Mina Harker’s Journal

           31October. —ArrivedatVerestiatnoon. TheProfessortellsmethatthismorningatdawnhecouldhardlyhypnotizemeatall,andthatallIcouldsaywas,"darkandquiet." Heisoffnowbuyingacarriageandhorses. Hesaysthathewilllaterontrytobuyadditionalhorses,sothatwemaybeabletochangethemontheway. Wehavesomethingmorethan70milesbeforeus. Thecountryislovely,andmostinteresting. Ifonlywewereunderdifferentconditions,howdelightfulitwouldbetoseeitall. IfJonathanandIweredrivingthroughitalonewhatapleasureitwouldbe. Tostopandseepeople,andlearnsomethingoftheirlife,andtofillourmindsandmemorieswithallthecolourandpicturesquenessofthewholewild,beautifulcountryandthequaintpeople! But,alas! 

           Later. —Dr.VanHelsinghasreturned. Hehasgotthecarriageandhorses. Wearetohavesomedinner,andtostartinanhour. Thelandladyisputtingusupahugebasketofprovisions. Itseemsenoughforacompanyofsoldiers. TheProfessorencouragesher,andwhisperstomethatitmaybeaweekbeforewecangetanyfoodagain. Hehasbeenshoppingtoo,andhassenthomesuchawonderfullotoffurcoatsandwraps,andallsortsofwarmthings. Therewillnotbeanychanceofourbeingcold. 

           Weshallsoonbeoff. Iamafraidtothinkwhatmayhappentous. WearetrulyinthehandsofGod. Healoneknowswhatmaybe,andIprayHim,withallthestrengthofmysadandhumblesoul,thatHewillwatchovermybelovedhusband.