Dr. Seward’s Diary

           10September. —IwasconsciousoftheProfessor’shandonmyhead,andstartedawakeallinasecond. Thatisoneofthethingsthatwelearninanasylum,atanyrate. 

           "Andhowisourpatient?" 

           "Well,whenIlefther,orratherwhensheleftme,"Ianswered. 

           "Come,letussee,"hesaid.Andtogetherwewentintotheroom. 

           Theblindwasdown,andIwentovertoraiseitgently,whilstVanHelsingstepped,withhissoft,cat-liketread,overtothebed. 

           AsIraisedtheblind,andthemorningsunlightfloodedtheroom,IheardtheProfessor’slowhissofinspiration,andknowingitsrarity,adeadlyfearshotthroughmyheart. AsIpassedoverhemovedback,andhisexclamationofhorror, "GottinHimmel!"needednoenforcementfromhisagonizedface. Heraisedhishandandpointedtothebed,andhisironfacewasdrawnandashenwhite. Ifeltmykneesbegintotremble. 

           Thereonthebed,seeminglyinaswoon,laypoorLucy,morehorriblywhiteandwan-lookingthanever. Eventhelipswerewhite,andthegumsseemedtohaveshrunkenbackfromtheteeth,aswesometimesseeinacorpseafteraprolongedillness. 

           VanHelsingraisedhisfoottostampinanger,buttheinstinctofhislifeandallthelongyearsofhabitstoodtohim,andheputitdownagainsoftly. 

           "Quick!"hesaid."Bringthebrandy." 

           Iflewtothediningroom,andreturnedwiththedecanter. Hewettedthepoorwhitelipswithit,andtogetherwerubbedpalmandwristandheart. Hefeltherheart,andafterafewmomentsofagonizingsuspensesaid,