Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.13-27
Quincey came into Van Helsing's room. He told us all what he wanted `
` us to do, but especially addressing himself to Arthur, as if all our `
` wills were centred in his. He began by saying that he hoped we would `
` all come with him too, "for," he said, "there is a grave duty to be `
` done there. You were doubtless surprised at my letter?" This query `
` was directly addressed to Lord Godalming. `
` `
` "I was. It rather upset me for a bit. There has been so much trouble `
` around my house of late that I could do without any more. I have been `
` curious, too, as to what you mean. `
` `
` "Quincey and I talked it over, but the more we talked, the more `
` puzzled we got, till now I can say for myself that I'm about up a tree `
` as to any meaning about anything." `
` `
` "Me too," said Quincey Morris laconically. `
` `
` "Oh," said the Professor, "then you are nearer the beginning, both of `
` you, than friend John here, who has to go a long way back before he `
` can even get so far as to begin." `
` `
` It was evident that he recognized my return to my old doubting frame `
` of mind without my saying a word. Then, turning to the other two, he `
` said with intense gravity, `
` `
` "I want your permission to do what I think good this night. It is, I `
` know, much to ask, and when you know what it is I propose to do you `
` will know, and only then how much. Therefore may I ask that you `
` promise me in the dark, so that afterwards, though you may be angry `
` with me for a time, I must not disguise from myself the possibility `
` that such may be, you shall not blame yourselves for anything." `
` `
` "That's frank anyhow," broke in Quincey. "I'll answer for the `
` Professor. I don't quite see his drift, but I swear he's honest, and `
` that's good enough for me." `
` `
` "I thank you, Sir," said Van Helsing proudly. "I have done myself the `
` honour of counting you one trusting friend, and such endorsement is `
` dear to me." He held out a hand, which Quincey took. `
` `
` Then Arthur spoke out, "Dr. Van Helsing, I don't quite like to 'buy a `
` pig in a poke', as they say in Scotland, and if it be anything in `
` which my honour as a gentleman or my faith as a Christian is `
` concerned, I cannot make such a promise. If you can assure me that `
` what you intend does not violate either of these two, then I give my `
` consent at once, though for the life of me, I cannot understand what `
` you are driving at." `
` `
` "I accept your limitation," said Van Helsing, "and all I ask of you is `
` that if you feel it necessary to condemn any act of mine, you will `
` first consider it well and be satisfied that it does not violate your `
` reservations." `
` `
` "Agreed!" said Arthur. "That is only fair. And now that the `
` pourparlers are over, may I ask what it is we are to do?" `
` `
` "I want you to come with me, and to come in secret, to the churchyard `
` at Kingstead." `
` `
` Arthur's face fell as he said in an amazed sort of way, `
` `
` "Where poor Lucy is buried?" `
` `
` The Professor bowed. `
` `
` Arthur went on, "And when there?" `
` `
` "To enter the tomb!" `
` `
` Arthur stood up. "Professor, are you in earnest, or is it some `
` monstrous joke? Pardon me, I see that you are in earnest." He sat `
` down again, but I could see that he sat firmly and proudly, as one who `
` is on his dignity. There was silence until he asked again, "And when `
` in the tomb?" `
` `
` "To open the coffin." `
` `
` "This is too much!" he said, angrily rising again. "I am willing to `
` be patient in all things that are reasonable, but in this, this `
` desecration of the grave, of one who . . ." He fairly choked with `
` indignation. `
` `
` The Professor looked pityingly at him. "If I could spare you one pang, `
` my poor friend," he said, "God knows I would. But this night our feet `
` must tread in thorny paths, or later, and for ever, the feet you love `
` must walk in paths of flame!" `
` `
` Arthur looked up with set white face and said, "Take care, sir, take `
` care!" `
` `
` "Would it not be well to hear what I have to say?" said Van Helsing. `
` "And then you will at least know the limit of my purpose. Shall I go `
` on?" `
` `
` "That's fair enough," broke in Morris. `
` `
` After a pause Van Helsing went on, evidently with an effort, "Miss `
` Lucy is dead, is it not so? Yes! Then there can be no wrong to her. `
` But if she be not dead . . ." `
` `
` Arthur jumped to his feet, "Good God!" he cried. "What do you mean? `
` Has there been any mistake, has she been buried alive?" He groaned in `
` anguish that not even hope could soften. `
` `
` "I did not say she was alive, my child. I did not think it. I go no `
` further than to say that she might be UnDead." `
` `
` "UnDead! Not alive! What do you mean? Is this all a nightmare, or `
` what is it?" `
` `
` "There are mysteries which men can only guess at, which age by age `
` they may solve only in part. Believe me, we are now on the verge of `
` one. But I have not done. May I cut off the head of dead Miss Lucy?" `
` `
` "Heavens and earth, no!" cried Arthur in a storm of passion. "Not for `
` the wide world will I consent to any mutilation of her dead body. Dr. `
` Van Helsing, you try me too far. What have I done to you that you `
` should torture me so? What did that poor, sweet girl do that you `
` should want to cast such dishonour on her grave? Are you mad, that you `
` speak of such things, or am I mad to listen to them? Don't dare think `
` more of such a desecration. I shall not give my consent to anything `
` you do. I have a duty to do in protecting her grave from outrage, and `
` by God, I shall do it!" `
` `
` Van Helsing rose up from where he had all the time been seated, and `
` said, gravely and sternly, "My Lord Godalming, I too, have a duty to `
` do, a duty to others, a duty to you, a duty to the dead, and by God, I `
` shall do it! All I ask you now is that you come with me, that you `
` look and listen, and if when later I make the same request you do not `
` be more eager for its fulfillment even than I am, then, I shall do my `
` duty, whatever it may seem to me. And then, to follow your Lordship's `
` wishes I shall hold myself at your disposal to render an account to `
` you, when and where you will." His voice broke a little, and he went `
` on with a voice full of pity. `
` `
` "But I beseech you, do not go forth in anger with me. In a long life `
` of acts which were often not pleasant to do, and which sometimes did `
` wring my heart, I have never had so heavy a task as now. Believe me `
` that if the time comes for you to change your mind towards me, one `
` look from you will wipe away all this so sad hour, for I would do what `
` a man can to save you from sorrow. Just think. For why should I give `
` myself so much labor and so much of sorrow? I have come here from my `
` own land to do what I can of good, at the first to please my friend `
` John, and then to help a sweet young lady, whom too, I come to love. `
` For her, I am ashamed to say so much, but I say it in kindness, I gave `
` what you gave, the blood of my veins. I gave it, I who was not, like `
` you, her lover, but only her physician and her friend. I gave her my `
` nights and days, before death, after death, and if my death can do her `
` good even now, when she is the dead UnDead, she shall have it freely." `
` He said this with a very grave, sweet pride, and Arthur was much `
` affected by it. `
` `
` He took the old man's hand and said in a broken voice, "Oh, it is hard `
` to think of it, and I cannot understand, but at least I shall go with `
` you and wait." `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER 16 `
` `
` `
` DR SEWARD'S DIARY-cont. `
` `
` It was just a quarter before twelve o'clock when we got into the `
` churchyard over the low wall. The night was dark with occasional `
` gleams of moonlight between the dents of the heavy clouds that scudded `
` across the sky. We all kept somehow close together, with Van Helsing `
` slightly in front as he led the way. When we had come close to the `
` tomb I looked well at Arthur, for I feared the proximity to a place `
` laden with so sorrowful a memory would upset him, but he bore himself `
` well. I took it that the very mystery of the proceeding was in some `
` way a counteractant to his grief. The Professor unlocked the door, `
` and seeing a natural hesitation amongst us for various reasons, solved `
` the difficulty by entering first himself. The rest of us followed, `
` and he closed the door. He then lit a dark lantern and pointed to a `
` coffin. Arthur stepped forward hesitatingly. Van Helsing said to me, `
` "You were with me here yesterday. Was the body of Miss Lucy in that `
` coffin?" `
` `
` "It was." `
` `
` The Professor turned to the rest saying, "You hear, and yet there is `
` no one who does not believe with me." `
` `
` He took his screwdriver and again took off the lid of the coffin. `
` Arthur looked on, very pale but silent. When the lid was removed he `
` stepped forward. He evidently did not know that there was a leaden `
` coffin, or at any rate, had not thought of it. When he saw the rent `
` in the lead, the blood rushed to his face for an instant, but as `
` quickly fell away again, so that he remained of a ghastly whiteness. `
` He was still silent. Van Helsing forced back the leaden flange, and `
` we all looked in and recoiled. `
` `
` The coffin was empty! `
` `
` For several minutes no one spoke a word. The silence was broken by `
` Quincey Morris, "Professor, I answered for you. Your word is all I `
` want. I wouldn't ask such a thing ordinarily, I wouldn't so dishonour `
` you as to imply a doubt, but this is a mystery that goes beyond any `
` honour or dishonour. Is this your doing?" `
`
` us to do, but especially addressing himself to Arthur, as if all our `
` wills were centred in his. He began by saying that he hoped we would `
` all come with him too, "for," he said, "there is a grave duty to be `
` done there. You were doubtless surprised at my letter?" This query `
` was directly addressed to Lord Godalming. `
` `
` "I was. It rather upset me for a bit. There has been so much trouble `
` around my house of late that I could do without any more. I have been `
` curious, too, as to what you mean. `
` `
` "Quincey and I talked it over, but the more we talked, the more `
` puzzled we got, till now I can say for myself that I'm about up a tree `
` as to any meaning about anything." `
` `
` "Me too," said Quincey Morris laconically. `
` `
` "Oh," said the Professor, "then you are nearer the beginning, both of `
` you, than friend John here, who has to go a long way back before he `
` can even get so far as to begin." `
` `
` It was evident that he recognized my return to my old doubting frame `
` of mind without my saying a word. Then, turning to the other two, he `
` said with intense gravity, `
` `
` "I want your permission to do what I think good this night. It is, I `
` know, much to ask, and when you know what it is I propose to do you `
` will know, and only then how much. Therefore may I ask that you `
` promise me in the dark, so that afterwards, though you may be angry `
` with me for a time, I must not disguise from myself the possibility `
` that such may be, you shall not blame yourselves for anything." `
` `
` "That's frank anyhow," broke in Quincey. "I'll answer for the `
` Professor. I don't quite see his drift, but I swear he's honest, and `
` that's good enough for me." `
` `
` "I thank you, Sir," said Van Helsing proudly. "I have done myself the `
` honour of counting you one trusting friend, and such endorsement is `
` dear to me." He held out a hand, which Quincey took. `
` `
` Then Arthur spoke out, "Dr. Van Helsing, I don't quite like to 'buy a `
` pig in a poke', as they say in Scotland, and if it be anything in `
` which my honour as a gentleman or my faith as a Christian is `
` concerned, I cannot make such a promise. If you can assure me that `
` what you intend does not violate either of these two, then I give my `
` consent at once, though for the life of me, I cannot understand what `
` you are driving at." `
` `
` "I accept your limitation," said Van Helsing, "and all I ask of you is `
` that if you feel it necessary to condemn any act of mine, you will `
` first consider it well and be satisfied that it does not violate your `
` reservations." `
` `
` "Agreed!" said Arthur. "That is only fair. And now that the `
` pourparlers are over, may I ask what it is we are to do?" `
` `
` "I want you to come with me, and to come in secret, to the churchyard `
` at Kingstead." `
` `
` Arthur's face fell as he said in an amazed sort of way, `
` `
` "Where poor Lucy is buried?" `
` `
` The Professor bowed. `
` `
` Arthur went on, "And when there?" `
` `
` "To enter the tomb!" `
` `
` Arthur stood up. "Professor, are you in earnest, or is it some `
` monstrous joke? Pardon me, I see that you are in earnest." He sat `
` down again, but I could see that he sat firmly and proudly, as one who `
` is on his dignity. There was silence until he asked again, "And when `
` in the tomb?" `
` `
` "To open the coffin." `
` `
` "This is too much!" he said, angrily rising again. "I am willing to `
` be patient in all things that are reasonable, but in this, this `
` desecration of the grave, of one who . . ." He fairly choked with `
` indignation. `
` `
` The Professor looked pityingly at him. "If I could spare you one pang, `
` my poor friend," he said, "God knows I would. But this night our feet `
` must tread in thorny paths, or later, and for ever, the feet you love `
` must walk in paths of flame!" `
` `
` Arthur looked up with set white face and said, "Take care, sir, take `
` care!" `
` `
` "Would it not be well to hear what I have to say?" said Van Helsing. `
` "And then you will at least know the limit of my purpose. Shall I go `
` on?" `
` `
` "That's fair enough," broke in Morris. `
` `
` After a pause Van Helsing went on, evidently with an effort, "Miss `
` Lucy is dead, is it not so? Yes! Then there can be no wrong to her. `
` But if she be not dead . . ." `
` `
` Arthur jumped to his feet, "Good God!" he cried. "What do you mean? `
` Has there been any mistake, has she been buried alive?" He groaned in `
` anguish that not even hope could soften. `
` `
` "I did not say she was alive, my child. I did not think it. I go no `
` further than to say that she might be UnDead." `
` `
` "UnDead! Not alive! What do you mean? Is this all a nightmare, or `
` what is it?" `
` `
` "There are mysteries which men can only guess at, which age by age `
` they may solve only in part. Believe me, we are now on the verge of `
` one. But I have not done. May I cut off the head of dead Miss Lucy?" `
` `
` "Heavens and earth, no!" cried Arthur in a storm of passion. "Not for `
` the wide world will I consent to any mutilation of her dead body. Dr. `
` Van Helsing, you try me too far. What have I done to you that you `
` should torture me so? What did that poor, sweet girl do that you `
` should want to cast such dishonour on her grave? Are you mad, that you `
` speak of such things, or am I mad to listen to them? Don't dare think `
` more of such a desecration. I shall not give my consent to anything `
` you do. I have a duty to do in protecting her grave from outrage, and `
` by God, I shall do it!" `
` `
` Van Helsing rose up from where he had all the time been seated, and `
` said, gravely and sternly, "My Lord Godalming, I too, have a duty to `
` do, a duty to others, a duty to you, a duty to the dead, and by God, I `
` shall do it! All I ask you now is that you come with me, that you `
` look and listen, and if when later I make the same request you do not `
` be more eager for its fulfillment even than I am, then, I shall do my `
` duty, whatever it may seem to me. And then, to follow your Lordship's `
` wishes I shall hold myself at your disposal to render an account to `
` you, when and where you will." His voice broke a little, and he went `
` on with a voice full of pity. `
` `
` "But I beseech you, do not go forth in anger with me. In a long life `
` of acts which were often not pleasant to do, and which sometimes did `
` wring my heart, I have never had so heavy a task as now. Believe me `
` that if the time comes for you to change your mind towards me, one `
` look from you will wipe away all this so sad hour, for I would do what `
` a man can to save you from sorrow. Just think. For why should I give `
` myself so much labor and so much of sorrow? I have come here from my `
` own land to do what I can of good, at the first to please my friend `
` John, and then to help a sweet young lady, whom too, I come to love. `
` For her, I am ashamed to say so much, but I say it in kindness, I gave `
` what you gave, the blood of my veins. I gave it, I who was not, like `
` you, her lover, but only her physician and her friend. I gave her my `
` nights and days, before death, after death, and if my death can do her `
` good even now, when she is the dead UnDead, she shall have it freely." `
` He said this with a very grave, sweet pride, and Arthur was much `
` affected by it. `
` `
` He took the old man's hand and said in a broken voice, "Oh, it is hard `
` to think of it, and I cannot understand, but at least I shall go with `
` you and wait." `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER 16 `
` `
` `
` DR SEWARD'S DIARY-cont. `
` `
` It was just a quarter before twelve o'clock when we got into the `
` churchyard over the low wall. The night was dark with occasional `
` gleams of moonlight between the dents of the heavy clouds that scudded `
` across the sky. We all kept somehow close together, with Van Helsing `
` slightly in front as he led the way. When we had come close to the `
` tomb I looked well at Arthur, for I feared the proximity to a place `
` laden with so sorrowful a memory would upset him, but he bore himself `
` well. I took it that the very mystery of the proceeding was in some `
` way a counteractant to his grief. The Professor unlocked the door, `
` and seeing a natural hesitation amongst us for various reasons, solved `
` the difficulty by entering first himself. The rest of us followed, `
` and he closed the door. He then lit a dark lantern and pointed to a `
` coffin. Arthur stepped forward hesitatingly. Van Helsing said to me, `
` "You were with me here yesterday. Was the body of Miss Lucy in that `
` coffin?" `
` `
` "It was." `
` `
` The Professor turned to the rest saying, "You hear, and yet there is `
` no one who does not believe with me." `
` `
` He took his screwdriver and again took off the lid of the coffin. `
` Arthur looked on, very pale but silent. When the lid was removed he `
` stepped forward. He evidently did not know that there was a leaden `
` coffin, or at any rate, had not thought of it. When he saw the rent `
` in the lead, the blood rushed to his face for an instant, but as `
` quickly fell away again, so that he remained of a ghastly whiteness. `
` He was still silent. Van Helsing forced back the leaden flange, and `
` we all looked in and recoiled. `
` `
` The coffin was empty! `
` `
` For several minutes no one spoke a word. The silence was broken by `
` Quincey Morris, "Professor, I answered for you. Your word is all I `
` want. I wouldn't ask such a thing ordinarily, I wouldn't so dishonour `
` you as to imply a doubt, but this is a mystery that goes beyond any `
` honour or dishonour. Is this your doing?" `
`