“Well?” said Van Helsing.
“Well,” said I. “I can make
nothing of it.”
The Professor stood up. “I must go back
to Amsterdam tonight,” he said “There
are books and things there which I want. You
must remain here all night, and you must not let your
sight pass from her.”
“Shall I have a nurse?” I asked.
“We are the best nurses, you and I. You keep
watch all night. See that she is well fed, and
that nothing disturbs her. You must not sleep
all the night. Later on we can sleep, you and
I. I shall be back as soon as possible. And
then we may begin.”
“May begin?” I said. “What
on earth do you mean?”
“We shall see!” he answered, as he hurried
out. He came back a moment later and put his
head inside the door and said with a warning finger
held up, “Remember, she is your charge.
If you leave her, and harm befall, you shall not
sleep easy hereafter!”
8 September.—I sat up all night with Lucy.
The opiate worked itself off towards dusk, and she
waked naturally. She looked a different being
from what she had been before the operation.
Her spirits even were good, and she was full of a
happy vivacity, but I could see evidences of the absolute
prostration which she had undergone. When I
told Mrs. Westenra that Dr. Van Helsing had directed
that I should sit up with her, she almost pooh-poohed
the idea, pointing out her daughter’s renewed
strength and excellent spirits. I was firm,
however, and made preparations for my long vigil.
When her maid had prepared her for the night I came
in, having in the meantime had supper, and took a
seat by the bedside.
She did not in any way make objection, but looked
at me gratefully whenever I caught her eye.
After a long spell she seemed sinking off to sleep,
but with an effort seemed to pull herself together
and shook it off. It was apparent that she did
not want to sleep, so I tackled the subject at once.
“You do not want to sleep?”
“Afraid to go to sleep! Why so?
It is the boon we all crave for.”
“Ah, not if you were like me, if sleep was to
you a presage of horror!”
“A presage of horror! What on earth do
you mean?”
“I don’t know. Oh, I don’t
know. And that is what is so terrible.
All this weakness comes to me in sleep, until I dread
the very thought.”
“But, my dear girl, you may sleep tonight.
I am here watching you, and I can promise that nothing
will happen.”
“Ah, I can trust you!” she said.
I seized the opportunity, and said, “I promise
that if I see any evidence of bad dreams I will wake
you at once.”
“You will? Oh, will you really?
How good you are to me. Then I will sleep!”
And almost at the word she gave a deep sigh of relief,
and sank back, asleep.
