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 hadVan 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. Whenteeth, 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 color 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