As she stopped speaking he leaped to his feet, almost tearing
his hand from hers as he spoke.
"May God give him into my hand just for long enough to destroy
that earthly life of him which we are aiming at. If beyond it I
could send his soul forever and ever to burning hell I would do
it!"
"Oh, hush! Oh, hush in the name of the good God. Don't say such
things, Jonathan, my husband, or you will crush me with fear and
horror. Just think, my dear … I have been thinking all this
long, long day of it … that … perhaps … some
day … I, too, may need such pity, and that some other like
you, and with equal cause for anger, may deny it to me! Oh, my
husband! My husband, indeed I would have spared you such a thought
had there been another way. But I pray that God may not have
treasured your wild words, except as the heart-broken wail of a
very loving and sorely stricken man. Oh, God, let these poor white
hairs go in evidence of what he has suffered, who all his life has
done no wrong, and on whom so many sorrows have come."
We men were all in tears now. There was no resisting them, and
we wept openly. She wept, too, to see that her sweeter counsels had
prevailed. Her husband flung himself on his knees beside her, and
putting his arms round her, hid his face in the folds of her dress.
Van Helsing beckoned to us and we stole out of the room, leaving
the two loving hearts alone with their God.
Before they retired the Professor fixed up the room against any
coming of the Vampire, and assured Mrs. Harker that she might rest
in peace. She tried to school herself to the belief, and manifestly
for her husband's sake, tried to seem content. It was a brave
struggle, and was, I think and believe, not without its reward. Van
Helsing had placed at hand a bell which either of them was to sound
in case of any emergency. When they had retired, Quincey,
Godalming, and I arranged that we should sit up, dividing the night
between us, and watch over the safety of the poor stricken lady.between us, and watch over the safety of the poor stricken lady.
The first watch falls to Quincey, so the rest of us shall be off to
bed as soon as we can.
Godalming has already turned in, for his is the second watch.
Now that my work is done I, too, shall go to bed.
JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL
3-4 October, close to midnight.—I thought yesterday would never
end. There was over me a yearning for sleep, in some sort of blind
belief that to wake would be to find things changed, and that any
change must now be for the better. Before we parted, we discussed
what our next step was to be, but we could arrive at no result. All
we knew was that one earth box remained, and that the Count alone
knew where it was. If he chooses to lie hidden, he may baffle us
for years. And in the meantime, the thought is too horrible, I dare
not think of it even now. This I know, that if ever there was a
woman who was all perfection, that one is my poor wronged darling.
I loved her a thousand times more for her sweet pity of last night,
a pity that made my own hate of the monster seem despicable. Surely
God will not permit the world to be the poorer by the loss of such
a creature. This is hope to me. We are all drifting reefwards now,
and faith is our only anchor. Thank God! Mina is sleeping, and
sleeping without dreams. I fear what her dreams might be like, with
such terrible memories to ground them in. She has not been so calm,
within my seeing, since the sunset. Then, for a while, there came
over her face a repose which was like spring after the blasts of
March. I thought at the time that it was the softness of the red
sunset on her face, but somehow now I think it has a deeper
meaning. I am not sleepy myself, though I am weary … weary to
death. However, I must try to sleep. For there is tomorrow to think
of, and there is no rest for me until …
Later—I must have fallen asleep, for I was awakened by Mina, who
was sitting up in bed, with a startled look on her face. I could
see easily, for we did not leave the room in darkness. She hadsee easily, for we did not leave the room in darkness. She had
placed a warning hand over my mouth, and now she whispered in my
ear, "Hush! There is someone in the corridor!" I got up softly, and
crossing the room, gently opened the door.
Just outside, stretched on a mattress, lay Mr. Morris, wide
awake. He raised a warning hand for silence as he whispered to me,
"Hush! Go back to bed. It is all right. One of us will be here all
night. We don't mean to take any chances!"
His look and gesture forbade discussion, so I came back and told
Mina. She sighed and positively a shadow of a smile stole over her
poor, pale face as she put her arms round me and said softly, "Oh,
thank God for good brave men!" With a sigh she sank back again to
sleep. I write this now as I am not sleepy, though I must try
again.
4 October, morning.—Once again during the night I was wakened by
Mina. This time we had all had a good sleep, for the grey of the
coming dawn was making the windows into sharp oblongs, and the gas
flame was like a speck rather than a disc of light.
She said to me hurriedly, "Go, call the Professor. I want to see
him at once."
"Why?" I asked.
"I have an idea. I suppose it must have come in the night, and
matured without my knowing it. He must hypnotize me before the
dawn, and then I shall be able to speak. Go quick, dearest, the
time is getting close."
I went to the door. Dr. Seward was resting on the mattress, and
seeing me, he sprang to his feet.
"Is anything wrong?" he asked, in alarm.
"No," I replied. "But Mina wants to see Dr. Van Helsing at
once."
"I will go," he said, and hurried into the Professor's room.
Two or three minutes later Van Helsing was in the room in his
dressing gown, and Mr. Morris and Lord Godalming were with Dr.
Seward at the door asking questions. When the Professor saw Mina a
smile, a positive smile ousted the anxiety of his face.
He rubbed his hands as he said, "Oh, my dear Madam Mina, this is
indeed a change. See! Friend Jonathan, we have got our dear Madam