Chapter 174

“You are not much the worse. Go into the room, and lie on your sofa, and rest awhile; then have much breakfast, and come here to me.”

I followed out his orders, for I knew how right and wise they were. I had done my part, and now my next duty was to keep up my

strength. I felt very weak, and in the weakness lost something of the amazement at what had occurred. I fell asleep on the sofa,

however, wondering over and over again how Lucy had made such a retrograde movement, and how she could have been drained of so much

blood with no sign anywhere to show for it. I think I must have continued my wonder in my dreams, for, sleeping and waking, my thoughts

always came back to the little punctures in her throat and the ragged, exhausted appearance of their edges—tiny though they were.

Lucy slept well into the day, and when she woke she was fairly well and strong, though not nearly so much so as the day before. When

Van Helsing had seen her, he went out for a walk, leaving me in charge, with strict injunctions that I was not to leave her for a

moment. I could hear his voice in the hall, asking the way to the nearest telegraph office.

Lucy chatted with me freely, and seemed quite unconscious that anything had happened. I tried to keep her amused and interested. When

her mother came up to see her, she did not seem to notice any change whatever, but said to me gratefully:—

“We owe you so much, Dr. Seward, for all you have done, but you really must now take care not to overwork yourself. You are looking

pale yourself. You want a wife to nurse and look after you a bit; that you do!” As she spoke, Lucy turned crimson, though it was only

momentarily, for her poor wasted veins could not stand for long such an unwonted drain to the head. The reaction came in excessive

pallor as she turned imploring eyes on me. I smiled and nodded, and laid my finger on my lips; with a sigh, she sank back amid her

pillows.

Van Helsing returned in a couple of hours, and presently said to me: “Now you go home, and eat much and drink enough. Make yourself

strong. I stay here to-night, and I shall sit up with little miss myself. You and I must watch the case, and we must have none other to

know. I have grave reasons. No, do not ask them; think what you will. Do not fear to think even the most not-probable. Good-night.”

In the hall two of the maids came to me, and asked if they or either of them might not sit up with Miss Lucy. They implored me to let

them; and when I said it was Dr. Van Helsing’s wish that either he or I should sit up, they asked me quite piteously to intercede with

the “foreign gentleman.” I was much touched by their kindness. Perhaps it is because I am weak at present, and perhaps because it was

on Lucy’s account, that their devotion was manifested; for over and over again have I seen similar instances of woman’s kindness. I got

back here in time for a late dinner; went my rounds—all well; and set this down whilst waiting for sleep. It is coming.

11 September.—This afternoon I went over to Hillingham. Found Van Helsing in excellent spirits, and Lucy much better. Shortly after I

had arrived, a big parcel from abroad came for the Professor. He opened it with much impressment—assumed, of course—and showed a great

bundle of white flowers.

“These are for you, Miss Lucy,” he said.

“For me? Oh, Dr. Van Helsing!”

“Yes, my dear, but not for you to play with. These are medicines.” Here Lucy made a wry face. “Nay, but they are not to take in a

decoction or in nauseous form, so you need not snub that so charming nose, or I shall point out to my friend Arthur what woes he may

have to endure in seeing so much beauty that he so loves so much distort. Aha, my pretty miss, that bring the so nice nose all straight

again. This is medicinal, but you do not know how. I put him in your window, I make pretty wreath, and hang him round your neck, so

that you sleep well. Oh yes! they, like the lotus flower, make your trouble forgotten. It smell so like the waters of Lethe, and of

that fountain of youth that the Conquistadores sought for in the Floridas, and find him all too late.”

Whilst he was speaking, Lucy had been examining the flowers and smelling them. Now she threw them down, saying, with half-laughter, and

half-disgust:—

“Oh, Professor, I believe you are only putting up a joke on me. Why, these flowers are only common garlic.”

To my surprise, Van Helsing rose up and said with all his sternness, his iron jaw set and his bushy eyebrows meeting:—

“No trifling with me! I never jest! There is grim purpose in all I do; and I warn you that you do not thwart me. Take care, for the

sake of others if not for your own.” Then seeing poor Lucy scared, as she might well be, he went on more gently: “Oh, little miss, my

dear, do not fear me. I only do for your good; but there is much virtue to you in those so common flowers. See, I place them myself in

your room. I make myself the wreath that you are to wear. But hush! no telling to others that make so inquisitive questions. We must

obey, and silence is a part of obedience; and obedience is to bring you strong and well into loving arms that wait for you. Now sit

still awhile. Come with me, friend John, and you shall help me deck the room with my garlic, which is all the way from Haarlem, where

my friend Vanderpool raise herb in his glass-houses all the year. I had to telegraph yesterday, or they would not have been here.”

We went into the room, taking the flowers with us. The Professor’s actions were certainly odd and not to be found in any pharmacopœia

that I ever heard of. First he fastened up the windows and latched them securely; next, taking a handful of the flowers, he rubbed them

all over the sashes, as though to ensure that every whiff of air that might get in would be laden with the garlic smell. Then with the

wisp he rubbed all over the jamb of the door, above, below, and at each side, and round the fireplace in the same way. It all seemed

grotesque to me, and presently I said:—