place a branch of the wild rose on it. This we shall fasten, for
when it is there none can emerge, so that at least says the
superstition. And to superstition must we trust at the first. It
was man's faith in the early, and it have its root in faith still.
Then, when we get the opportunity that we seek, when none are near
to see, we shall open the box, and … and all will be
well."
"I shall not wait for any opportunity," said Morris. "When I see
the box I shall open it and destroy the monster, though there were
a thousand men looking on, and if I am to be wiped out for it the
next moment!" I grasped his hand instinctively and found it as firm
as a piece of steel. I think he understood my look. I hope he
did.
"Good boy," said Dr. Van Helsing. "Brave boy. Quincey is all
man. God bless him for it. My child, believe me none of us shall
lag behind or pause from any fear. I do but say what we may
do … what we must do. But, indeed, indeed we cannot say what
we may do. There are so many things which may happen, and their
ways and their ends are so various that until the moment we may not
say. We shall all be armed, in all ways. And when the time for the
end has come, our effort shall not be lack. Now let us today put
all our affairs in order. Let all things which touch on others dear
to us, and who on us depend, be complete. For none of us can tell
what, or when, or how, the end may be. As for me, my own affairs
are regulate, and as I have nothing else to do, I shall go make
arrangements for the travel. I shall have all tickets and so forth
for our journey."
There was nothing further to be said, and we parted. I shall now
settle up all my affairs of earth, and be ready for whatever may
come.
Later.—It is done. My will is made, and all complete. Mina if
she survive is my sole heir. If it should not be so, then the
others who have been so good to us shall have remainder.
It is now drawing towards the sunset. Mina's uneasiness calls my
attention to it. I am sure that there is something on her mindattention to it. I am sure that there is something on her mind
which the time of exact sunset will reveal. These occasions are
becoming harrowing times for us all. For each sunrise and sunset
opens up some new danger, some new pain, which however, may in
God's will be means to a good end. I write all these things in the
diary since my darling must not hear them now. But if it may be
that she can see them again, they shall be ready. She is calling to
me.11 October, Evening.—Jonathan Harker has asked me to note this,
as he says he is hardly equal to the task, and he wants an exact
record kept.
I think that none of us were surprised when we were asked to see
Mrs. Harker a little before the time of sunset. We have of late
come to understand that sunrise and sunset are to her times of
peculiar freedom. When her old self can be manifest without any
controlling force subduing or restraining her, or inciting her to
action. This mood or condition begins some half hour or more before
actual sunrise or sunset, and lasts till either the sun is high, or
whilst the clouds are still aglow with the rays streaming above the
horizon. At first there is a sort of negative condition, as if some
tie were loosened, and then the absolute freedom quickly follows.
When, however, the freedom ceases the change back or relapse comes
quickly, preceeded only by a spell of warning silence.
Tonight, when we met, she was somewhat constrained, and bore all
the signs of an internal struggle. I put it down myself to her
making a violent effort at the earliest instant she could do
so.
A very few minutes, however, gave her complete control of
herself. Then, motioning her husband to sit beside her on the sofa
where she was half reclining, she made the rest of us bring chairs
up close.
Taking her husband's hand in hers, she began, "We are all here
together in freedom, for perhaps the last time! I know that you
will always be with me to the end." This was to her husband whose
hand had, as we could see, tightened upon her. "In the morning we
go out upon our task, and God alone knows what may be in store for
any of us. You are going to be so good to me to take me with you. I
know that all that brave earnest men can do for a poor weak woman,
whose soul perhaps is lost, no, no, not yet, but is at any rate at
stake, you will do. But you must remember that I am not as you are.
There is a poison in my blood, in my soul, which may destroy me,
which must destroy me, unless some relief comes to us. Oh, mywhich must destroy me, unless some relief comes to us. Oh, my
friends, you know as well as I do, that my soul is at stake. And
though I know there is one way out for me, you must not and I must
not take it!" She looked appealingly to us all in turn, beginning
and ending with her husband.
"What is that way?" asked Van Helsing in a hoarse voice. "What
is that way, which we must not, may not, take?"
"That I may die now, either by my own hand or that of another,
before the greater evil is entirely wrought. I know, and you know,
that were I once dead you could and would set free my immortal
spirit, even as you did my poor Lucy's. Were death, or the fear of
death, the only thing that stood in the way I would not shrink to
die here now, amidst the friends who love me. But death is not all.
I cannot believe that to die in such a case, when there is hope
before us and a bitter task to be done, is God's will. Therefore, I
on my part, give up here the certainty of eternal rest, and go out
into the dark where may be the blackest things that the world or
the nether world holds!"
We were all silent, for we knew instinctively that this was only
a prelude. The faces of the others were set, and Harker's grew
ashen grey. Perhaps, he guessed better than any of us what was
coming.
She continued, "This is what I can give into the hotchpot." I
could not but note the quaint legal phrase which she used in such a
place, and with all seriousness. "What will each of you give? Your
lives I know," she went on quickly, "that is easy for brave men.
Your lives are God's, and you can give them back to Him, but what
will you give to me?" She looked again questionly, but this time
avoided her husband's face. Quincey seemed to understand, he
nodded, and her face lit up. "Then I shall tell you plainly what I
want, for there must be no doubtful matter in this connection
between us now. You must promise me, one and all, even you, my
beloved husband, that should the time come, you will kill me."