Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.13-27

CHAPTER 13 `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARD'S DIARY--cont. `
` `
` The funeral was arranged for the next succeeding day, so that Lucy and `
` her mother might be buried together. I attended to all the ghastly `
` formalities, and the urbane undertaker proved that his staff was `
` afflicted, or blessed, with something of his own obsequious suavity. `
` Even the woman who performed the last offices for the dead remarked to `
` me, in a confidential, brother-professional way, when she had come out `
` from the death chamber, `
` `
` "She makes a very beautiful corpse, sir. It's quite a privilege to `
` attend on her. It's not too much to say that she will do credit to `
` our establishment!" `
` `
` I noticed that Van Helsing never kept far away. This was possible `
` from the disordered state of things in the household. There were no `
` relatives at hand, and as Arthur had to be back the next day to attend `
` at his father's funeral, we were unable to notify any one who should `
` have been bidden. Under the circumstances, Van Helsing and I took it `
` upon ourselves to examine papers, etc. He insisted upon looking over `
` Lucy's papers himself. I asked him why, for I feared that he, being a `
` foreigner, might not be quite aware of English legal requirements, and `
` so might in ignorance make some unnecessary trouble. `
` `
` He answered me, "I know, I know. You forget that I am a lawyer as `
` well as a doctor. But this is not altogether for the law. You knew `
` that, when you avoided the coroner. I have more than him to avoid. `
` There may be papers more, such as this." `
` `
` As he spoke he took from his pocket book the memorandum which had been `
` in Lucy's breast, and which she had torn in her sleep. `
` `
` "When you find anything of the solicitor who is for the late Mrs. `
` Westenra, seal all her papers, and write him tonight. For me, I watch `
` here in the room and in Miss Lucy's old room all night, and I myself `
` search for what may be. It is not well that her very thoughts go into `
` the hands of strangers." `
` `
` I went on with my part of the work, and in another half hour had found `
` the name and address of Mrs. Westenra's solicitor and had written to `
` him. All the poor lady's papers were in order. Explicit directions `
` regarding the place of burial were given. I had hardly sealed the `
` letter, when, to my surprise, Van Helsing walked into the room, `
` saying, `
` `
` "Can I help you friend John? I am free, and if I may, my service is `
` to you." `
` `
` "Have you got what you looked for?" I asked. `
` `
` To which he replied, "I did not look for any specific thing. I only `
` hoped to find, and find I have, all that there was, only some letters `
` and a few memoranda, and a diary new begun. But I have them here, and `
` we shall for the present say nothing of them. I shall see that poor `
` lad tomorrow evening, and, with his sanction, I shall use some." `
` `
` When we had finished the work in hand, he said to me, "And now, friend `
` John, I think we may to bed. We want sleep, both you and I, and rest `
` to recuperate. Tomorrow we shall have much to do, but for the tonight `
` there is no need of us. Alas!" `
` `
` Before turning in we went to look at poor Lucy. The undertaker had `
` certainly done his work well, for the room was turned into a small `
` chapelle ardente. There was a wilderness of beautiful white flowers, `
` and death was made as little repulsive as might be. The end of the `
` winding sheet was laid over the face. When the Professor bent over `
` and turned it gently back, we both started at the beauty before us. `
` The tall wax candles showing a sufficient light to note it well. All `
` Lucy's loveliness had come back to her in death, and the hours that `
` had passed, instead of leaving traces of 'decay's effacing fingers', `
` had but restored the beauty of life, till positively I could not `
` believe my eyes that I was looking at a corpse. `
` `
` The Professor looked sternly grave. He had not loved her as I had, `
` and there was no need for tears in his eyes. He said to me, "Remain `
` till I return," and left the room. He came back with a handful of `
` wild garlic from the box waiting in the hall, but which had not been `
` opened, and placed the flowers amongst the others on and around the `
` bed. Then he took from his neck, inside his collar, a little gold `
` crucifix, and placed it over the mouth. He restored the sheet to its `
` place, and we came away. `
` `
` I was undressing in my own room, when, with a premonitory tap at the `
` door, he entered, and at once began to speak. `
` `
` "Tomorrow I want you to bring me, before night, a set of post-mortem `
` knives." `
` `
` "Must we make an autopsy?" I asked. `
` `
` "Yes and no. I want to operate, but not what you think. Let me tell `
` you now, but not a word to another. I want to cut off her head and `
` take out her heart. Ah! You a surgeon, and so shocked! You, whom I `
` have seen with no tremble of hand or heart, do operations of life and `
` death that make the rest shudder. Oh, but I must not forget, my dear `
` friend John, that you loved her, and I have not forgotten it for is I `
` that shall operate, and you must not help. I would like to do it `
` tonight, but for Arthur I must not. He will be free after his `
` father's funeral tomorrow, and he will want to see her, to see it. `
` Then, when she is coffined ready for the next day, you and I shall `
` come when all sleep. We shall unscrew the coffin lid, and shall do `
` our operation, and then replace all, so that none know, save we `
` alone." `
` `
` "But why do it at all? The girl is dead. Why mutilate her poor body `
` without need? And if there is no necessity for a post-mortem and `
` nothing to gain by it, no good to her, to us, to science, to human `
` knowledge, why do it? Without such it is monstrous." `
` `
` For answer he put his hand on my shoulder, and said, with infinite `
` tenderness, "Friend John, I pity your poor bleeding heart, and I love `
` you the more because it does so bleed. If I could, I would take on `
` myself the burden that you do bear. But there are things that you `
` know not, but that you shall know, and bless me for knowing, though `
` they are not pleasant things. John, my child, you have been my friend `
` now many years, and yet did you ever know me to do any without good `
` cause? I may err, I am but man, but I believe in all I do. Was it `
` not for these causes that you send for me when the great trouble `
` came? Yes! Were you not amazed, nay horrified, when I would not let `
` Arthur kiss his love, though she was dying, and snatched him away by `
` all my strength? Yes! And yet you saw how she thanked me, with her `
` so beautiful dying eyes, her voice, too, so weak, and she kiss my `
` rough old hand and bless me? Yes! And did you not hear me swear `
` promise to her, that so she closed her eyes grateful? Yes! `
` `
` "Well, I have good reason now for all I want to do. You have for many `
` years trust me. You have believe me weeks past, when there be things `
` so strange that you might have well doubt. Believe me yet a little, `
` friend John. If you trust me not, then I must tell what I think, and `
` that is not perhaps well. And if I work, as work I shall, no matter `
` trust or no trust, without my friend trust in me, I work with heavy `
` heart and feel oh so lonely when I want all help and courage that may `
` be!" He paused a moment and went on solemnly, "Friend John, there are `
` strange and terrible days before us. Let us not be two, but one, that `
` so we work to a good end. Will you not have faith in me?" `
` `
` I took his hand, and promised him. I held my door open as he went `
` away, and watched him go to his room and close the door. As I stood `
` without moving, I saw one of the maids pass silently along the `
` passage, she had her back to me, so did not see me, and go into the `
` room where Lucy lay. The sight touched me. Devotion is so rare, and `
` we are so grateful to those who show it unasked to those we love. Here `
` was a poor girl putting aside the terrors which she naturally had of `
` death to go watch alone by the bier of the mistress whom she loved, so `
` that the poor clay might not be lonely till laid to eternal rest. `
` `
` I must have slept long and soundly, for it was broad daylight when Van `
` Helsing waked me by coming into my room. He came over to my bedside `
` and said, "You need not trouble about the knives. We shall not do `
` it." `
` `
` "Why not?" I asked. For his solemnity of the night before had `
` greatly impressed me. `
` `
` "Because," he said sternly, "it is too late, or too early. See!" `
` Here he held up the little golden crucifix. `
` `
` "This was stolen in the night." `
` `
` "How stolen," I asked in wonder, "since you have it now?" `
` `
` "Because I get it back from the worthless wretch who stole it, from `
` the woman who robbed the dead and the living. Her punishment will `
` surely come, but not through me. She knew not altogether what she `
` did, and thus unknowing, she only stole. Now we must wait." He went `
` away on the word, leaving me with a new mystery to think of, a new `
` puzzle to grapple with. `
` `
` The forenoon was a dreary time, but at noon the solicitor came, Mr. `
` Marquand, of Wholeman, Sons, Marquand & Lidderdale. He was very `
` genial and very appreciative of what we had done, and took off our `
` hands all cares as to details. During lunch he told us that Mrs. `
` Westenra had for some time expected sudden death from her heart, and `
` had put her affairs in absolute order. He informed us that, with the `
` exception of a certain entailed property of Lucy's father which now, `
` in default of direct issue, went back to a distant branch of the `
` family, the whole estate, real and personal, was left absolutely to `
` Arthur Holmwood. When he had told us so much he went on, `
` `
` "Frankly we did our best to prevent such a testamentary disposition, `
` and pointed out certain contingencies that might leave her daughter `
` either penniless or not so free as she should be to act regarding a `
` matrimonial alliance. Indeed, we pressed the matter so far that we `
` almost came into collision, for she asked us if we were or were not `
` prepared to carry out her wishes. Of course, we had then no `
` alternative but to accept. We were right in principle, and `
` ninety-nine times out of a hundred we should have proved, by the logic `
` of events, the accuracy of our judgment. `
` `
` "Frankly, however, I must admit that in this case any other form of `
` disposition would have rendered impossible the carrying out of her `
` wishes. For by her predeceasing her daughter the latter would have `
` come into possession of the property, and, even had she only survived `
` her mother by five minutes, her property would, in case there were no `
` will, and a will was a practical impossibility in such a case, have `
` been treated at her decease as under intestacy. In which case Lord `
` Godalming, though so dear a friend, would have had no claim in the `
` world. And the inheritors, being remote, would not be likely to `
`