 Chapter 7 of Dracula by Bram Stoker. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Corinne LePage. Chapter 7. Cutting from The Daily Graph. 8 August. Pasted in Mina Murray's journal. From A Correspondent. Whitby. One greatest and suddenest storms on record has just been experienced here, with results both strange and unique. The weather had been somewhat sultry, but not to any degree uncommon in the month of August. Saturday evening was as fine as was ever known, and the great body of holiday makers laid out yesterday for visits to Moorgrave Woods, Robin Hood's Bay, Rig Mill, Runswick, Stathes, and the various trips in the neighborhood of Whitby. The steamers Emma and Scarborough made trips up and down the coast, and there was an unusual amount of tripping, both to and from Whitby. The day was unusually fine until the afternoon, when some of the gossips who frequent the East Cliff churchyard and from that commanding eminence watched the wide sweep of the sea visible to the north and east, called attention to a sudden show of mare's tails, high in the sky to the northwest. The wind was then blowing from the southwest, a mild degree in which barometrical language is ranked number two light breeze. The Coast Guard on duty at once made report, and one old fisherman, who for more than half a century has kept watch on weather signs from the East Cliff, foretold in an emphatic manner the coming of a sudden storm. The approach of sunset was so very beautiful, so grand in its masses of splendidly coloured clouds, that there was quite an assemblage on the walk along the Cliff and the old churchyard to enjoy the beauty. Before the sun dipped below the black mass of kettleness, standing boldly athwart the western sky, its downward way was marked by myriad clouds of every sunset colour, flame, purple, pink, green, violet, and all the tints of gold. With here and there masses not a large, but of seemingly absolute blackness, in all sorts of shapes as well outlined as colossal silhouettes. The experience was not lost on the painters, and doubtless some of the sketches of the prelude to the Great Storm will grace the RA and RI walls in May next. More than one captain made up his mind then and there that his cobble, or his mule, as they term the different classes of boats, would remain in the harbour till the storm had passed. The wind fell away entirely during the evening, and at midnight there was a dead calm, a sultry heat, and that prevailing intensity which, on the approach of thunder, affects persons of a sensitive nature. There were but few lights in sight at sea, for even the coasting steamers, which usually hug the shore so closely, kept well to seaward, and but few fishing boats were in sight. The only sail noticeable was a foreign schooner with all sails set, which were seemingly going westwards. The foolhardiness or ignorance of her officers was a prolific theme for the comment whilst she remained in sight, and efforts were made to signal her to reduce sail in face of her danger. Before the night shut down, she was seen with sails idly flapping as she gently rolled on the undulating swell of the sea, as idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean. Shortly before ten o'clock, the stillness of the air grew quite oppressive, and the silence was so marked that the bleeding of a sheep, inland, or the barking of a dog in the town was distinctly heard, and the band on the pier, with its lively French air, was like a discord in the great harmony of nature's silence. A little after midnight came a strange sound from over the sea, and high overhead the air began to carry a strange faint hollow booming. Then, without warning, the tempest broke, with the rapidity which, at the time, seemed incredible, and even afterwards is impossible to realize the whole aspect of nature at once became convulsed. The waves rose and growing fury, each overtopping its fellow, till in a very few minutes the lately glassy sea was like a roaring and devouring monster. White crested waves beat madly on the level sands, and rushed up the shelving cliffs. Others broke over the piers, and with their spume swept the lanterns of the lighthouses which rise from the end of either pier of Whitby Harbour. The wind roared like thunder, and blew with such force that it was with difficulty that even strong men kept their feet, or clung with grim clasp to the iron stanchions. It was found necessary to clear the entire piers from the mass of onlookers, or else the fatalities of the night would have been increased manifold. To add to the difficulties and dangers of the time, masses of sea fog came drifting inland, white wet clouds which swept by in ghostly fashion, so dank and damp and cold that it needed but little effort of imagination to think that the spirits of those lost at sea were touching their living brethren with the clammy hands of death, and many a one shuddered as the wreaths of sea mist swept by. At times the mist cleared, and the sea for some distance could be seen in the glare of the lightning, which now came thick and fast, followed by such sudden peels of thunder that the whole sky overhead seemed trembling under the shock of the footsteps of the storm. Some of the scenes thus revealed were of immeasurable grandeur and of absorbing interest, the sea running mountains high through skywards with each wave mighty masses of white foam, which the tempest seemed to snatch at and whirl away into space, here and there a fishing boat with a rag of sail running madly for shelter before the blast, now and again the white wings of a storm-tossed seabird. On the summit of the East Cliff the new searchlight was ready for experiment, but had not yet been tried. The officers in charge of it got it into working order, and in the pauses of the inrushing mist swept it with the surface of the sea. Once or twice its service was most effective as when a fishing boat with gun-whale underwater rushed into the harbour able by the guidance of the sheltering light to avoid the danger of dashing against the piers. As each boat achieved the safety of the port there was a shout of joy from the mass of people on the shore, a shout which for a moment seemed to cleave the gale and was then swept away in its rush. Before long the searchlight discovered some distance away, a schooner with all sails set, apparently the same vessel which had been noticed earlier in the evening. The wind hired by this time back to the east and there was a shudder amongst the watches on the Cliff as they realised the terrible danger in which she now was. Between her and the port lay the great flat reef on which so many good ships have from time to time suffered and with the wind blowing from its present quarter it would be quite impossible that she should fetch the entrance of the harbour. It was now nearly the hour of high tide but the waves were so great that in the troughs the shallows of the shore were almost visible and the schooner with all sails set was rushing with such speed that in the words of one old salt she must fetch up somewhere if it was only in hell. Then came another rush of sea-fog greater than any hiver to a mass of dank mist which seemed to close on all things like a grey pearl and left available to men only the organ of hearing for the roar of the tempest and the crash of the thunder and the booming of the mighty billows came through the damp oblivion even louder than before. The rays of the searchlight were kept fixed on the harbour mouth across the east pier where the shock was expected and man-weighted breathless. The wind suddenly shifted to the north-east and the remnant of the sea-fog melted in the blast and then Mirabla Dictu between the piers leaping from wave to wave as it rushed at headlong speed swept the strange schooner before the blast with all sail set and gained the safety of the harbour. The searchlight followed her and a shudder ran through all who saw her for last to the helm was a corpse with dripping head which swung horribly to and fro at each motion of the ship. No other form could be seen on deck at all. A great awe came on all as they realised that the ship as if by a miracle had found the harbour unsteered saved by the hand of a dead man however all took place more quickly than it takes to write these words. The schooner paused not but rushing across the harbour pitched herself on that accumulation of sand and gravel washed by many tides and many storms into the south-east corner of the pier jutting under the east cliff known locally as Tate Hill Pier. There was of course a considerable concussion as the vessel drove up on the sand-heap. Every spa, rope and stay were strained and some of the top hammer came crashing down but, strangest of all, the very instant the shore was touched an immense dog sprang up on deck from below as if shot up by the concussion and, running forward, jumped from the bow on the sand making straight for the steep cliff where the churchyard hangs over the laneway to the east pier so steeply that some of the flat tombstones, thruffsteins or thruestones as they call them in the Whitby vernacular actually project over where the sustaining cliff has fallen away. It disappeared in the darkness which seemed intensified just beyond the focus of the searchlight. It so happened that there was no one at the moment on Tate Hill Pier as all those whose houses are in close proximity were either in bed or were out on the heights above thus the Coast Guard on duty on the eastern side of the harbour who had once ran down to the litter pier was the first to climb on board. The men working the searchlight after scouring the entrance of the harbour without seeing anything then turned the light on the derelict and kept it there. The Coast Guard ran aft and when he came beside the wheel bent over to examine it and recoiled at once as though under some sudden emotion. This seemed to peak general curiosity and quite a number of people began to run. It is a good way round from the west cliff to the drawbridge to Tate Hill Pier but your correspondent is a fairly good runner and came well ahead of the crowd. When I arrived however I found already assembled on the pier a crowd whom the Coast Guard and police refused to allow to come on board. For the courtesy of the chief boatman I was as your correspondent permitted to climb on deck and was one of a small group who saw the dead sea men whilst actually lashed to the wheel. It was no wonder that the Coast Guard was surprised or even odd for not often can such a sight have been seen. The man was simply fastened by his hands, tied one over the other to a spoke of the wheel between the inner hand and the wood was a crucifix. The set of beads on which was fastened being around both wrists and wheel and all kept fast by the binding cords. The poor fellow may have been seated at one time but the flapping and the buffeting of the sails had worked through the rudder of the wheel and dragged him to and fro so that the cords with which he was tied had cut the flesh to the bone. Accurate note was made of the state of things and doctor Sergeant J. M. Caffin of 33 E. I. Place who came immediately after me declared after making examination that the man must have been dead for quite two days. In his pocket was a bottle carefully corked empty save for a little roll of paper which proved to be the addendum to the log. The Coast Guard said the man must have tied up his own hands fastening the knots with his teeth. The fact that a Coast Guard was the first on board may save some complications later on in the admiral teacot for Coast Guards cannot claim the salvage which is the right of the first civilian entering on a derelict. Already, however, the legal tongues are wagging and one young law student is loudly asserting that the rights of the owner are already completely sacrificed his property being held in contravention of the statutes of Mortmain since the tiller, an emblemship, if not proof of delegated possession is held in a dead hand. It is needless to say that the dead steersmen has been reverently removed from the place where he held his honourable watch and ward till death. A steadfastness as noble as that of the young Casa Bianca and placed in the mortuary to await inquest. Already the sudden storm is passing and its fierceness is abating crowds are scattering homeward and the sky is beginning to redden over the Yorkshire walls. I shall send in time for your next issue further details of the derelict ship which found her way so miraculously into harbour in the storm. The sequel to the strange arrival of the derelict in the storm last night is almost more startling than the thing itself. It turns out that the schooner is a Russian from Varna and is called the Demeter. She is almost entirely in ballast of silver sand and only a small amount of cargo, a number of great wooden boxes filled with mould. This cargo was consigned to Whitby Solicitor, Mr. S. F. Billington of Seven, the Crescent, who this morning went aboard and formally took possession of the goods consigned to him. The Russian consul, too, acting for the charter party, took formal possession of the ship and paid all harbour dues, etc. Nothing is talked about here today except the strange coincidence. The officials of the Board of Trade have been most exacting in seeing that every compliance has been made with existing regulations. As the matter is to be a nine-day's wonder, they are evidently determined that there shall be no cause of after-complaint. A good deal of interest was abroad concerning the dog which landed when the ship struck, and more than a few members of the SPCA, which is very strong in Whitby, have tried to befriend the animal. To the general disappointment, however, it was not to be found. It seems to have disappeared entirely from the town. It may be that it was frightened and made its way on to the moors, where it is still hiding in terror. There are some who look with dread on such a possibility, lest later on it should in itself become a danger, for it is evidently a fierce brute. Early this morning a large dog, a half-bred mastiff, belonging to a coal merchant close to Teitir Pier, was found dead in the roadway opposite to its master's yard. It had been fighting and, manifestly, had had a savage opponent, for its throat was torn away and its belly was lit open as if with a savage claw. Later, by the kindness of the Board of Trade Inspector, I have been permitted to look over the log-book of the Demeter, which was in order up to within three days, but contained nothing of special interest except as to the facts of missing men. The greatest interest, however, is with regard to the paper found in the bottle, which was today produced at the inquest and a more strange narrative than to between them unfold. It has not been my lot to come across. As there is no motive for concealment, I am permitted to use them and, accordingly, send you a rescript, simply omitting technical details of seamanship and supercargo. It almost seems as though the captain had been seized with some kind of mania before he had got well into blue water and that this had developed persistently throughout the voyage. Of course, my statement must be taken cum grano, since I am writing from the dictation of a clerk of the Russian Consul, who kindly translated for me time being short. Lug of the Demeter Learn not to wit be written 18 July things so strange happening that I shall keep accurate note henceforth till we land. On 6 July we finished taking in cargo, silver sand and boxes of earth. At noon set sail, east wind, fresh, crew, five hands, two mates, cook and myself, captain. On 11 July at dawn entered Boss Forest, bordered by Turkish custom officers, Bekshish, all correct, underway at 4 p.m. On 12 July through Dardanelles, more custom officers and flag boat of guarding squadron, Bekshish again, work of officers, thorough but quick, want us off soon, at dark passed into archipelago. On 13 July, past Cape Matapan, crew dissatisfied about something, seemed scared, but would not speak out. On 14 July was somewhat anxious about crew, men, all steady fellows who sailed with me before, mate could not make out what was wrong. They only told him that there was something and crossed to themselves. Mate lost temper with one of them that day and struck him, expected fierce quarrel, but always quiet. On 16 July, mate reported in the morning that one of crew, Petrovsky, was missing, could not account for it. Took larboard watch eight bells last night, was relieved by Abramov, but did not go to bunk, many more downcasts than ever. All said they expected something of the kind, but would not say more than that there was something aboard. Mate, getting wary and patient with him, feared some trouble ahead. On 17 July, yesterday, one of the men, Olga Ren, came to my cabin and, in an awestruck way, confided to me that he thought there was a strange man aboard the ship. He said that in his watch he had been sheltering behind the deck house, as there was a rainstorm. When he saw a tall, seen man who was not like any of the crew, come up to the companion way and go along the deck forward and disappear. He followed cautiously, but when he got to bows found no one, and the hatchways were all closed. He was in a panic of superstitious fear, and I am afraid the panic may spread. To allow it, I shall today search entire ship carefully from stem to stern. Later in the day I got together the whole crew and told them, as they evidently thought there was someone in the ship, we would search from stem to stern. First mate, angry, said it was folly and to yield to such foolish ideas would demoralize the men. Yet he would engage to keep them out of trouble with a hand-spike. I let him take the helm, while the rest began thorough search, all keeping abreast with lanterns. We left no corner unsearched, as there were only big wooden boxes. There were no odd corners where a man could hide. Men much relieved went search over and went back to work cheerfully. First mate scowled, but said nothing. 22 July Rough weather last three days and all hands busy with sails, no time to be frightened. Men seem to have forgotten their dread. Mate, tearful again and all on good terms, praised men for work in bad weather. Pissed, Gibraltar and out through straits. All will. 24 July There seems one doom over this ship, already a hand short and entering on the Bay of Biscay with wild weather ahead. And yet last night another man lost, disappeared, like the first he came off his watch and was not seen again. Men, all in a panic of fear, sent around Robin, asking to have double watch as a fear to be alone. Mate angry, fear there will be some trouble, as either he or the man will do some violence. 28 July Four days in hell, knocking about in a sort of maelstrom, and the wind at tempest, no sleep for anyone. Men all worn out, hardly know how to set a watch, since no one fit to go on. Second mate, volunteered to stir and watch and let men snatch a few hours sleep. Wind abating, seas still terrific, but feel them less as ship is steadier. 29 July Another tragedy had single watch tonight, as crew too tired to double. When morning watch came on deck, could find no one except steersman. Raised outcry and all came on deck. Toro search, but no one found, are now without second mate, and crew in a panic. Mate and I agreed to go armed, hence force, and wait for any sign of a cause. 30 July Last night, rejoiced we are nearing England, weather fine, all sail set. Retired, worn out, slept soundly. Awakened by mate telling me that both man of watch and steersman missing, only self and mate and two hands left to work ship. 1 August Two days of fog and not a sail sighted, had hoped when in the English Channel to be able to signal for help, or get in somewhere. Not having power to work sails have to run before wind. They're not lower, as could not raise them again. We seem to be drifting to some terrible doom. Mate now more demoralized than either of men. His stronger nature seemed to have worked inwardly against himself. Men are beyond fear, working stolidly and patiently with minds made up to worst. They're Russian, he Romanian. 2 August Midnight Woke up from few minutes sleep by hearing a cry, seemingly outside my port. Could see nothing in fog, rushed on deck, and ran against mate. We heard cry and ran, but no sign of man on watch. One were gone. Lord, help us! Mate says we must pass straights of Dover. As in a moment of fog lifting he saw Norse Forland, just as he heard the man cry out. If so, we are now off in North Sea, and only God can guide us in the fog. Rich seems to move with us, and God seems to have deserted us. 3 August Yet midnight I went to relieve the man at the wheel, and when I got to it found no one there. The wind was steady, and as we ran before it there was no yawing. I dared not leave it, so shouted for the mate. After a few seconds he rushed up on deck in his flannels. He looked wild-eyed and haggard, and I greatly fear his reason has given way. He came close to me and whispered hoarsely, with his mouse to my ear, as though fearing the very air might hear. It is here. I know it now. On the watch last night I saw it like a man, tall and thin and gustly pale. It was in the balls, and looking out. I crept behind it, and gave it my knife, but the knife went through it, and he has the air. And as he spoke, he took his knife and drove it savagely into space. Then he went on. But it is here, and I'll find it. It is in the hold, perhaps, in one of those boxes. I'll unscrew them one by one, and see. You work the helm. And with a warning look and his finger on his lip, he went below. There was a springing up choppy wind, and I could not leave the helm. I saw him come out on deck again, with a tool chest and a lantern, and go down the four-way hatchway. He is mad, stark, raving mad, and it's no use my trying to stop him. He can't hurt those big boxes there are invoiced as clay, and pulls them about is as harmless a thing as he can do, so here I stay and mine the helm and write these notes. I can only trust in God and wait till the fog clears, than if I can steer to any harbour with the wind that is, I shall cut down sails and lie by, and signal for help. It is nearly all over now, just as I was beginning to hope that some mate would come out commer, for I heard him knocking away at something in the hold, and work is good for him. There came up the hatchway, a sudden startled scream, which made my blood run cold, and up on the deck he came, as if shot from a gun, a raging mad man with his eyes rolling and his face convulsed with fear. Save me, save me! he cried, and then locked around on the blink of fog. His horror turned to despair and in a steady voice he said, you had better come to, captain, before it is too late. He is there. I know the secret now. The sea will save me from him, and it is all that is left. Before I could say a word, or move forward to seize him, he sprang on the bulwark and deliberately threw himself into the sea. I suppose I know the secret too now. It was this mad man who had got rid of the men one by one, and now he has followed them himself. God help me, how am I to account for all these horrors when I get to port? When I get to port? When will that ever be? 4. August. Steel fog, I cannot pierce. I know there is sunrise because I am a sailor. Why else I know not? I dared not go below. I dared not leave the home. So here all night I stayed, and in the dimness of the night, I saw it. Him. God forgive me, but the mate was right to jump overboard. It was better to die like a man. To die like a sailor in blue water no man can object. But I am captain, and I must not leave my ship. But I shall baffle this fiend or monster, for I shall tie my hands to the wheel when my strength begins to fail. And along with them I shall tie that which he, it, dare not touch. And then come good wind or fowl. I shall save my soul and my honour as captain. I am growing weaker, and the night is coming on. If he can look me in the face again, I may not have time to act. If we are wrecked, may have this bottle may be found. And those who find it may understand. If not, will. Then all men shall know that I have been true to my trust. God and the Blessed Virgin and the saints help a poor, ignorant soul trying to do his duty. Of course, the verdict was an open one. There is no evidence to adduce, and whether or not the man himself committed the murders, there is now none to say. The folk here hold almost universally that the captain is simply a hero, and he is to be given a public funeral. Already it is arranged that his body is to be taken with a train of boats up the esk for a peace and then brought back to Tate Hill Pier and up the abbey steps, for he is to be buried in the churchyard on the cliff. The earners of more than a hundred boats have already given in their names as wishing to follow him to the grave. No trace has ever been found of the great dog at which there is much mourning for with public opinion in its present state. He would, I believe, be adopted by the town. Tomorrow will see the funeral. And so will end this one more mystery of the sea. Mina Murray's Journal 8 August Lucy was very restless all night and I, too, could not sleep. The storm was fearful and it boomed loudly among the chimney pots. It made me shudder. When a sharp puff came it seemed to be like a distant gun. Strangely enough, Lucy did not wake, but she got up twice and dressed herself. Fortunately, each time I awoke in time and managed to undress her without waking her and got her back to bed. It is a very strange thing, this sleepwalking, for as soon as her will is thwarted in any physical way her intention, if there be any, disappears and she yields herself almost exactly to the routine of her life. Early in the morning we both got up and went down to the harbour to see if anything had happened in the night. There were very few people about and though the sun was bright and clear and fresh, the big grim-looking waves that seemed dark themselves because the foam that topped them was like snow forced themselves in through the narrow mouth of the harbour, like a bullying man going through a crowd. Somehow I felt glad that Jonathan was not on the sea last night, but on land. But oh, is he on land or sea? Where is he and how? I'm getting fearfully anxious about him. If only I knew what to do and could do anything. 10 August The funeral of the poor sea captain today was most touching. Every boat on the harbour seemed to be there and the coffin was carried by captains all the way from Taitel Pier up to the churchyard. Lucy came with me and we went early to our old seat, whilst the quarter-jay of boats went up the river to the viaduct and came down again. We had a lovely view and saw the procession nearly all the way. The poor fellow was laid to rest quite near our seat so that we stood on it when the time came and saw everything. Poor Lucy seemed much upset. She was restless and uneasy all the time, and I cannot but think that her dreaming at night was telling on her. She is quite odd in one thing. She will not admit to me that there is any cause for restlessness or, if there be, she does not understand it herself. There is an additional cause when Mr. Swales was found dead this morning on our seat, his neck being broken. He had evidently, as the doctor said, fallen back in the seat in some sort of fright, for there was a look of fear and horror on his face that the men said made them shudder. Poor dear old man. Perhaps he had seen death with his dying eyes. Lucy is so sweet and sensitive that she feels influences more acutely than other people do. Just now she was quite upset by a little thing which I did not much heed, though I am myself very fond of animals. One of the men who came up here often to look for the boats was followed by his dog. The dog is always with him. They are both quiet persons and I never saw the man angry, nor heard the dog bark. During the service the dog would not come to its master who was on the seat with us but kept a few yards off, barking and howling. The master spoke to it gently and then harshly and then angrily but it would neither come nor cease to make a noise. It was in a sort of fury with its eyes savage and all its hairs bristling out like a cat's tail when it pusses on the warpath. Finally the man too got angry and jumped down and kicked the dog and then took it by the scruff of the neck and half dragged it half through it on the tombstone on which the seat is fixed. The moment it touched the stone it was quiet and fell into a tremble. It did not try to get away but crouched down quivering and cowering and was in such a pitiable state of terror that I tried, though without effect, to comfort it. Lucy was full of pity too but she did not attempt to touch the dog but looked at it in an agonised sort of way. I greatly fear that she is of too super-sensitive a nature to go through the world without trouble. She will be dreaming of this tonight, I am sure. The whole agglomeration of things the ship steered into the port by dead man, his attitude tied to the wheel with the crucifix and beads, the touching funeral the dog, now furious and now in terror will all afford material for her dreams. I think it will be best for her to go to bed tired out physically so I shall take a full long walk by the cliffs to Robin Hood's bay and back short not to have much inclination to be talking then. End of Chapter 7 Recording by Corinne LePage Chapter 8 of Dracula by Bram Stoker This LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Corinne LePage Chapter 8 Nina Murray's Journal Same day eleven o'clock p.m. Oh but I am tired if it were not that I had made my diarrhea duty I should not open it tonight we had a lovely walk Lucy, after a while was in gay spirits owing I think to some dear cows who came nosing towards us in a field close to the lighthouse and frightened the wits out of us I believe we forgot everything except of course personal fear and it seemed to wipe this late clean and give us a fresh start we had a capital severe tea at Robin Hood's bay in a sweet little old fashioned inn with a bow window right over the seaweed covered rocks of the strand I believe we should have shocked the new woman with our appetites men are more tolerant bless them then we walked home with some or rather many stoppages to rest and with our hearts full of a constant dread of wild bulls Lucy was really tired and we intended to creep off to bed as soon as we could the young curate came in however and Mrs. Weston Ruh asked him to stay for supper Lucy and I had both a fight for it with the dusty miller I know it was a hard fight on my part and I am quite heroic I think that someday the bishops must get together and see about breeding up a new class of curates who don't take supper no matter how they may be pressed to and who will know when girls are tired Lucy's asleep and breathing softly she has more colour in her cheeks than usual and looks oh so sweet if Mr. Humwood fell in love with her seeing her only in the drawing room I wonder what he would say if he saw her now some of the new women writers will someday start an idea that men and women should be allowed to see each other sleep before proposing or accepting but I suppose the new woman won't consent in the future to accept she will do the proposing herself and a nice job she will make of it too there's some consolation in that I am so happy tonight because dear Lucy seems better I really believe she has turned the corner and that we are over her troubles with dreaming I should be quite happy if I only knew if Jonathan God bless and keep him 11 August 3 AM diary again no sleep now so I may as well write I am too agitated to sleep we have had such an adventure such an agonising experience I fell asleep as soon as I had closed my diary suddenly I became broad awake and sat up with a horrible sense of fear upon me and some feeling of emptiness around me the room was dark so I could not see Lucy's bed I stole a cross and felt for her the bed was empty I lit a match and found that she was not in the room the door was shut but not locked as I had left it I feared to wake her mother who has been more than usually ill lately so threw on some clothes and got ready to look for her as I was leaving the room it struck me that the clothes she wore might give me some clue to her dreaming intention dressing gown would meet house dress outside dressing gown and dress were both in their places thank God I said to myself she cannot be far as she has only her night dress I ran downstairs and looking in the sitting room not there then I looked in all other open rooms of the house with an ever growing fear chilling my heart finally I came down to the whole door and found it open it was not wide open but the catch of the lock had not caught the people of the house are very careful to lock the door every night so I feared that Lucy must have gone out as she was there was no time to think of what might happen a vague over mastering fear obscured all details I took a big heavy shawl and ran out the clock was striking one as I was in the crescent and there was not a soul in sight I ran along the north terrace but could see no sign of the white figure which I expected at the edge of the west cliff above the pier I looked across the harbour to the east cliff in the hope or fear I don't know which of seeing Lucy in our favourite seat there was a bright full moon with heavy black driving clouds which threw the whole scene into a fleeting diorama of light and shade as they sailed across for a moment or two I could see nothing as a shadow of a cloud obscured St. Mary's church and all around it then as the cloud passed I could see the ruins of the abbey coming into view and as the edge of a narrow band of light as sharp as a sword cut moved along the church and the churchyard became gradually visible whatever my expectation was not disappointed for there on our favourite seat the silver light of the moon struck a half reclining figure snowy white the coming of the cloud was too quick for me to see much for a shadow shut down on light almost immediately but it seemed to me as though something dark stood behind the seat with a white figure shone and bent over it what it was whether man or beast I could not tell I did not wait to catch another glance but flew down the steep steps to the pier and along by the fish market to the bridge which was the only way to reach the east cliff the town seemed as dead for not a soul did I see I rejoiced that it was so for I wanted no witness of Paul Lucy's condition the time and distance seemed endless and my knees trembled and my breath came laboured as I toiled up the endless steps to the abbey I must have gone fast and yet to me as if my feet were weighted with lead as though every joint in my body were rusty when I got almost to the top I could see the seat and the white figure for I was now close enough to distinguish it even through the spells of shadow there was undoubtedly something long and black bending over the half reclining white figure I called in fright Lucy Lucy and something raised ahead and from where I was I could see a white face and red gleaming eyes Lucy did not answer and I ran on to the entrance of the church yard as I entered the church was between me and the seat and for a minute or so I lost sight of her when I came in view again the cloud had passed and the moonlight struck so brilliantly that I could see Lucy half reclining with her head lying over the back of the seat she was quite alone and there was not a sign of any living thing about when I bent over her I could see that she was still asleep her lips were parted and she was breathing not softly as usual with her but in long heavy gasps as though striving to get her lungs full at every breath as I came close she put up her hand in a sleep and pulled the collar of her neck dress close around her throat whilst she did so there came a shadow through her as though she felt the cold I flung the warm shawl over her and drew the edges tight round her neck for I dreaded less she should get some deadly chill from the night air and cloud as she was I feared to wake her all at once so in order to have my hands free that I might help her I fastened the shawl at her throat with a big safety pin but I must have been clumsy in my anxiety and pinched or pricked her with it she put her hand to her throat again and moaned when I had her carefully wrapped up I put my shoes on her feet and then began very gently to wake her at first she did not respond but gradually she became more and more uneasy in her sleep moaning and sighing occasionally at last as time was passing fast and for many other reasons I wished to get her home at once I shook her more forcibly till finally she opened her eyes and awoke she did not seem surprised to see me as of course she did not realise all at once where she was Lucy always wakes prettily and even at such a time when her body must have been chilled with cold and her mind somewhat appalled at waking unclad in a churchyard at night she did not lose her grace she trembled a little and clung to me when I told her to come at once with me home she rose without a word in the audience of a child as we passed along the gravel hurt my feet and Lucy noticed me wince she stopped and wanted to insist upon my taking my shoes but I would not however when we got to the pathway outside the churchyard where there was a puddle of water remaining from the storm I dobbed my feet with mud using each foot in turn on the other so that as we went home no one in case we should meet anyone should notice my bare feet and we got home without meeting a soul once we saw a man who seemed not quite sober passing along a street in front of us but we hid in a door till he had disappeared up an opening such as there are here steep little closes or wince as they call them in Scotland my heart beats so loud all the time that sometimes I thought I should faint I was filled with anxiety about Lucy not only for her health she should suffer from exposure but for her reputation in case the story should get wind when we got in and had washed our feet and had said a prayer of thankfulness together I tucked her into bed before falling asleep she asked even implored me not to say a word to anyone even her mother about her sleepwalking adventure I hesitated at first to promise but on thinking of the state of her mother's health such a thing would fret her and thinking too of how such a story might become distorted nay infallibly would in case it should leak out I thought it wiser to do so I hope I did right I locked the door and the key is tied to my wrist so perhaps I shall not be again disturbed Lucy's sleeping soundly the reflex of the dawn is high and far over the sea same day all goes well Lucy slept till I woke her and seemed not to have even changed her side the adventure of the night does not seem to have harmed her on the contrary it has benefited her for she looks better this morning than she has done for weeks I was sorry to notice that my clumsiness with the safety pin hurt her indeed it might have been serious for the skin of her throat was pierced I must have pinched up a piece of loose skin and have transfixed it for there are two little red points like pinpricks and on the band of her nightdress was a drop of blood when I apologised and was concerned about it she laughed and petted me and said she did not even feel it fortunately it cannot leave a scar as it is so tiny same day night we passed a happy day the air was clear and the sun bright and there was a cool breeze of words Mrs. Weston were driving by the road and Lucy and I walking by the cliff path and joining her at the gate I felt a little sad myself or I could not but feel how absolutely happy it would have been had Jonathan been with me but there I must only be patient in the evening we strolled in the casino terrace and heard some good music by Spore and Mackenzie and went to bed early Lucy seems more restful than she has been for some time and fell asleep at once I shall lock the door and secure the key the same as before though I do not expect any trouble tonight 12 August my expectations were wrong for twice during the night I was awakened by Lucy trying to get out she seemed even in her sleep to be a little impatient at finding the door shut and went back to bed under a sort of protest I woke with the dawn and heard the birds chirping outside the window Lucy woke too and I was glad to see she was even better than on the previous morning all her old gaiety of manner seemed to have come back and she came and snuggled in beside me and told me all about Arthur I told her how anxious I was about Jonathan and then she tried to comfort me while she succeeded somewhat for though sympathy can't alter facts it can help to make them more bearable 13 August another quiet day and to bed with the key on my wrist as before again I awoke in the night and found Lucy sitting up in bed still asleep, pointing to the window I got up quietly and pulling aside the blind looked out it was brilliant moonlight and the soft effect of the light over the sea and sky merged together in one great silent mystery was beautiful beyond words between me and the moonlight fitted a great bat coming and going in great whirling circles once or twice it came quite close but was I suppose frightened at seeing me and flitted away across the harbour towards the abbey when I came back from the window Lucy had lain down again and was sleeping peacefully she did not stir again all night 14 August on the east cliff reading and writing all day Lucy seems to have become as much in love as I am and it is hard to get away from it when it is time to come home for lunch or tea or dinner this afternoon she made a funny remark we were coming home for dinner and had come to the top of the steps up from the west pier and stopped to look at the view as we generally do the setting sun low down on the sky was just dropping behind cattle-ness the red light was thrown over the east cliff and the old abbey and seemed to bathe everything in a beautiful rosy glow we were silent for a while and suddenly Lucy murmured as if to herself his red eyes again they are just the same it was such an odd expression coming a propose of nothing that it quite startled me I slewed around a little so as to see Lucy well without seeming to stare at her and saw that she was in a half dreamy state with an odd look on her face that I could not quite make out so I said nothing but followed her eyes she appeared to be looking over at our own seat where on a dark figure seated alone I was a little startled myself for it seemed for an instant as if the stranger had great eyes like burning flames but a second look dispelled the illusion the red sunlight was shining on the windows of St. Mary's church so as to remind our seat and as the sun dipped there was just sufficient change in the refraction and reflection to make it appear as if the light moved I called Lucy's attention to the particular effect and she became herself with a start but she looked sad all the same it may have been that she was thinking of that terrible night up there we never referred to it so I said nothing and we went home for dinner Lucy had a headache I went to bed I saw her sleep and went out for a little stroll myself I walked along the cliffs to the westward and was full of sweet sadness for I was thinking of Jonathan when coming home it was then bright moonlight so bright that though the front of our part of the crescent was in shadow everything could be well seen I threw a glance up at her window and saw Lucy's head looking out for me so I opened my handkerchief and waved it she did not notice or make any movement whatever just then the moonlight crept round an angle of the building and the light fell on the window there distinctly was Lucy with her head lying up against the side of the windowsill and her eyes shut she was fast asleep and by her seated on the windowsill was something that looked like a good-sized bird I was afraid she might get a chill so I ran upstairs but as I came into the room she was moving back to her bed fast asleep and breathing heavily she was holding her hand to her throat as though to protect it from cold I did not wake her but tucked her up warmly I have taken care that the door is locked and the window securely fastened she looked so sweet as she sleeps she is peller than is her want and there is a drawn haggard look under her eyes which I do not like I fear she is fretting about something I wish I could find out what it is 15 August rose later than usual Lucy was languid and tired and slept on after we had been cold we had a happy surprise at breakfast Arthur's father is better and wants the marriage to come off soon Lucy is full of quiet joy and her mother is glad and sorry at once late on in the day she told me the cause she is grieved to lose Lucy as her very own but she is rejoiced that she is soon to have someone to protect her poor dear sweet lady she confided to me that she has got a death warrant she is not told Lucy and made me promise secrecy her doctor told her that within a few months at most she must die for her heart is weakening at any time even now a sudden shock would be almost sure to kill her ah we were wise to keep her from the affair of the dreadful night of Lucy's sleepwalking 17 August no diary for two whole days I have not had the heart to write some sort of shadowy poll seems to be coming over our happiness no news from Jonathan and Lucy seems to be growing weaker whilst her mother's hours are numbering to her clothes I do not understand Lucy's fading away as she is doing she eats well and sleeps well and enjoys the fresh air but all the time the roses in her cheeks are fading and she gets weaker and more languid day by day at night I hear her gasping as if for air I keep the key of our door always fastened to my wrist at night but she gets up and walks about the room and sits at the open window last night I found her leaning out when I woke up and when I tried to wake her I could not she was in a faint when I managed to restore her she was weak as water and cried silently between long painful struggles for breath when I asked her how she came to be out of the window she shook her head and turned away I trust her feeling ill may not be from that unlucky prick of the safety pin I looked at her throat just now as she lay asleep and the tiny wounds seemed not to have healed they are still open and if anything larger than before and the edges of them are faintly white they are like little white dots with red centres unless they heal within a day or two I shall insist the doctor is not seeing about them letter Samuel F. Billington & Sons solicitors Whitby to Mr. Carter Patterson & Company London 17 August Dear sirs herwith please receive in voice of goods sent by Great Northern Railway same are to be delivered at Carthax near Perfleet immediately on receipt at Good Station King's Cross present empty but enclosed please find keys all of which are labelled you will please deposit the boxes 50 N number which form the consignment in the partially ruined building forming part of the house and marked A on rough diagram enclosed your agent will easily recognise the locality as it is the ancient chapel of the mansion the goods leave by train at 9.30 tonight will be due at King's Cross at 4.30 tomorrow afternoon as our client wishes the delivery made as soon as possible we shall be obliged by your having teams ready at King's Cross at the time named and forthwith conveying the goods to destination in order to obviate any delays possible through any routine requirements as to payment in your departments we enclose check herwith for 10 pounds receipt of which please acknowledge should the charge be less than this amount you can return balance if greater we shall at once send check for difference on hearing from you you are to leave the keys on coming away in the main hall of the house where the proprietor may get them on his entering the house by means of his duplicate key pray you do not take us as exceeding the bounds of business courtesy impressing you in all ways to use most expedition we are dear sirs faithfully yours Samuel F. Billington and son letter Mr. Carter Patterson and company London to Mr. Billington and son Whitby 21 August dear sirs we beg to acknowledge 10 pounds received and to return check one pound 17 shillings nine pennies amount of overplus as shown in recited account herewith goods are delivered in exact accordance with instructions and keys left in parcel in main hall as directed we are dear sirs yours respectfully pro Carter Patterson and company Mina Murray's Journal 18 August I am happy today and right sitting on the seat in the churchyard Lucy is ever so much better last night she slept well all night and did not disturb me once the roses seemed to be coming back already to her cheeks though she is still sadly pale and one looking if she were in any way anemic I could understand it but she is not she is in ghost spirits and full of life and cheerfulness all the morbid reticence seems to have passed from her and she has just reminded me as if I needed any reminding of that night and that it was here on this very seat I found her sleep as she told me she tapped playfully with the heel of her boot on the stone slab and said my poor little feet didn't make much noise then I dare say poor old Mr. Swells would have told me that it was because I didn't want to wake up Jordy as she was in such a communicative humor I asked her if she had dreamed at all that night before she answered that sweet puckered look came into her forehead which Arthur I call him Arthur from her habit says he loves and indeed I don't wonder that he does then she went on in a half dreaming kind of way as if trying to recall it to herself I didn't quite dream but it all seemed to be real I only wanted to be here in this spot I don't know why for I was out of something I don't know what I remember though I suppose I was asleep passing through the streets and over the bridge a fish leapt as it went by and I leaned over to look at it and I heard a lot of dogs howling the whole town seemed as if it must be full of dogs all howling at once as I went up the steps then I had a vague memory of something long and dark with red eyes just as we saw on the sunset and something very sweet and very bitter all around me at once and then I seemed to be sinking into deep green water and there was a singing in my ears as I have heard there is to drowning men and then everything seemed passing away from me my soul seemed to go out from my body and flowed about the air I seem to remember that once the west lighthouse was right under me and then there was a sort of agonizing feeling as if I were in an earthquake and I came back and found you shaking my body I saw you do it before I felt you then she began to laugh it seemed quite a little uncarning to me and I listened to her breathlessly I did not quite like it and thought it better not to keep her mind on the subject so he drifted on to other subjects and Lucy was like her old self again when we got home the fresh breeze had braced her up and her pale cheeks were really more rosy her mother rejoiced when she saw her and we all spent a very happy evening together 19 August joy joy joy although not all joy at last news of Jonathan the dear fellow has been ill that is why he did not write I am not afraid to think or say it now that I know he sent me on the letter and wrote himself oh so kindly I am to leave in the morning and go over to Jonathan and to help to nurse him if necessary and to bring him home Mr. Hawkins says that it would not be a bad thing if we were to be married out there I have cried over the good sister's letter till I can feel it wet against my bosom where it lies it is of Jonathan and must be next my heart for he is in my heart my journey is all mapped out and my luggage ready I am only 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 St. Mary letter pest to Miss Wilhelmina Murray 12 August Dear Madame 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 St. 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 writhings have been dreadful of wolves and poison and blood and I fear to say of what be careful with him always that there 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 on him nothing that anyone could understand he came in the train from Clausenburg and the guard was told by the stationmaster there that he rushed on to the station shouting for a ticket for home seeing from his violent demeanour that he was English they gave him a ticket for the further station on the way further 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 St. Mary many 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 the dog does when setting the attendant was struck by his manner and no one my interest in him encouraged him to talk he is usually respectful to the attendant and at times so vile but tonight the man tells me he was quite hotty he would not consent 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 this combination is 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 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 mad men give themselves away the real God take a 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 great 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 mad man needs 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 at the edge of his bed resignedly and looked into space with lackluster 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 that 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 to the coming of the bride but when the bride drawth nigh then the maidens shine the eyes that are filled he would not explain himself but remained obstinately seated in his bed all the time I remained with him I am weary tonight and in low spirits I cannot but think of Lucy and how different things might have been if I don't sleep at once chloro the modern morphias C2HCL30 H2O must be careful not to let it grow into a habit I shall take none tonight I have thought of Lucy and shall not dishonour her by mixing the two if need be tonight shall be sleepless later glada made the resolution glada that I kept to it I had lain tossing about and had heard the clock strike only twice when the night watchmen came to see me sent up from the ward to say that Renfield had escaped drew 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 care and cannot be far off the attendant thought it would be more useful to watch where he should go then 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 fall most and as we were only a few feet above the 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 the 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 onto the grounds of Carthax 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 someone 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 air and 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 far off now that you are near I await your commands 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 now he thinks of the loaves and fishes even when he believes he is in a real presence his many years 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 Shepherd himself couldn't get free from the straight 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 to I was too excited to sleep but his diary has quieted and I feel I shall get some sleep tonight End of Chapter 8 Recording by Karin the Page Chapter 9 of Dracula by Bram Stoker This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Recording by Karin the Page Chapter 9 Letter Meena Harker to Lucy Westenra Budapest 24 August My dearest Lucy I know you will be anxious to hear all that has happened since we potted at the railway station at Whitby Well my dear I got to Hull all right and caught the boat to Hamburg and then the train on here I feel that I can hardly recall anything of the journey except that I knew I was coming to Jonathan and that as I should have to do some nursing I'd better get all the sleep I could I found my dear one oh so thin and pale and weak looking all the resolution has gone out of his dear eyes and that quiet dignity which I told you was in his face has vanished He is only a wreck of himself and he does not remember anything that has happened to him for a long time past at least he wants me to believe so and I shall never ask he has had some terrible shock and I feared my taxes poor brain if we were to try to recall it Sister Agatha who is a good creature and a born nurse tells me that he raved of dreadful things whilst she was off his head I wanted her to tell me what they were but she would only cross herself and say she would never tell that the ravings of the sick were the secrets of God and that if a nurse through her vocation should hear them she should respect her trust she is a sweet good soul and the next day when she saw I was troubled she opened up the subject again and after saying that she could never mention what my poor dear raved about added I can tell you this much my dear that it was not about anything which he has done wrong himself and you as his wife to be have no cause to be concerned he has not forgotten you or what he owes to you his fear was of great and terrible things which no mortal can treat of I did believe the dear soul thought I might be jealous lest my poor dear should have fallen in love with any other girl the idea of my being jealous about Jonathan and yet my dear let me whisper I felt a thrill of joy through me when I knew no other woman was the cause of trouble I am now sitting by his bedside where I can see his face while he sleeps he's waking when he woke he asked me for his coat as he wanted to get something from the pocket I asked sister Agatha and she brought all his things I saw that amongst them was his notebook and was going to ask him let me look at it for I knew then that I might find some clue to his trouble but I suppose he must have seen my wish in my eyes for he sent me over to the window saying he wanted to be quite alone for a moment then he called me back and when I came he had his hand over the notebook and he said to me very solemnly Wilhelm Mina I knew then that he was in deadly earnest for he has never called me by that name since he asked me to marry him you know my dear my ideas of the trust between husband and wife there should be no secret no concealment I have heard a great shock and when I try to think of what it is I feel my head spin round and I do not know if it was all real or the dreaming of a madman you know I have had brain fever and that is to be mad the secret is here and I do not want to know it I want to take up my life here with our marriage for my dear we had decided to be married as soon as the formalities are complete are you willing Wilhelmina to share my ignorance here is the book take it and keep it read it if you will but never let me know unless indeed some solemn duty should come upon me to go back to the bitter hours asleep or awake saying or mad recorded here he fell back exhausted and put the book under his pillow and kissed him I have asked sister Agatha to beg the superior to let our wedding be this afternoon and I am waiting her reply she has come and told me that the chaplain of the English mission church has been sent for we are to be married in an hour or as soon after as Jonathan wakes Lucy the time has come and gone I feel very solemn but very very happy Jonathan woke a little after the hour and all was ready and he sat up in bed propped up with pillows he answered his I will firmly and strongly I could hardly speak my heart was so full that even those words seemed to choke me my dear sisters were so kind please God I shall never never forget them nor the grave and sweet responsibilities I have taken upon me I must tell you of my wedding present when the chaplain and the sisters had left me alone with my husband oh Lucy it is the first time I have written the words my husband left me alone with my husband I took the book from under his pillow and wrapped it up in white paper and tied it with a little bit of pale blue ribbon which was around my neck and sealed it over the knot with sealing wax and for my seal I used my wedding ring then I kissed it and showed it to my husband and told him I would keep it so and then it would be an outward and visible sign for us all our lives that we trusted each other that I would never open it unless it were for his own dear sake and for the sake of some stern duty then he took my hand in his and oh Lucy it was the first time he took his wife's hand and said that it was the dearest thing in all the wide world and that he would go through all the past again to win it if need be the poor dear meant to have said part of the past but he cannot think of time yet and I shall not wonder if at first he mixes up not only the month but the year well my dear what could I say I could only tell him that I was the happiest woman in all the wide world and that I had nothing to give him except myself, my life and my trust and that with these went my love and duty for all the days of my life and my dear when he kissed me and drew me to him we cans it was like a very solemn pledge between us Lucy dear do you know why I tell you all this it is not only because it is all sweet to me but because you have been and are very dear to me it was my privilege to be your friend and guide when you came from the school room to prepare for the world of life I want you to see now with the eyes of a very happy wife with her duty has led me so that in your own married life you too may be all happy as I am my dear please almighty God your life may be all it promises a long day of sunshine with no harsh wind no forgetting duty no distrust I must not wish you no pain for that can never be but I do hope you will be always as happy as I am now goodbye my dear I shall post this at once and perhaps I wish you very soon again I must stop for Jonathan's waking I must attend to my husband your ever loving Mina Harker letter Lucy Westerner to Mina Harker Whitby 30 August my dearest Mina oceans of love and millions of kisses and may you soon be in your own home with your husband I wish you could be coming home soon enough to stay with us here the strong air would soon restore Jonathan it has quite restored me I have an appetite like a cormorant am full of life and sleep well you will be glad to know that I have quite given up walking in my sleep I think I've not stirred out of my bed for a week that is once I got into it at night Arthur says I am getting fat by the way I forgot to tell you that Arthur is here we have walks and drives and rides and rowing and tennis and fishing together and I love him more than ever he tells me that he loves me more but I doubt that but first he told me that he couldn't love me more than he did just then but this is nonsense there he is calling to me so no more just at present from your loving Lucy PS mother sends her love she seems better poor dear PPS we are to be married on 28 September Dr. Seward's diary 20 August the case of Renfield grows even more interesting he has now so far quieted that there are spells of cessation from his passion for the first week after his attack he was perpetually violent then one night just as the moon rose he grew quiet and kept murmuring to himself now I can wait now I can wait the attendant came to tell me so I ran down at once to have a look at him he was still in the straight waistcoat and in the padded room but but the surfaced look had gone from his face and his eyes had something of their old pleading I might almost say cringing softness I was satisfied with his present condition and directed him to be relieved the attendants hesitated but finally carried out my wishes without rest it was a strange thing that the patient had humor enough to see their distrust for coming close to me he said in a whisper all the while looking furtively at them they think that I could hurt you fancy me hurting you the fools it was soothing somehow to the feelings to find myself dissociated even in the mind of this poor madman from the others but all the same I do not follow his thought it might take it that I have anything in common with him so that we are as it were to stand together or has he to gain from me some good so stupendous that my well-being is needful to him I must find out later on tonight he will not speak even the offer of a kitten or even a full grown cat will not tempt him he will only say I don't take any stalking cuts I have more to think of now and can wait I can wait after a while I left him the attendant tells me that he was quiet just before dawn and that he began to get uneasy and at length violent until at last he fell into a paroxysm which exhausted him so that he swooned into a sort of coma three nights has the same thing happened violent all day then quiet from moonrise to sunrise I wish I could get some clue to the cause it would almost seem as if there was some influence which came and went happy thought we shall play tonight saying wits against mad ones he escaped before without our help tonight he shall escape with it we shall give him a chance and then have the men ready to follow in case they are required 23 August the unexpected always happens how well does rarely new life our bird when he found the cage open would not fly so all our subtle arrangements were for not at any rate we have proved one thing that the spells of quietness last a reasonable time we shall in future be able to ease his bonds for a few hours each day I have ordered to the night attendant merely to shut him in the badded room when once he is quiet until an hour before sunrise the poor soul's body will enjoy the relief even if his mind cannot appreciate it hark! the unexpected again I am called the patient has once more escaped later another night adventure Renfield artfully waited until the attendant was entering the room to inspect then he dashed out past him and flew down the passage I sent word for the attendants to follow again he went into the grounds of the deserted home and we found him in the same place pressed against the old chapel door when he saw me he became furious and had not the attendant seized him in time he would have tried to kill me as we were holding him a strange thing happened he suddenly redoubled his efforts and then as suddenly grew calm I looked around instinctively but could see nothing then I caught the patient's eye and followed it but could chase nothing as it looked into the moonlit sky except a big bat which was flapping its silent and ghostly way to the west bats usually wheel and flit about but this one seemed to go straight on as if it knew where it was bound for or had some intention of its own the patient grew calmer every instant and presently said you needn't tie me I shall go quietly without trouble we came back to the house I feel there is something ominous about his calm and shall not forget this night Lucy Weston Rose Diary Healing him 24 August I must imitate Meena and keep writing things down then we can have long talks when we do meet I wonder when it will be I wish you were here with me again for I feel so unhappy last night I seemed to be dreaming again just as I was at Whitby perhaps it is the change of air or getting home again I am worried to me for I can remember nothing but I am full of vague fear and I feel so weak and worn out when Arthur came to lunch he looked quite grieved when he saw me and I hadn't the spirit to be cheerful I wonder if I could sleep in mother's room tonight I shall make an excuse and try 25 August another bad night mother did not seem to take my proposal she seems not too well herself and doubtless she fears to worry me I tried to keep awake and succeeded for a while but when the clock struck twelve it waked me from a dose so I must have been falling asleep there was a sort of scratching or flapping at the window but I did not mind it and as I remember no more I suppose I must then have fallen asleep more bad dreams I wish I could remember them this morning I am horribly weak my face is ghastly pale and my throat pains me this must be something wrong with my lungs for I don't seem ever to get air enough I shall try to cheer up when Arthur comes or else I know he will be miserable to see me so letter Arthur Holmwood to Dr. Seward Albemarle Hotel 31 August my dear Jack I want you to do me a favour Lucy is ill that is she has no special disease but she looks awful and is getting worse every day I have asked her if there is any cause I do not dare to ask a mother for to disturb the poor lady's mind about her daughter in a present state of health would be fatal Mrs. Weston has confided to me that her doom is spoken disease of the heart though poor Lucy does not know it yet I am sure that there is something praying on my dear girl's mind I am almost distracted when I think of her to look at her gives me a pang I told her I should ask you to see her and though she demerred at first I know why dear fellow she finally consented it will be a painful task for you I know old friend but it is for her sake and I must not hesitate to ask or you to act you are to come to lunch at Healingham to a clock so as not to arouse any suspicion in Mrs. Weston and after lunch Lucy will take an opportunity of being alone with you I shall come in for tea and we can go away together I am filled with anxiety and want to consult with you alone as soon as I can after you have seen her do not fail Arthur Telegram Arthur Holmwood to Seward 1st September I am summoned to see my father who is worse I am writing the Holy Byton Knight's post to Ring wire me if necessary Letter from Dr. Seward to Arthur Holmwood 2nd September my dear old fellow with regard to Mrs. Weston's health I hasten to let you know at once that in my opinion there is not any functional disturbance or animality that I know of at the same time I am not by any means satisfied with her appearance she is woefully different from what she was when I saw her last of course you must bear in mind that I have not had full opportunity of an examination of course you must bear in mind that I did not have full opportunity of examination such as I should wish our very friendship makes little difficulty which not even medical science or custom can bridge over I had better tell you exactly what happened leaving you to draw in a measure your own conclusions I shall then say what I have done and proposed doing I found Mrs. Weston Ra in seemingly gay spirits her mother was present and in a few seconds I made up my mind that she was trying all she knew to mislead her mother and prevent her from being anxious I have no doubt she guesses if she does not know what need of caution there is we launched alone and as we all exerted ourselves to be cheerful we got as some kind of reward for our labours some real cheerfulness among us then Mrs. Weston Ra went to lie down and Lucy was left with me we went to her boudoir and till we got there her gaiety remained for the servants were coming and going as soon as the door was closed however the mask fell from her face and she sank down into a chair with a great sigh and hid her eyes with her hand when I saw that her high spirits had failed I at once took advantage of her reaction to mega-diagnosis she said to me very sweetly I cannot tell you how I loathe talking about myself I reminded her that a doctor's confidence was sacred but that you were grievously anxious about her she caught on to my meaning at once and settled that matter in a word tell Arthur everything you choose I do not care for myself but all for him so I am quite free I could easily see that she is somewhat bloodless but I could not see the usual anemic signs and by a chance I was actually able to test the quality of her blood for in opening a window which was stiff a cord gave way and she cut her hand slightly with broken glass it was a slight matter in itself but it gave me an evident chance and I secured a few drops of the blood and I've analyzed them the qualitative analysis gives a quite normal condition and shows I should infer in itself a vigorous state of health in other physical matters I was quite satisfied that there is no need for anxiety but as there must be a cause somewhere I have come to the conclusion that it must be something mental she complains of difficulty in breathing satisfactorily at times and of heavy lethargic sleep with dreams that frighten her but regarding which she can remember nothing she says that as a child she used to wake in her sleep and that when in Whitby the habit came back and that once she walked out in the night and went to East Cliff where Miss Murray found her but she assures me that of late the habit has not returned I am in doubt and so have done the best thing I know of I have written to my old friend and master Professor Van Helsing of Amsterdam who knows as much about obscure diseases as anyone in this world I've asked him to come over and as you told me that all things were to be at your charge I have mentioned to him who you are and your relations to Miss Westenra this my dear fellow is in obedience to your wishes and happy to do anything I can for her Van Helsing would, I know do anything for me for a personal reason so no matter on what grounds he comes we must accept his wishes he is a seemingly arbitrary man but this is because he knows what he is talking about better than anyone else he is a philosopher and a metaphysician and one of the most advanced scientists of his day and he has I believe an absolutely open mind this with an iron nerve a temper of the ice-brook an indomitable resolution self-command and toleration exalted from virtues to blessings and the kindliest and truest heart that beats these form his equipment for the noble work that he is doing for mankind both work in theory and practice for his views are as wide as his all embracing sympathy I tell you these facts that you may know why I have such confidence in him I have asked him to come at once I shall see Miss Weston tomorrow again she is to meet me at the store so I may not alarm her mother by too early a repetition of my call yours always John Seward letter Abraham Van Helsing M-D-D-P-H-D literary etc etc to Dr. Seward 2 September my good friend when I have received your letter I am already coming to you by good fortune I can leave just at once without wrong to any of those who have trusted me their fortune other than it were bad for those who have trusted for I come to my friend when he call me to a dose he holds dear tell your friend that when that time you suck from my wound so swiftly the poison of the gangrene from your knife that our other friend too nervous but slip you did more for him than he wants my aids and you call for them than all his great fortune could do but it is pleasure added to do for him your friend it is you that I come have then the rooms for me at the great Eastern Hotel so that I may be near at hand and please arrange that we may see the young lady not too late on tomorrow for it is likely that I might have to return here that night but if need be I shall come again in three days and stay longer if I must till then goodbye my friend John Van Helsing Letter Dr. Seward to Honourable Arthur Holmwood 3rd September my dear Art Van Helsing has come and gone and he came on with me to Hillingham and found that by Lucy's discretion her mother was launching out Van Helsing made a very careful examination of the patient he is to report to me and I shall advise you for of course I was not present at the time here's I fear much concerned but says he must think when I told him of our friendship and how you trust me in the matter he said you must tell him all you think tell him what I think if you can guess it if you will nay I am not jesting this is no jest but life and death perhaps more is not what he meant by that for he was very serious this was when we had come back to town and he was having a cup of tea before starting on his return to Amsterdam he would not give me any further clue you must not be angry with me Art because his very reticence means that all his brains are working for her good he will speak plainly enough when the time comes be sure so I told him I would simply write an account of our visit just as if I were doing a descriptive daily telegraph he seemed not to notice but remarked that the smuts in London were not quite so bad as they used to be when he was a student here I am to get his report tomorrow if he can possibly make it in any case I am to have a letter well as to the visit Lucy was more cheerful on that day I first saw her and certainly looked better she had lost something of the ghastly look that so upset you and her breathing was normal she was very sweet to the professor as she always is and tried to make him feel at ease though I could see that the poor girl was making a hard struggle for it I believe Van Helsing saw it too for I saw the quick look under his bushy brows that I knew of old then he began to chat of all things except ourselves and diseases and with such an infinite geniality that I could see Paul Lucy's pretence of animation merge into reality then without any seeming change he brought the conversation gently round to his visit and suavely said my dear young miss I have the so great pleasure because you are so much beloved that is much my dear ever were there that which I did not see they told me you were down in the spirit and that you were of a ghastly pale to them I say poof and he snapped his fingers at me and went on but you and I shall show them how wrong they are how can he and he pointed at me with the same look and gesture as that with which once he pointed me out to his class on or rather after a particular occasion which he never fails to remind me of know anything of a young ladies he has his madams to play with and to bring them back to happiness and to those that love them it is much to do and oh but there are rewards in that we can bestow such happiness but the young ladies he has no wife nor daughter and the young do not tell themselves to the young but to the old like me who have known so many sorrows and the causes of them so my dear we will send him away to smoke the cigarette in the garden whilst you and I have a little talk all to ourselves I took the hint and strolled about and presently the professor came to the window and called me in he looked grave but said I have made careful examination but there is no functional cause do I agree that there has been much blood lost it has been but is not but the conditions of her are in no way anemic I have asked her to send me her maid that I might ask just one or two question that so I may not chance to miss nothing I know well what she will say and yet there is cause there is always cause for everything I must go back home and think you must send to me the telegram and if there be cause I shall come again the disease for not to be all well is a disease interest me and the sweet young dear she interest me too she charm me and for her if not for you or disease I come as I tell you he would not say a word more even when we were alone and so now art you know all I know I shall keep stern watch I trust your poor father is rallying it must be a terrible thing to you my dear old fellow to be placed in such a position between two people who are both so dear to you I know your idea of duty to your father and you are right to stick to it but if need be I shall send you word to come at once to Lucy so do not be over anxious unless you hear from me Dr. Seward's Diary for September the war for guest patient still keeps dressed in him he had only one outburst and that was yesterday at an unusual time just before the stroke of noon he began to grow restless the attendant knew the symptoms and at once summoned aid fortunately the men came at a run and were just in time for at the stroke of noon he became so violent that it took all those strength to hold him in about five minutes however he began to get more and more quiet and he sank into a sort of melancholy in which state he has remained up to now the attendant tells me that his screams whilst in the paroxysm were really appalling I found my hands full when I got in attending to some of the other patients who are frightened by him indeed I can quite understand the effect for the sounds disturbed even me though I was some distance away it is now after the dinner hour of the asylum and as yet my patient sits in a corner brooding with a dull, sullen, woe-begone look on his face which seems rather to indicate than to show something directly I cannot quite understand it later another change in my patient at five o'clock I looked in on him and found him seemingly as happy and contented as he used to be he was catching flies and eating them and was keeping note of his capture by making nail marks on the edge of the door between the ridges of padding when he saw me he came over and apologised for his bad conduct and asked me in a very humble, cringing way to be led back to his own room and to have his notebook again I thought it welds a humour him so he is now back in his room with the window open he has the sugar of his tea spread out on the windowsill and is reaping quite a harvest of flies he is not now eating them but putting them into a box as of old he is already examining the corners of his room to find a spider I tried to get him to talk about the past few days for any clue to his thoughts would be of immense help to me but he would not rise for a moment or two he looked very sad and said in a sort of far away voice as though saying it rather to himself than to me all over he has deserted me no hope for me now unless I do it for myself then he turning to me in a resolute way he said doctor won't you be very good to me and let me have a little more sugar I think it would be good for me and the flies I asked yes the flies like it too and I like the flies therefore I like it and there are people who know so little as to think that mad men do not argue I procured him a double supply and left him as happy a man as I suppose any in the world I wish I could fathom his mind midnight another change in him I had been to see Miss Westerner whom I found much better and had just returned and was standing at our own gate looking at the sunset when once more I heard him yelling as his room is on this side of the house I could hear it better than in the morning it was a shock to me to turn from the wonderful smoky beauty of a sunset over London with its lurid lights and inky shadows and all the marvellous tints that come on foul clouds just as on foul water and to realise all the grim stunness of my own cold stone building with its wealth of breathing misery and my own desolate heart to endure it all I reached him just as the sun was going down and from his window saw the red disk sink as it sank he became less and less frenzied and just as it dipped he slid from the hands that held him an inert mass on the floor it is wonderful however what intellectual recuperative power lunatics have for within a few minutes he stood up quite calmly and looked around him I signalled to the attendants not to hold him for I was anxious to see what he would do he went straight over to the window and brushed out the crumbs of sugar then he took his fly-box and emptied it outside and threw away the box then he shut the window and crossing over sat down on his bed all this surprised me so I asked him are you not going to keep flies anymore no said he I am sick of all that rubbish he certainly is a wonderfully interesting study I wish I could get some glimpse of his mind of the cause of his sudden passion stop there may be a clue after all if we can find why today his paroxysms came out at high noon and at sunset can it be that there is a malign influence of the sun at periods which affects certain natures as at times of the moon does others we shall see good appetite sleeps naturally good spirits telegram seward london to van helsing amsterdam terrible change for the worse come at once do not lose an hour I hold over telegram to homeward till I have seen you end of chapter 9 recording by Corinne LePage