Mina Murray’s Journal

           26July. —Iamanxious,anditsoothesmetoexpressmyselfhere. Itislikewhisperingtoone’sselfandlisteningatthesametime. Andthereisalsosomethingabouttheshorthandsymbolsthatmakesitdifferentfromwriting. IamunhappyaboutLucyandaboutJonathan. IhadnotheardfromJonathanforsometime,andwasveryconcerned, butyesterdaydearMr.Hawkins,whoisalwayssokind,sentmealetterfromhim. Ihadwrittenaskinghimifhehadheard,andhesaidtheenclosedhadjustbeenreceived. ItisonlyalinedatedfromCastleDracula,andsaysthatheisjuststartingforhome. ThatisnotlikeJonathan. Idonotunderstandit,anditmakesmeuneasy. 

           Then,too,Lucy,althoughsheissowell,haslatelytakentoheroldhabitofwalkinginhersleep. Hermotherhasspokentomeaboutit,andwehavedecidedthatIamtolockthedoorofourroomeverynight. 

           Mrs.Westenrahasgotanideathatsleep-walkersalwaysgooutonroofsofhousesandalongtheedgesofcliffsandthengetsuddenlywakenedandfalloverwithadespairingcrythatechoesallovertheplace. 

           Poordear,sheisnaturallyanxiousaboutLucy,andshetellsmethatherhusband,Lucy’sfather,hadthesamehabit,thathewouldgetupinthenightanddresshimselfandgoout,ifhewerenotstopped. 

           Lucyistobemarriedintheautumn,andsheisalreadyplanningoutherdressesandhowherhouseistobearranged. Isympathisewithher,forIdothesame,onlyJonathanandIwillstartinlifeinaverysimpleway,andshallhavetotrytomakebothendsmeet.