| The fourth was only a young girl, and the drug... 517 |
[Jan. 27th, 2010|02:07 am] |
The fourth was only a young girl, and the drug had evidently affected her more strongly so I lifted her on the sofa and let her sleep
The others were dazed at first, but as remembrance came back to them they cried and sobbed in a hysterical mannerI was stern with them, however, and would not let them talkI told them that one life was bad enough to lose, and if they delayed they would sacrifice Miss LucySo, sobbing and crying they went about their way, half clad as they were, and prepared fire and waterFortunately, the kitchen and boiler fires were still alive, and there was no lack of hot waterWe got a bath and carried Lucy out as she was and placed her in itWhilst we were busy chafing her limbs there was a knock at the hall doorOne of the maids ran off, hurried on some more clothes, and opened itThen she returned and whispered to us that there was a gentleman who had come with a message from MrI bade her simply tell him that he must wait, for we could see no one nowShe went away with the message, and, engrossed with our work, I clean forgot all about him
I never saw in all my experience the Professor work in such deadly earnestI knew, as he knew, that it was a stand-up fight with death, and in a pause told him soHe answered me in a way that I did not understand, but with the sternest look that his face could wear
"If that were all, I would stop here where we are now, and let her fade away into peace, for I see no light in life over her horizon He went on with his work with, if possible, renewed and more frenzied vigour
Presently we both began to be conscious that the heat was beginning to be of some effectLucy's heart beat a trifle more audibly to the stethoscope, and her lungs had a perceptible movementVan Helsing's face almost beamed, and as we lifted her from the bath and rolled her in a hot sheet to dry her he said to me, "The first gain is ours! Check to the King!"
We took Lucy into another room, which had by now been prepared, and laid her in bed and forced a few drops of brandy down her throatI noticed that Van Helsing tied a soft silk handkerchief round her throatShe was still unconscious, and was quite as bad as, if not worse than, we had ever seen her
Van Helsing called in one of the women, and told her to stay with her and not to take her eyes off her till we returned, and then beckoned me out of the room
"We must consult as to what is to be done," he said as we descended the stairsIn the hall he opened the dining room door, and we passed in, he closing the door carefully behind himThe shutters had been opened, but the blinds were already down, with that obedience to the etiquette of death which the British woman of the lower classes always rigidly observesThe room was, therefore, dimly darkIt was, however, light enough for our purposesVan Helsing's sternness was somewhat relieved by a look of perplexityHe was evidently torturing his mind about something, so I waited for an instant, and he spoke
"What are we to do now? Where are we to turn for help? We must have another transfusion of blood, and that soon, or that poor girl's life won't be worth an hour's purchaseYou are exhausted alreadyI fear to trust those women, even if they would have courage to submitWhat are we to do for some one who will open his veins for her?"
"What's the matter with me, anyhow?"
The voice came from the sofa across the room, and its tones brought relief and joy to my heart, for they were those of Quincey Morris
Van Helsing started angrily at the first sound, but his face softened and a glad look came into his eyes as I cried out, "Quincey Morris!" and rushed towards him with outstretched hands
"What brought you here?" I cried as our hands met
"I guess Art is the cause
He handed me a telegram-'Have not heard from Seward for three days, and am terribly anxiousFather still in same |
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