19 August.--Joy, joy, joy! Although not all joy. At last, news of Jonathan.
The dear fellow has been ill, that is why he did not write. I am not afraid to
think it or to say it, now that I know. Mr. Hawkins sent me on the letter, and
wrote himself, oh so kindly. I am to leave in the morning and go over to
Jonathan, and to help to nurse him if necessary, and to bring him home. Mr.
Hawkins says it would not be a bad thing if we were to be married out there. I
have cried over the good Sister's letter till I can feel it wet against my
bosom, where it lies. It is of Jonathan, and must be near my heart, for he is
in my heart. My journey is all mapped out, and my luggage ready. I am only
taking one change of dress. Lucy will bring my trunk to London and keep it till I send for it, for it
may be that . . . I must write no more. I must keep it to say to Jonathan, my
husband. The letter that he has seen and touched must comfort me till we meet.
LETTER, SISTER AGATHA, HOSPITAL
OF ST. JOSEPH AND STE.
MARY BUDA-PESTH, TO MISS WILLHELMINA MURRAY
12 August,
"Dear Madam.
"I write by desire of Mr. Jonathan Harker, who is himself not strong
enough to write, though progressing well, thanks to God and St. Joseph and Ste. Mary. He has been under
our care for nearly six weeks, suffering from a violent brain fever. He wishes
me to convey his love, and to say that by this post I write for him to Mr.
Peter Hawkins, Exeter,
to say, with his dutiful respects, that he is sorry for his delay, and that all
of his work is completed. He will require some few weeks' rest in our
sanatorium in the hills, but will then return. He wishes me to say that he has
not sufficient money with him, and that he would like to pay for his staying
here, so that others who need shall not be wanting for belp.
Believe me,
Yours, with sympathy
and all blessings. Sister Agatha"
"P. S.--My patient being asleep, I open this to let you know something
more. He has told me all about you, and that you are shortly to be his wife.
All blessings to you both! He has had some fearful shock, so says our doctor,
and in his delirium his ravings have been dreadful, of wolves and poison and
blood, of ghosts and demons, and I fear to say of what. Be careful of him
always that there may be nothing to excite him of this kind for a long time to
come. The traces of such an illness as his do not lightly die away. We should
have written long ago, but we knew nothing of his friends, and there was
nothing on him, nothing that anyone could understand. He came in the train from
Klausenburg, and the guard was told by the station master there that he rushed
into the station shouting for a ticket for home. Seeing from his violent
demeanor that he was English, they gave him a ticket for the furthest station
on the way thither that the train reached.
"Be assured that he is well cared for. He has won all hearts by his
sweetness and gentleness. He is truly getting on well, and I have no doubt will
in a few weeks be all himself. But be careful of him for safety's sake. There
are, I pray God and St. Joseph
and Ste.Mary, many, many, happy years for you both."
DR. SEWARD'S DIARY
19 Agust.--Strange and sudden change in Renfield last night. About eight o'clock
he began to get excited and sniff about as a dog does when setting. The
attendant was struck by his manner, and knowing my interest in him, encouraged
him to talk. He is usually respectful to the attendant and at times servile,
but tonight, the man tells me, he was quite haughty. Would not condescend to
talk with him at all.
All he would say was, "I don't want to talk to you. You don't count
now. The master is at hand."