Mammy has a kind of obstinacy about her, in spots, that everybody don?t see as I do ?Has she children?? said Miss Ophelia ?I suppose she feels the separation from them?? ?Well, of course, I couldn?t bring themThey were little dirty things?I couldn?t have them about; and, besides, they took up too much of her time; but I believe that Mammy has always kept up a sort of sulkiness about thisShe won?t marry anybody else; and I do believe, now, though she knows how necessary she is to me, and how feeble my health is, she would go back to her husband tomorrow, if she only couldI do, indeed,? said Marie; ?they are just so selfish, now, the best of them ?It?s distressing to reflect upon,? said St Miss Ophelia looked keenly at him, and saw the flush of mortification and repressed vexation, and the sarcastic curl of the lip, as he spoke ?Now, Mammy has always been a pet with me,? said Marie?I wish some of your northern servants could look at her closets of dresses,?silks and muslins, and one real linen cambric, she has hanging thereI?ve worked sometimes whole afternoons, trimming her caps, and getting her ready to go to a partyAs to abuse, she don?t know what it isShe never was whipped more than once or twice in her whole lifeShe has her strong coffee or her tea every day, with white sugar in itIt?s abominable, to be sure; but StClare will have high life below-stairs, and they every one of them live just as they pleaseThe fact is, our servants are over-indulgedI suppose it is partly our fault that they are selfish, and act like spoiled children; but I?ve talked to StClare till I am tired ?And I, too,? said StClare, taking up the morning paper Eva, the beautiful Eva, had stood listening to her mother, with that expression of deep and mystic earnestness which was peculiar to herShe walked softly round to her mother?s chair, and put her arms round her neck ?Well, Eva, what now?? said Marie ?Mamma, couldn?t I take care of you one night?just one? I know I shouldn?t make you nervous, and I shouldn?t sleepI often lie awake nights, thinking?? ?O, nonsense, child?nonsense!? said Marie; ?you are such a strange child!? ?But may I, mamma? I think,? she said, timidly, ?that Mammy isn?t wellShe told me her head ached all the time, lately ?O, that?s just one of Mammy?s fidgets! Mammy is just like all the rest of them?makes such a fuss about every little headache or finger-ache; it?ll never do to encourage it?never! I?m principled about this matter,? said she, turning to Miss Ophelia; ?you?ll find the necessity of itIf you encourage servants in giving way to every little disagreeable feeling, and complaining of every little ailment, you?ll have your hands fullI never complain myself?nobody knows what I endureI feel it a duty to bear it quietly, and I do Miss Ophelia?s round eyes expressed an undisguised amazement at this peroration, which struck StClare as so supremely ludicrous, that he burst into a loud laughClare always laughs when I make the least allusion to my ill health,? said Marie, with the voice of a suffering martyr?I only hope the day won?t come when he?ll remember it!? and Marie put her handkerchief to her eyes Of course, there was rather a foolish silenceClare got up, looked at his watch, and said he had an engagement down streetEva tripped away after him, and Miss Ophelia and Marie remained at the table alone ?Now, that?s just like StClare!? said the latter, withdrawing her handkerchief with somewhat of a spirited flourish when the criminal to be affected by it was no longer in shop sight

-Another change in himI had been to see Miss Westenra, whom I found much better, and had just returned, and was standing at our own gate looking at the sunset, when once more I heard him yellingAs his room is on this side of the house, I could hear it better than in the morningIt was a shock to me to turn from the wonderful smoky beauty of a sunset over London, with its lurid lights and inky shadows and all the marvellous tints that come on foul clouds even as on foul water, and to realize all the grim sternness of my own cold stone building, with its wealth of breathing misery, and my own desolate heart to endure it allI reached him just as the sun was going down, and from his window saw the red disc sinkAs it sank he became less and less frenzied, and just as it dipped he slid from the hands that held him, an inert mass, on the floorIt is wonderful, however, what intellectual recuperative power lunatics have, for within a few minutes he stood up quite calmly and looked around himI signalled to the attendants not to hold him, for I was anxious to see what he would doHe went straight over to the window and brushed out the crumbs of sugarThen he took his fly box, and emptied it outside, and threw away the boxThen he shut the window, and crossing over, sat down on his bedAll this surprised me, so I asked him, "Are you going to keep flies any more?" "No," said he"I am sick of all that rubbish!" He certainly is a wonderfully interesting studyI wish I could get some glimpse of his mind or of the cause of his sudden passionThere may be a clue after all, if we can find why today his paroxysms came on at high noon and at sunsetCan it be that there is a malign influence of the sun at periods which affects certain natures, as at times the moon does others? We shall seeSEWARD, LONDON, TO VAN HELSING, AMSTERDAM "4 September-Patient still better today TELEGRAM, SEWARD, LONDON, TO VAN HELSING, AMSTERDAM "5 September-Patient greatly improvedGood appetite, sleeps naturally, good spirits, colour coming back TELEGRAM, SEWARD, LONDON, TO VAN HELSING, AMSTERDAM "6 September-Terrible change for the worseI hold over telegram to Holmwood till have seen you CHAPTER 10 LETTER, DRARTHUR HOLMWOOD 6 September "My dear Art, "My news today is not so goodLucy this morning had gone back a bitThere is, however, one good thing which has arisen from itWestenra was naturally anxious concerning Lucy, and has consulted me professionally about herI took advantage of the opportunity, and told her that my old master, Van Helsing, the great specialist, was coming to stay with me, and that I would put her in his charge conjointly with myselfSo now we can come and go without alarming her unduly, for a shock to her would mean sudden death, and this, in Lucy's weak condition, might be disastrous to herWe are hedged in with difficulties, all of us, my poor fellow, but, please God, we shall come through them all rightIf any need I shall write, so that, if you do not hear from me, take it for granted that I am simply waiting for news, In haste, "Yours ever," John Seward DRSEWARD'S DIARY 7 September-The first thing Van Helsing said to me when we met at Liverpool Street was, "Have you said anything to our young friend, to lover of her?" "No," I said"I waited till I had seen you, as I said in my telegramI wrote him a letter simply telling him that you were coming, as Miss Westenra was not so well, and that I should let him know if need be "Right, my friend," he said"Quite right! Better he not know as yetPerhaps he will never shop know

Perhaps, he guessed better than any of us what was coming She continued, "This is what I can give into the hotch-pot I could not but note the quaint legal phrase which she used in such a place, and with all seriousness"What will each of you give? Your lives I know," she went on quickly, "that is easy for brave menYour lives are God's, and you can give them back to Him, but what will you give to me?" She looked again questioningly, but this time avoided her husband's faceQuincey seemed to understand, he nodded, and her face lit up"Then I shall tell you plainly what I want, for there must be no doubtful matter in this connection between us nowYou must promise me, one and all, even you, my beloved husband, that should the time come, you will kill me "What is that time?" The voice was Quincey's, but it was low and strained "When you shall be convinced that I am so changed that it is better that I die that I may liveWhen I am thus dead in the flesh, then you will, without a moment's delay, drive a stake through me and cut off my head, or do whatever else may be wanting to give me rest!" Quincey was the first to rise after the pauseHe knelt down before her and taking her hand in his said solemnly, "I'm only a rough fellow, who hasn't, perhaps, lived as a man should to win such a distinction, but I swear to you by all that I hold sacred and dear that, should the time ever come, I shall not flinch from the duty that you have set usAnd I promise you, too, that I shall make all certain, for if I am only doubtful I shall take it that the time has come!" "My true friend!" was all she could say amid her fast-falling tears, as bending over, she kissed his hand "I swear the same, my dear Madam Mina!" said Van Helsing"And I!" said Lord Godalming, each of them in turn kneeling to her to take the oath Then her husband turned to her wan-eyed and with a greenish pallor which subdued the snowy whiteness of his hair, and asked, "And must I, too, make such a promise, oh, my wife?" "You too, my dearest," she said, with infinite yearning of pity in her voice and eyesYou are nearest and dearest and all the world to meOur souls are knit into one, for all life and all timeThink, dear, that there have been times when brave men have killed their wives and their womenkind, to keep them from falling into the hands of the enemyTheir hands did not falter any the more because those that they loved implored them to slay themIt is men's duty towards those whom they love, in such times of sore trial! And oh, my dear, if it is to be that I must meet death at any hand, let it be at the hand of him that loves me bestVan Helsing, I have not forgotten your mercy in poor Lucy's case to him who loved She stopped with a flying blush, and changed her phrase, "to him who had best right to give her peaceIf that time shall come again, I look to you to make it a happy memory of my husband's life that it was his loving hand which set me free from the awful thrall upon me "Again I swear!" came the Professor's resonant voiceHarker smiled, positively smiled, as with a sigh of relief she leaned back and said, "And now one word of warning, a warning which you must never forgetThis time, if it ever come, may come quickly and unexpectedly, and in such case you must lose no time in using your opportunityAt such a time I myself might be? nay! If the time ever come, shall be, leagued with your enemy against you "One more request," she became very solemn as she said this, "it is not vital and necessary like the other, but I want you to do one thing for me, if you will We all acquiesced, but no one spokeThere was no need to speak "I want you to read the Burial Service She was interrupted by a deep groan from her husbandTaking his hand in hers, she held it over her heart, and continued"You must read it over me some dayWhatever may be the issue of all this fearful state of things, it will be a sweet thought to all or some of usYou, my dearest, will I hope read it, for then it will be in your voice in my memory forever, come what may!" "But oh, my dear one," he pleaded, "death is afar off from you "Nay," she said, holding up a warning hand"I am deeper in death at this moment than if the weight of an earthly grave lay heavy upon me!" "Oh, my wife, must I read it?" he said, before he began "It would comfort me, my husband!" was all she said, and he began to read when she had got the book shop ready

Crowds are scattering backward, and the sky is beginning to redden over the Yorkshire wolds I shall send, in time for your next issue, further details of the derelict ship which found her way so miraculously into harbour in the storm-The sequel to the strange arrival of the derelict in the storm last night is almost more startling than the thing itselfIt turns out that the schooner is Russian from Varna, and is called the DemeterShe is almost entirely in ballast of silver sand, with only a small amount of cargo, a number of great wooden boxes filled with mould This cargo was consigned to a Whitby solicitor, MrBillington, of 7, The Crescent, who this morning went aboard and took formal possession of the goods consigned to him The Russian consul, too, acting for the charter-party, took formal possession of the ship, and paid all harbour dues, etc Nothing is talked about here today except the strange coincidenceThe officials of the Board of Trade have been most exacting in seeing that every compliance has been made with existing regulationsAs the matter is to be a 'nine days wonder', they are evidently determined that there shall be no cause of other complaint A good deal of interest was abroad concerning the dog which landed when the ship struck, and more than a few of the members of the S which is very strong in Whitby, have tried to befriend the animalTo the general disappointment, however, it was not to be foundIt seems to have disappeared entirely from the townIt may be that it was frightened and made its way on to the moors, where it is still hiding in terror There are some who look with dread on such a possibility, lest later on it should in itself become a danger, for it is evidently a fierce bruteEarly this morning a large dog, a half-bred mastiff belonging to a coal merchant close to Tate Hill Pier, was found dead in the roadway opposite its master's yardIt had been fighting, and manifestly had had a savage opponent, for its throat was torn away, and its belly was slit open as if with a savage claw-By the kindness of the Board of Trade inspector, I have been permitted to look over the log book of the Demeter, which was in order up to within three days, but contained nothing of special interest except as to facts of missing menThe greatest interest, however, is with regard to the paper found in the bottle, which was today produced at the inquestAnd a more strange narrative than the two between them unfold it has not been my lot to come across As there is no motive for concealment, I am permitted to use them, and accordingly send you a transcript, simply omitting technical details of seamanship and supercargoIt almost seems as though the captain had been seized with some kind of mania before he had got well into blue water, and that this had developed persistently throughout the voyageOf course my statement must be taken cum grano, since I am writing from the dictation of a clerk of the Russian consul, who kindly translated for me, time being short LOG OF THE "DEMETER" Varna to Whitby Written 18 July, things so strange happening, that I shall keep accurate note henceforth till we land On 6 July we finished taking in cargo, silver sand and boxes of earthCrew, five hands? two mates, cook, and myself, (captain) On 11 July at dawn entered BosphorusBoarded by Turkish Customs officers On 12 July through DardanellesMore Customs officers and flagboat of guarding squadronWork of officers thorough, but quickAt dark passed into Archipelago On 13 July passed Cape MatapanCrew dissatisfied about somethingSeemed scared, but would not speak out On 14 July was somewhat anxious about crewMen all steady fellows, who sailed with me beforeMate could not make out what was shop wrong

Miss Ophelia marched straight to her own chamber, to put away her bonnet and shawl, as was always her manner, before she spoke a word on any subject; while Eva came, at St: Clare?s call, and was sitting on his knee, giving him an account of the services they had heard They soon heard loud exclamations from Miss Ophelia?s room, which, like the one in which they were sitting, opened on to the verandah and violent reproof addressed to somebody ?What new witchcraft has Tops been brewing?? asked St?That commotion is of her raising, I?ll be bound!? And, in a moment after, Miss Ophelia, in high indignation, came dragging the culprit along ?Come out here, now!? she said?I will tell your master!? ?What?s the case now?? asked Augustine ?The case is, that I cannot be plagued with this child, any longer! It?s past all bearing; flesh and blood cannot endure it! Here, I locked her up, and gave her a hymn to study; and what does she do, but spy out where I put my key, and has gone to my bureau, and got a bonnet-trimming, and cut it all to pieces to make dolls?jackets! I never saw anything like it, in my life!? ?I told you, Cousin,? said Marie, ?that you?d find out that these creatures can?t be brought up without severityIf I had my way, now,? she said, looking reproachfully at StClare, ?I?d send that child out, and have her thoroughly whipped; I?d have her whipped till she couldn?t stand!? ?I don?t doubt it,? said St?Tell me of the lovely rule of woman! I never saw above a dozen women that wouldn?t half kill a horse, or a servant, either, if they had their own way with them!?let alone a man ?There is no use in this shilly-shally way of yours, St?Cousin is a woman of sense, and she sees it now, as plain as I do Miss Ophelia had just the capability of indignation that belongs to the thorough-paced housekeeper, and this had been pretty actively roused by the artifice and wastefulness of the child; in fact, many of my lady readers must own that they should have felt just so in her circumstances; but Marie?s words went beyond her, and she felt less heat ?I wouldn?t have the child treated so, for the world,? she said; ?but, I am sure, Augustine, I don?t know what to doI?ve taught and taught; I?ve talked till I?m tired; I?ve whipped her; I?ve punished her in every way I can think of, and she?s just what she was at first ?Come here, Tops, you monkey!? said StClare, calling the child up to him Topsy came up; her round, hard eyes glittering and blinking with a mixture of apprehensiveness and their usual odd drollery ?What makes you behave so?? said StClare, who could not help being amused with the child?s expression ?Spects it?s my wicked heart,? said Topsy, demurely; ?Miss Feely says so ?Don?t you see how much Miss Ophelia has done for you? She says she has done everything she can think of ?Lor, yes, Mas?r! old Missis used to say so, tooShe whipped me a heap harder, and used to pull my har, and knock my head agin the door; but it didn?t do me no good! I spects, if they ?s to pull every spire o? har out o? my head, it wouldn?t do no good, neither,?I ?s so wicked! Laws! I ?s nothin but a nigger, no ways!? ?Well, I shall have to give her up,? said Miss Ophelia; ?I can?t have that trouble any longer ?Well, I?d just like to ask one question,? said St ?What is it?? ?Why, if your Gospel is not strong enough to save one heathen child, that you can have at home here, all to yourself, what?s the use of sending one or two poor missionaries off with it among thousands of just such? I suppose this child is about a fair sample of what thousands of your heathen are Miss Ophelia did not make an immediate answer; and Eva, who had stood a silent spectator of the scene thus far, made a silent sign to Topsy to follow herThere was a little glass-room at the corner of the verandah, which StClare used as a sort of reading-room; and Eva and Topsy disappeared into this place ?What?s Eva going about, now?? said StClare; ?I mean to see And, advancing on tiptoe, he lifted up a curtain that covered the glass-door, and looked inIn a moment, laying his finger on his lips, he made a silent gesture to Miss Ophelia to come and lookThere sat the two children on the floor, with their side faces towards themTopsy, with her usual air of careless drollery and unconcern; but, opposite to her, Eva, her whole face fervent with feeling, and tears in her large eyes ?What does make you so bad, Topsy? Why won?t you try and be good? Don?t you love anybody, Topsy?? ?Donno nothing ?bout love; I loves candy and sich, that?s all,? said Topsy ?But you love your father and mother?? ?Never had none, ye knowI telled ye that, Miss Eva ?O, I know,? said Eva, sadly; ?but hadn?t you any brother, or sister, or aunt, or?? ?No, none on ?em,?never had nothing nor nobody ?But, Topsy, if you?d only try to be good, you might?? ?Couldn?t never be nothin? but a nigger, if I was ever so good,? said shop Topsy