Dr. Seward’s Diary

           13September. —CalledattheBerkeleyandfoundVanHelsing,asusual,uptotime. Thecarriageorderedfromthehotelwaswaiting. TheProfessortookhisbag,whichhealwaysbringswithhimnow. 

           Letallbeputdownexactly. VanHelsingandIarrivedatHillinghamateighto’clock. Itwasalovelymorning. Thebrightsunshineandallthefreshfeelingofearlyautumnseemedlikethecompletionofnature’sannualwork. Theleaveswereturningtoallkindsofbeautifulcolours,buthadnotyetbeguntodropfromthetrees. WhenweenteredwemetMrs.Westenracomingoutofthemorningroom. Sheisalwaysanearlyriser. Shegreeteduswarmlyandsaid, 

           "YouwillbegladtoknowthatLucyisbetter. Thedearchildisstillasleep. Ilookedintoherroomandsawher,butdidnotgoin,lestIshoulddisturbher." TheProfessorsmiled,andlookedquitejubilant.Herubbedhishandstogether,andsaid, "Aha!IthoughtIhaddiagnosedthecase.Mytreatmentisworking." 

           Towhichshereplied,"Youmustnottakeallthecredittoyourself,doctor. Lucy’sstatethismorningisdueinparttome." 

           "Howdoyoumean,ma’am?"askedtheProfessor. 

           "Well,Iwasanxiousaboutthedearchildinthenight,andwentintoherroom. Shewassleepingsoundly,sosoundlythatevenmycomingdidnotwakeher. Buttheroomwasawfullystuffy. Therewerealotofthosehorrible,strong-smellingflowersabouteverywhere,andshehadactuallyabunchofthemroundherneck. Ifearedthattheheavyodourwouldbetoomuchforthedearchildinherweakstate,soItookthemallawayandopenedabitofthewindowtoletinalittlefreshair. Youwillbepleasedwithher,Iamsure."