
LUCY WESTENRA'S DIARY
12 September.--How good they all are to me. I quite love that dear Dr. Van
Helsing. I wonder why he was so anxious about these flowers. He positively
frightened me, he was so fierce. And yet he must have been right, for I feel
comfort from them already. Somehow, I do not dread being alone tonight, and I
can go to sleep without fear. I shall not mind any flapping outside the window.
Oh, the terrible struggle that I have had against sleep so often of late, the
pain of sleeplessness, or the pain of the fear of sleep, and with such unknown
horrors as it has for me! How blessed are some people, whose lives have no
fears, no dreads, to whom sleep is a blessing that comes nightly, and brings
nothing but sweet dreams. Well, here I am tonight, hoping for sleep, and lying
like Ophelia in the play, with`virgin crants and maiden strewments.' I never
liked garlic before, but tonight it is delightful! There is peace in its smell.
I feel sleep coming already. Goodnight, everybody.
DR. SEWARD'S DIARY
13 September.--Called at the Berkeley
and found Van Helsing, as usual, up to time. The carriage ordered from the
hotel was waiting. The Professor took his bag, which he always brings with him
now.
Let all be put down exactly. Van Helsing and I arrived at Hillingham at
eight o'clock. It was a lovely morning. The bright sunshine and all the fresh
feeling of early autumn seemed like the completion of nature's annual work. The
leaves were turning to all kinds of beautiful colors, but had not yet begun to
drop from the trees. When we entered we met Mrs. Westenra coming out of the
morning room. She is always an early riser. She greeted us warmly and said,
"You will be glad to know that Lucy is better. The dear child is still
asleep. I looked into her room and saw her, but did not go in, lest I should
disturb her." The Professor smiled, and looked quite jubilant. He rubbed
his hands together, and said, "Aha! I thought I had diagnosed the case. My
treatment is working."
To which she replied, "You must not take all the credit to yourself,
doctor. Lucy's state this morning is due in part to me."
"How do you mean, ma'am?" asked the Professor.
"Well, I was anxious about the dear child in the night,
and went into her room. She was sleeping soundly, so soundly that even my
coming did not wake her. But the room was awfully stuffy. There were a lot of
those horrible, strongsmelling flowers about everywhere, and she had actually a
bunch of them round her neck. I feared that the heavy