I shook my head. "That," I said, "is the crux. Van Helsing is
simply frantic about it, and I am at my wits' end. I can't even hazard a guess.
There has been a series of little circumstances which have thrown out all our
calculations as to Lucy being properly watched. But these shall not occur
again. Here we stay until all be well, or ill."
Quincey held out his hand. "Count me in," he said. "You and
the Dutchman will tell me what to do, and I'll do it."
When she woke late in the afternoon, Lucy's first movement was to feel in
her breast, and to my surprise, produced the paper which Van Helsing had given
me to read. The careful Professor had replaced it where it had come from, lest
on waking she should be alarmed. Her eyes then lit on Van Helsing and on me
too, and gladdened. Then she looked round the room, and seeing where she was,
shuddered. She gave a loud cry, and put her poor thin hands before her pale
face.
We both understood what was meant, that she had realized to the full her
mother's death. So we tried what we could to comfort her. Doubtless sympathy
eased her somewhat, but she was very low in thought and spirit, and wept
silently and weakly for a long time. We told her that either or both of us
would now remain with her all the time, and that seemed to comfort her. Towards
dusk she fell into a doze. Here a very odd thing occurred. Whilst still asleep
she took the paper from her breast and tore it in two. Van Helsing stepped over
and took the pieces from her. All the same, however, she went on with the
action of tearing, as though the material were still in her hands. Finally she
lifted her hands and opened them as though scattering the fragments. Van
Helsing seemed surprised, and his brows gathered as if in thought, but he said
nothing.
19 September.--All last night she slept fitfully, being always afraid to
sleep, and something weaker when she woke from it. The Professor and I took in
turns to watch, and we never left her for a moment unattended. Quincey Morris
said nothing about his intention, but I knew that all night long he patrolled
round and round the house.
When the day came, its searching light showed the ravages in poor Lucy's
strength. She was hardly able to turn her head, and the little nourishment
which she could take seemed to do her no good. At times she slept, and both Van
Helsing and I noticed the difference in her, between sleeping and waking.
Whilst asleep she looked stronger, although more haggard, and her breathing was
softer. Her open mouth showed the pale gums drawn back from the teeth, which
looked positively longer and sharper than usual. When she woke the softness of
her eyes evidently changed the expression, for she looked her own self,
although a dying one. In the afternoon she asked for Arthur, and we telegraphed
for him. Quincey went off to meet him at the station.
When he arrived it was nearly six o'clock, and the sun was setting full and
warm, and the red light streamed in through the window and gave more color to
the pale cheeks. When he saw her, Arthur was simply choking with emotion, and
none of us could speak. In the hours that had passed, the fits of sleep, or the
comatose condition that passed for it, had grown more frequent, so that the
pauses when conversation was possible were shortened. Arthur's presence,
however, seemed to act as a stimulant. She rallied a little, and spoke to him
more brightly than she had done since we arrived. He too pulled himself
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