“For dear Lucy’s sake,” I said as
we clasped hands. “Ay, and for your own
sake,” he added, “for if a man’s
esteem and gratitude are ever worth the winning, you
have won mine today. If ever the future should
bring to you a time when you need a man’s help,
believe me, you will not call in vain. God grant
that no such time may ever come to you to break the
sunshine of your life, but if it should ever come,
promise me that you will let me know.”
He was so earnest, and his sorrow was so fresh, that
I felt it would comfort him, so I said, “I promise.”
As I came along the corridor I saw Mr. Morris looking
out of a window. He turned as he heard my footsteps.
“How is Art?” he said. Then noticing
my red eyes, he went on, “Ah, I see you have
been comforting him. Poor old fellow!
He needs it. No one but a woman can help a man
when he is in trouble of the heart, and he had no one
to comfort him.”
He bore his own trouble so bravely that my heart bled
for him. I saw the manuscript in his hand, and
I knew that when he read it he would realize how much
I knew, so I said to him, “I wish I could comfort
all who suffer from the heart. Will you let
me be your friend, and will you come to me for comfort
if you need it? You will know later why I speak.”
He saw that I was in earnest, and stooping, took my
hand, and raising it to his lips, kissed it.
It seemed but poor comfort to so brave and unselfish
a soul, and impulsively I bent over and kissed him.
The tears rose in his eyes, and there was a momentary
choking in his throat. He said quite calmly,
“Little girl, you will never forget that true
hearted kindness, so long as ever you live!”
Then he went into the study to his friend.
“Little girl!” The very words he had
used to Lucy, and, oh, but he proved himself a friend.
DR. SEWARD’S DIARY
30 September.—I got home at five o’clock,
and found that Godalming and Morris had not only arrived,
but had already studied the transcript of the various
diaries and letters which Harker had not yet returned
from his visit to the carriers’ men, of whom
Dr. Hennessey had written to me. Mrs. Harker
gave us a cup of tea, and I can honestly say that,
for the first time since I have lived in it, this
old house seemed like home. When we had finished,
Mrs. Harker said,
“Dr. Seward, may I ask a favour? I want
to see your patient, Mr. Renfield. Do let me
see him. What you have said of him in your diary
interests me so much!”
She looked so appealing and so pretty that I could
not refuse her, and there was no possible reason why
I should, so I took her with me. When I went
into the room, I told the man that a lady would like
to see him, to which he simply answered, “Why?”
“She is going through the house, and wants to
see every one in it,” I answered.
