Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.1-12
is she, mad, or what sort of horrible danger is it?" I was so `
` bewildered that I did not know what to say more. Van Helsing put out `
` his hand and took the paper, saying, `
` `
` "Do not trouble about it now. Forget it for the present. You shall `
` know and understand it all in good time, but it will be later. And `
` now what is it that you came to me to say?" This brought me back to `
` fact, and I was all myself again. `
` `
` "I came to speak about the certificate of death. If we do not act `
` properly and wisely, there may be an inquest, and that paper would `
` have to be produced. I am in hopes that we need have no inquest, for `
` if we had it would surely kill poor Lucy, if nothing else did. I `
` know, and you know, and the other doctor who attended her knows, that `
` Mrs. Westenra had disease of the heart, and we can certify that she `
` died of it. Let us fill up the certificate at once, and I shall take `
` it myself to the registrar and go on to the undertaker." `
` `
` "Good, oh my friend John! Well thought of! Truly Miss Lucy, if she `
` be sad in the foes that beset her, is at least happy in the friends `
` that love her. One, two, three, all open their veins for her, besides `
` one old man. Ah, yes, I know, friend John. I am not blind! I love `
` you all the more for it! Now go." `
` `
` In the hall I met Quincey Morris, with a telegram for Arthur telling `
` him that Mrs. Westenra was dead, that Lucy also had been ill, but was `
` now going on better, and that Van Helsing and I were with her. I told `
` him where I was going, and he hurried me out, but as I was going said, `
` `
` "When you come back, Jack, may I have two words with you all to `
` ourselves?" I nodded in reply and went out. I found no difficulty `
` about the registration, and arranged with the local undertaker to come `
` up in the evening to measure for the coffin and to make arrangements. `
` `
` When I got back Quincey was waiting for me. I told him I would see `
` him as soon as I knew about Lucy, and went up to her room. She was `
` still sleeping, and the Professor seemingly had not moved from his `
` seat at her side. From his putting his finger to his lips, I gathered `
` that he expected her to wake before long and was afraid of `
` fore-stalling nature. So I went down to Quincey and took him into the `
` breakfast room, where the blinds were not drawn down, and which was a `
` little more cheerful, or rather less cheerless, than the other rooms. `
` `
` When we were alone, he said to me, "Jack Seward, I don't want to shove `
` myself in anywhere where I've no right to be, but this is no ordinary `
` case. You know I loved that girl and wanted to marry her, but `
` although that's all past and gone, I can't help feeling anxious about `
` her all the same. What is it that's wrong with her? The Dutchman, `
` and a fine old fellow he is, I can see that, said that time you two `
` came into the room, that you must have another transfusion of blood, `
` and that both you and he were exhausted. Now I know well that you `
` medical men speak in camera, and that a man must not expect to know `
` what they consult about in private. But this is no common matter, and `
` whatever it is, I have done my part. Is not that so?" `
` `
` "That's so," I said, and he went on. `
` `
` "I take it that both you and Van Helsing had done already what I did `
` today. Is not that so?" `
` `
` "That's so." `
` `
` "And I guess Art was in it too. When I saw him four days ago down at `
` his own place he looked queer. I have not seen anything pulled down `
` so quick since I was on the Pampas and had a mare that I was fond of `
` go to grass all in a night. One of those big bats that they call `
` vampires had got at her in the night, and what with his gorge and the `
` vein left open, there wasn't enough blood in her to let her stand up, `
` and I had to put a bullet through her as she lay. Jack, if you may `
` tell me without betraying confidence, Arthur was the first, is not `
` that so?" `
` `
` As he spoke the poor fellow looked terribly anxious. He was in a `
` torture of suspense regarding the woman he loved, and his utter `
` ignorance of the terrible mystery which seemed to surround her `
` intensified his pain. His very heart was bleeding, and it took all `
` the manhood of him, and there was a royal lot of it, too, to keep him `
` from breaking down. I paused before answering, for I felt that I must `
` not betray anything which the Professor wished kept secret, but `
` already he knew so much, and guessed so much, that there could be no `
` reason for not answering, so I answered in the same phrase. `
` `
` "That's so." `
` `
` "And how long has this been going on?" `
` `
` "About ten days." `
` `
` "Ten days! Then I guess, Jack Seward, that that poor pretty creature `
` that we all love has had put into her veins within that time the blood `
` of four strong men. Man alive, her whole body wouldn't hold it." Then `
` coming close to me, he spoke in a fierce half-whisper. "What took it `
` out?" `
` `
` I shook my head. "That," I said, "is the crux. Van Helsing is simply `
` frantic about it, and I am at my wits' end. I can't even hazard a `
` guess. There has been a series of little circumstances which have `
` thrown out all our calculations as to Lucy being properly watched. `
` But these shall not occur again. Here we stay until all be well, or `
` ill." `
` `
` Quincey held out his hand. "Count me in," he said. "You and the `
` Dutchman will tell me what to do, and I'll do it." `
` `
` When she woke late in the afternoon, Lucy's first movement was to feel `
` in her breast, and to my surprise, produced the paper which Van `
` Helsing had given me to read. The careful Professor had replaced it `
` where it had come from, lest on waking she should be alarmed. Her `
` eyes then lit on Van Helsing and on me too, and gladdened. Then she `
` looked round the room, and seeing where she was, shuddered. She gave `
` a loud cry, and put her poor thin hands before her pale face. `
` `
` We both understood what was meant, that she had realized to the full `
` her mother's death. So we tried what we could to comfort her. `
` Doubtless sympathy eased her somewhat, but she was very low in thought `
` and spirit, and wept silently and weakly for a long time. We told her `
` that either or both of us would now remain with her all the time, and `
` that seemed to comfort her. Towards dusk she fell into a doze. Here `
` a very odd thing occurred. Whilst still asleep she took the paper `
` from her breast and tore it in two. Van Helsing stepped over and took `
` the pieces from her. All the same, however, she went on with the `
` action of tearing, as though the material were still in her hands. `
` Finally she lifted her hands and opened them as though scattering the `
` fragments. Van Helsing seemed surprised, and his brows gathered as if `
` in thought, but he said nothing. `
` `
` `
` 19 September.--All last night she slept fitfully, being always afraid `
` to sleep, and something weaker when she woke from it. The Professor `
` and I took in turns to watch, and we never left her for a moment `
` unattended. Quincey Morris said nothing about his intention, but I `
` knew that all night long he patrolled round and round the house. `
` `
` When the day came, its searching light showed the ravages in poor `
` Lucy's strength. She was hardly able to turn her head, and the little `
` nourishment which she could take seemed to do her no good. At times `
` she slept, and both Van Helsing and I noticed the difference in her, `
` between sleeping and waking. Whilst asleep she looked stronger, `
` although more haggard, and her breathing was softer. Her open mouth `
` showed the pale gums drawn back from the teeth, which looked `
` positively longer and sharper than usual. When she woke the softness `
` of her eyes evidently changed the expression, for she looked her own `
` self, although a dying one. In the afternoon she asked for Arthur, `
` and we telegraphed for him. Quincey went off to meet him at the `
` station. `
` `
` When he arrived it was nearly six o'clock, and the sun was setting `
` full and warm, and the red light streamed in through the window and `
` gave more colour to the pale cheeks. When he saw her, Arthur was `
` simply choking with emotion, and none of us could speak. In the hours `
` that had passed, the fits of sleep, or the comatose condition that `
` passed for it, had grown more frequent, so that the pauses when `
` conversation was possible were shortened. Arthur's presence, however, `
` seemed to act as a stimulant. She rallied a little, and spoke to him `
` more brightly than she had done since we arrived. He too pulled `
` himself together, and spoke as cheerily as he could, so that the best `
` was made of everything. `
` `
` It is now nearly one o'clock, and he and Van Helsing are sitting with `
` her. I am to relieve them in a quarter of an hour, and I am entering `
` this on Lucy's phonograph. Until six o'clock they are to try to rest. `
` I fear that tomorrow will end our watching, for the shock has been too `
` great. The poor child cannot rally. God help us all. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` LETTER MINA HARKER TO LUCY WESTENRA `
` `
` (Unopened by her) `
` `
` 17 September `
` `
` My dearest Lucy, `
` `
` "It seems an age since I heard from you, or indeed since I `
` wrote. You will pardon me, I know, for all my faults when `
` you have read all my budget of news. Well, I got my husband back `
` all right. When we arrived at Exeter there was a carriage `
` waiting for us, and in it, though he had an attack of gout, Mr. `
` Hawkins. He took us to his house, where there were rooms for us `
` all nice and comfortable, and we dined together. After dinner `
` Mr. Hawkins said, `
` `
` "'My dears, I want to drink your health and prosperity, and `
` may every blessing attend you both. I know you both from `
` children, and have, with love and pride, seen you grow up. `
` Now I want you to make your home here with me. I have left `
` to me neither chick nor child. All are gone, and in my `
` will I have left you everything.' I cried, Lucy dear, as `
` Jonathan and the old man clasped hands. Our evening was a `
` very, very happy one. `
` `
` "So here we are, installed in this beautiful old house, and `
` from both my bedroom and the drawing room I can see the `
` great elms of the cathedral close, with their great black `
` stems standing out against the old yellow stone of the cathedral, `
` and I can hear the rooks overhead cawing and cawing and `
` chattering and chattering and gossiping all day, after the manner `
` of rooks--and humans. I am busy, I need not tell you, arranging `
` things and housekeeping. Jonathan and Mr. Hawkins are busy all `
`
` bewildered that I did not know what to say more. Van Helsing put out `
` his hand and took the paper, saying, `
` `
` "Do not trouble about it now. Forget it for the present. You shall `
` know and understand it all in good time, but it will be later. And `
` now what is it that you came to me to say?" This brought me back to `
` fact, and I was all myself again. `
` `
` "I came to speak about the certificate of death. If we do not act `
` properly and wisely, there may be an inquest, and that paper would `
` have to be produced. I am in hopes that we need have no inquest, for `
` if we had it would surely kill poor Lucy, if nothing else did. I `
` know, and you know, and the other doctor who attended her knows, that `
` Mrs. Westenra had disease of the heart, and we can certify that she `
` died of it. Let us fill up the certificate at once, and I shall take `
` it myself to the registrar and go on to the undertaker." `
` `
` "Good, oh my friend John! Well thought of! Truly Miss Lucy, if she `
` be sad in the foes that beset her, is at least happy in the friends `
` that love her. One, two, three, all open their veins for her, besides `
` one old man. Ah, yes, I know, friend John. I am not blind! I love `
` you all the more for it! Now go." `
` `
` In the hall I met Quincey Morris, with a telegram for Arthur telling `
` him that Mrs. Westenra was dead, that Lucy also had been ill, but was `
` now going on better, and that Van Helsing and I were with her. I told `
` him where I was going, and he hurried me out, but as I was going said, `
` `
` "When you come back, Jack, may I have two words with you all to `
` ourselves?" I nodded in reply and went out. I found no difficulty `
` about the registration, and arranged with the local undertaker to come `
` up in the evening to measure for the coffin and to make arrangements. `
` `
` When I got back Quincey was waiting for me. I told him I would see `
` him as soon as I knew about Lucy, and went up to her room. She was `
` still sleeping, and the Professor seemingly had not moved from his `
` seat at her side. From his putting his finger to his lips, I gathered `
` that he expected her to wake before long and was afraid of `
` fore-stalling nature. So I went down to Quincey and took him into the `
` breakfast room, where the blinds were not drawn down, and which was a `
` little more cheerful, or rather less cheerless, than the other rooms. `
` `
` When we were alone, he said to me, "Jack Seward, I don't want to shove `
` myself in anywhere where I've no right to be, but this is no ordinary `
` case. You know I loved that girl and wanted to marry her, but `
` although that's all past and gone, I can't help feeling anxious about `
` her all the same. What is it that's wrong with her? The Dutchman, `
` and a fine old fellow he is, I can see that, said that time you two `
` came into the room, that you must have another transfusion of blood, `
` and that both you and he were exhausted. Now I know well that you `
` medical men speak in camera, and that a man must not expect to know `
` what they consult about in private. But this is no common matter, and `
` whatever it is, I have done my part. Is not that so?" `
` `
` "That's so," I said, and he went on. `
` `
` "I take it that both you and Van Helsing had done already what I did `
` today. Is not that so?" `
` `
` "That's so." `
` `
` "And I guess Art was in it too. When I saw him four days ago down at `
` his own place he looked queer. I have not seen anything pulled down `
` so quick since I was on the Pampas and had a mare that I was fond of `
` go to grass all in a night. One of those big bats that they call `
` vampires had got at her in the night, and what with his gorge and the `
` vein left open, there wasn't enough blood in her to let her stand up, `
` and I had to put a bullet through her as she lay. Jack, if you may `
` tell me without betraying confidence, Arthur was the first, is not `
` that so?" `
` `
` As he spoke the poor fellow looked terribly anxious. He was in a `
` torture of suspense regarding the woman he loved, and his utter `
` ignorance of the terrible mystery which seemed to surround her `
` intensified his pain. His very heart was bleeding, and it took all `
` the manhood of him, and there was a royal lot of it, too, to keep him `
` from breaking down. I paused before answering, for I felt that I must `
` not betray anything which the Professor wished kept secret, but `
` already he knew so much, and guessed so much, that there could be no `
` reason for not answering, so I answered in the same phrase. `
` `
` "That's so." `
` `
` "And how long has this been going on?" `
` `
` "About ten days." `
` `
` "Ten days! Then I guess, Jack Seward, that that poor pretty creature `
` that we all love has had put into her veins within that time the blood `
` of four strong men. Man alive, her whole body wouldn't hold it." Then `
` coming close to me, he spoke in a fierce half-whisper. "What took it `
` out?" `
` `
` I shook my head. "That," I said, "is the crux. Van Helsing is simply `
` frantic about it, and I am at my wits' end. I can't even hazard a `
` guess. There has been a series of little circumstances which have `
` thrown out all our calculations as to Lucy being properly watched. `
` But these shall not occur again. Here we stay until all be well, or `
` ill." `
` `
` Quincey held out his hand. "Count me in," he said. "You and the `
` Dutchman will tell me what to do, and I'll do it." `
` `
` When she woke late in the afternoon, Lucy's first movement was to feel `
` in her breast, and to my surprise, produced the paper which Van `
` Helsing had given me to read. The careful Professor had replaced it `
` where it had come from, lest on waking she should be alarmed. Her `
` eyes then lit on Van Helsing and on me too, and gladdened. Then she `
` looked round the room, and seeing where she was, shuddered. She gave `
` a loud cry, and put her poor thin hands before her pale face. `
` `
` We both understood what was meant, that she had realized to the full `
` her mother's death. So we tried what we could to comfort her. `
` Doubtless sympathy eased her somewhat, but she was very low in thought `
` and spirit, and wept silently and weakly for a long time. We told her `
` that either or both of us would now remain with her all the time, and `
` that seemed to comfort her. Towards dusk she fell into a doze. Here `
` a very odd thing occurred. Whilst still asleep she took the paper `
` from her breast and tore it in two. Van Helsing stepped over and took `
` the pieces from her. All the same, however, she went on with the `
` action of tearing, as though the material were still in her hands. `
` Finally she lifted her hands and opened them as though scattering the `
` fragments. Van Helsing seemed surprised, and his brows gathered as if `
` in thought, but he said nothing. `
` `
` `
` 19 September.--All last night she slept fitfully, being always afraid `
` to sleep, and something weaker when she woke from it. The Professor `
` and I took in turns to watch, and we never left her for a moment `
` unattended. Quincey Morris said nothing about his intention, but I `
` knew that all night long he patrolled round and round the house. `
` `
` When the day came, its searching light showed the ravages in poor `
` Lucy's strength. She was hardly able to turn her head, and the little `
` nourishment which she could take seemed to do her no good. At times `
` she slept, and both Van Helsing and I noticed the difference in her, `
` between sleeping and waking. Whilst asleep she looked stronger, `
` although more haggard, and her breathing was softer. Her open mouth `
` showed the pale gums drawn back from the teeth, which looked `
` positively longer and sharper than usual. When she woke the softness `
` of her eyes evidently changed the expression, for she looked her own `
` self, although a dying one. In the afternoon she asked for Arthur, `
` and we telegraphed for him. Quincey went off to meet him at the `
` station. `
` `
` When he arrived it was nearly six o'clock, and the sun was setting `
` full and warm, and the red light streamed in through the window and `
` gave more colour to the pale cheeks. When he saw her, Arthur was `
` simply choking with emotion, and none of us could speak. In the hours `
` that had passed, the fits of sleep, or the comatose condition that `
` passed for it, had grown more frequent, so that the pauses when `
` conversation was possible were shortened. Arthur's presence, however, `
` seemed to act as a stimulant. She rallied a little, and spoke to him `
` more brightly than she had done since we arrived. He too pulled `
` himself together, and spoke as cheerily as he could, so that the best `
` was made of everything. `
` `
` It is now nearly one o'clock, and he and Van Helsing are sitting with `
` her. I am to relieve them in a quarter of an hour, and I am entering `
` this on Lucy's phonograph. Until six o'clock they are to try to rest. `
` I fear that tomorrow will end our watching, for the shock has been too `
` great. The poor child cannot rally. God help us all. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` LETTER MINA HARKER TO LUCY WESTENRA `
` `
` (Unopened by her) `
` `
` 17 September `
` `
` My dearest Lucy, `
` `
` "It seems an age since I heard from you, or indeed since I `
` wrote. You will pardon me, I know, for all my faults when `
` you have read all my budget of news. Well, I got my husband back `
` all right. When we arrived at Exeter there was a carriage `
` waiting for us, and in it, though he had an attack of gout, Mr. `
` Hawkins. He took us to his house, where there were rooms for us `
` all nice and comfortable, and we dined together. After dinner `
` Mr. Hawkins said, `
` `
` "'My dears, I want to drink your health and prosperity, and `
` may every blessing attend you both. I know you both from `
` children, and have, with love and pride, seen you grow up. `
` Now I want you to make your home here with me. I have left `
` to me neither chick nor child. All are gone, and in my `
` will I have left you everything.' I cried, Lucy dear, as `
` Jonathan and the old man clasped hands. Our evening was a `
` very, very happy one. `
` `
` "So here we are, installed in this beautiful old house, and `
` from both my bedroom and the drawing room I can see the `
` great elms of the cathedral close, with their great black `
` stems standing out against the old yellow stone of the cathedral, `
` and I can hear the rooks overhead cawing and cawing and `
` chattering and chattering and gossiping all day, after the manner `
` of rooks--and humans. I am busy, I need not tell you, arranging `
` things and housekeeping. Jonathan and Mr. Hawkins are busy all `
`