt my knees begin to `
` tremble. `
` `
` There on the bed, seemingly in a swoon, lay poor Lucy, more horribly `
` white and wan-looking than ever. Even the lips were white, and the `
` gums seemed to have shrunken back from the teeth, as we sometimes see `
` in a corpse after a prolonged illness. `
` `
` Van Helsing raised his foot to stamp in anger, but the instinct of his `
` life and all the long years of habit stood to him, and he put it down `
` again softly. `
` `
` "Quick!" he said. "Bring the brandy." `
` `
` I flew to the dining room, and returned with the decanter. He wetted `
` the poor white lips with it, and together we rubbed palm and wrist and `
` heart. He felt her heart, and after a few moments of agonizing `
` suspense said, `
` `
` "It is not too late. It beats, though but feebly. All our work is `
` undone. We must begin again. There is no young Arthur here now. I `
` have to call on you yourself this time, friend John." As he spoke, he `
` was dipping into his bag, and producing the instruments of `
` transfusion. I had taken off my coat and rolled up my shirt sleeve. `
` There was no possibility of an opiate just at present, and no need of `
` one; and so, without a moment's delay, we began the operation. `
` `
` After a time, it did not seem a short time either, for the draining `
` away of one's blood, no matter how willingly it be given, is a `
` terrible feeling, Van Helsing held up a warning finger. "Do not `
` stir," he said. "But I fear that with growing strength she may wake, `
` and that would make danger, oh, so much danger. But I shall `
` precaution take. I shall give hypodermic injection of morphia." He `
` proceeded then, swiftly and deftly, to carry out his intent. `
` `
` The effect on Lucy was not bad, for the faint seemed to merge subtly `
` into the narcotic sleep. It was with a feeling of personal pride that `
` I could see a faint tinge of colour steal back into the pallid cheeks `
` and lips. No man knows, till he experiences it, what it is to feel `
` his own lifeblood drawn away into the veins of the woman he loves. `
` `
` The Professor watched me critically. "That will do," he said. `
` "Already?" I remonstrated. "You took a great deal more from Art." To `
` which he smiled a sad sort of smile as he replied, `
` `
` "He is her lover, her fiance. You have work, much work to do for her `
` and for others, and the present will suffice." `
` `
` When we stopped the operation, he attended to Lucy, whilst I applied `
` digital pressure to my own incision. I laid down, while I waited his `
` leisure to attend to me, for I felt faint and a little sick. By and `
` by he bound up my wound, and sent me downstairs to get a glass of wine `
` for myself. As I was leaving the room, he came after me, and half `
` whispered. `
` `
` "Mind, nothing must be said of this. If our young lover should turn `
` up unexpected, as before, no word to him. It would at once frighten `
` him and enjealous him, too. There must be none. So!" `
` `
` When I came back he looked at me carefully, and then said, "You are `
` not much the worse. Go into the room, and lie on your sofa, and rest `
` awhile, then have much breakfast and come here to me." `
` `
` I followed out his orders, for I knew how right and wise they were. I `
` had done my part, and now my next duty was to keep up my strength. I `
` felt very weak, and in the weakness lost something of the amazement at `
` what had occurred. I fell asleep on the sofa, however, wondering over `
` and over again how Lucy had made such a retrograde movement, and how `
` she could have been drained of so much blood with no sign any where to `
` show for it. I think I must have continued my wonder in my dreams, `
` for, sleeping and waking my thoughts always came back to the little `
` punctures in her throat and the ragged, exhausted appearance of their `
` edges, tiny though they were. `
` `
` Lucy slept well into the day, and when she woke she was fairly well `
` and strong, though not nearly so much so as the day before. When Van `
` Helsing had seen her, he went out for a walk, leaving me in charge, `
` with strict injunctions that I was not to leave her for a moment. I `
` could hear his voice in the hall, asking the way to the nearest `
` telegraph office. `
` `
` Lucy chatted with me freely, and seemed quite unconscious that `
` anything had happened. I tried to keep her amused and interested. `
` When her mother came up to see her, she did not seem to notice any `
` change whatever, but said to me gratefully, `
` `
` "We owe you so much, Dr. Seward, for all you have done, but you really `
` must now take care not to overwork yourself. You are looking pale `
` yourself. You want a wife to nurse and look after you a bit, that you `
` do!" As she spoke, Lucy turned crimson, though it was only `
` momentarily, for her poor wasted veins could not stand for long an `
` unwonted drain to the head. The reaction came in excessive pallor as `
` she turned imploring eyes on me. I smiled and nodded, and laid my `
` finger on my lips. With a sigh, she sank back amid her pillows. `
` `
` Van Helsing returned in a couple of hours, and presently said to me: `
` "Now you go home, and eat much and drink enough. Make yourself `
` strong. I stay here tonight, and I shall sit up with little miss `
` myself. You and I must watch the case, and we must have none other to `
` know. I have grave reasons. No, do not ask me. Think what you will. `
` Do not fear to think even the most not-improbable. Goodnight." `
` `
` In the hall two of the maids came to me, and asked if they or either `
` of them might not sit up with Miss Lucy. They implored me to let `
` them, and when I said it was Dr. Van Helsing's wish that either he or `
` I should sit up, they asked me quite piteously to intercede with `
` the 'foreign gentleman'. I was much touched by their kindness. Perhaps `
` it is because I am weak at present, and perhaps because it was on `
` Lucy's account, that their devotion was manifested. For over and over `
` again have I seen similar instances of woman's kindness. I got back `
` here in time for a late dinner, went my rounds, all well, and set this `
` down whilst waiting for sleep. It is coming. `
` `
` `
` 11 September.--This afternoon I went over to Hillingham. Found Van `
` Helsing in excellent spirits, and Lucy much better. Shortly after I `
` had arrived, a big parcel from abroad came for the Professor. He `
` opened it with much impressment, assumed, of course, and showed a `
` great bundle of white flowers. `
` `
` "These are for you, Miss Lucy," he said. `
` `
` "For me? Oh, Dr. Van Helsing!" `
` `
` "Yes, my dear, but not for you to play with. These are medicines." `
` Here Lucy made a wry face. "Nay, but they are not to take in a `
` decoction or in nauseous form, so you need not snub that so charming `
` nose, or I shall point out to my friend Arthur what woes he may have `
` to endure in seeing so much beauty that he so loves so much distort. `
` Aha, my pretty miss, that bring the so nice nose all straight again. `
` This is medicinal, but you do not know how. I put him in your window, `
` I make pretty wreath, and hang him round your neck, so you sleep well. `
` Oh, yes! They, like the lotus flower, make your trouble forgotten. `
` It smell so like the waters of Lethe, and of that fountain of youth `
` that the Conquistadores sought for in the Floridas, and find him all `
` too late." `
` `
` Whilst he was speaking, Lucy had been examining the flowers and `
` smelling them. Now she threw them down saying, with half laughter, `
` and half disgust, `
` `
` "Oh, Professor, I believe you are only putting up a joke on me. Why, `
` these flowers are only common garlic." `
` `
` To my surprise, Van Helsing rose up and said with all his sternness, `
` his iron jaw set and his bushy eyebrows meeting, `
` `
` "No trifling with me! I never jest! There is grim purpose in what I `
` do, and I warn you that you do not thwart me. Take care, for the sake `
` of others if not for your own." Then seeing poor Lucy scared, as she `
` might well be, he went on more gently, "Oh, little miss, my dear, do `
` not fear me. I only do for your good, but there is much virtue to you `
` in those so common flowers. See, I place them myself in your room. I `
` make myself the wreath that you are to wear. But hush! No telling to `
` others that make so inquisitive questions. We must obey, and silence `
` is a part of obedience, and obedience is to bring you strong and well `
` into loving arms that wait for you. Now sit still a while. Come with `
` me, friend John, and you shall help me deck the room with my garlic, `
` which is all the way from Haarlem, where my friend Vanderpool raise `
` herb in his glass houses all the year. I had to telegraph yesterday, `
`