Page 278 - DRACULA
P. 278

Dracula


                                  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



                                                         277 of 684
   273   274   275   276   277   278   279   280   281   282   283