The letter of Miss Ophelia to MrsShelby had, by some unfortunate accident, been detained, for a month or two, at some remote post-office, before it reached its destination; and, of course, before it was received, Tom was already lost to view among the distant swamps of the Red riverShelby read the intelligence with the deepest concern; but any immediate action upon it was an impossibilityShe was then in attendance on the sick-bed of her husband, who lay delirious in the crisis of a feverMaster George Shelby, who, in the interval, had changed from a boy to a tall young man, was her constant and faithful assistant, and her only reliance in superintending his father?s affairsMiss Ophelia had taken the precaution to send them the name of the lawyer who did business for the StClares; and the most that, in the emergency, could be done, was to address a letter of inquiry to himThe sudden death of MrShelby, a few days after, brought, of course, an absorbing pressure of other interests, for a seasonShelby showed his confidence in his wife?s ability, by appointing her sole executrix upon his estates; and thus immediately a large and complicated amount of business was brought upon her handsShelby, with characteristic energy, applied herself to the work of straightening the entangled web of affairs; and she and George were for some time occupied with collecting and examining accounts, selling property and settling debts; for MrsShelby was determined that everything should be brought into tangible and recognizable shape, let the consequences to her prove what they mightIn the mean time, they received a letter from the lawyer to whom Miss Ophelia had referred them, saying that he knew nothing of the matter; that the man was sold at a public auction, and that, beyond receiving the money, he knew nothing of the affair Neither George nor MrsShelby could be easy at this result; and, accordingly, some six months after, the latter, having business for his mother, down the river, resolved to visit New Orleans, in person, and push his inquiries, in hopes of discovering Tom?s whereabouts, and restoring him After some months of unsuccessful search, by the merest accident, George fell in with a man, in New Orleans, who happened to be possessed of the desired information; and with his money in his pocket, our hero took steamboat for Red river, resolving to find out and re-purchase his old friend He was soon introduced into the house, where he found Legree in the sitting-room Legree received the stranger with a kind of surly hospitality, ?I understand,? said the young man, ?that you bought, in New Orleans, a boy, named TomHe used to be on my father?s place, and I came to see if I couldn?t buy him back Legree?s brow grew dark, and he broke out, passionately: ?Yes, I did buy such a fellow,?and a h?l of a bargain I had of it, too! The most rebellious, saucy, impudent dog! Set up my niggers to run away; got off two gals, worth eight hundred or a thousand apieceHe owned to that, and, when I bid him tell me where they was, he up and said he knew, but he wouldn?t tell; and stood to it, though I gave him the cussedest flogging I ever gave nigger yetI b?lieve he?s trying to die; but I don?t know as he?ll make it out ?Where is he?? said George, impetuously The cheeks of the young man were crimson, and his eyes flashed fire; but he prudently said nothing, as yet ?He?s in dat ar shed,? said a little fellow, who stood holding George?s horse Legree kicked the boy, and swore at him; but George, without saying another word, turned and strode to the spot Tom had been lying two days since the fatal night, not suffering, for every nerve of suffering was blunted and destroyedHe lay, for the most part, in a quiet stupor; for the laws of a powerful and well-knit frame would not at once release the imprisoned spiritBy stealth, there had been there, in the darkness of the night, poor desolated creatures, who stole from their scanty hours? rest, that they might repay to him some of those ministrations of love in which he had always been so abundantTruly, those poor disciples had little to give,?only the cup of cold water; but it was given with full hearts Tears had fallen on that honest, insensible face,?tears of late repentance in the poor, ignorant heathen, whom his dying love and patience had awakened to repentance, and bitter prayers, breathed over him to a late-found Saviour, of whom they scarce knew more than the name, but whom the yearning ignorant heart of man never implores in vain Cassy, who had glided out of her place of concealment, and, by overhearing, learned the sacrifice that had been made for her and Emmeline, had been there, the night before, defying the danger of detection; and, moved by the last few words which the affectionate soul had yet strength to breathe, the long winter of despair, the ice of years, had given way, and the dark, despairing woman had wept and prayed When George entered the shed, he felt his head giddy and his heart sick ?Is it possible,,?is it possible?? said he, kneeling down by him?Uncle Tom, my poor, poor old friend!? Something in the voice penetrated to the ear of the dyingHe moved his head gently, smiled, and said, ?Jesus can make a dying-bed Feel soft as down pillows are Tears which did honor to his manly heart fell from the young man?s eyes, as he bent over his poor friend ?O, dear Uncle Tom! do wake,?do speak once more! Look up! Here?s Mas?r George,?your own little Mas?r GeorgeDon?t you know me?? ?Mas?r George!? said Tom, opening his eyes, and speaking in a feeble voice; ?Mas?r George!? He looked bewildered Slowly the idea seemed to fill his soul; and the vacant eye became fixed and brightened, the whole face lighted up, the hard hands clasped, and tears ran down the shop cheeks

Oh, God, let these poor white hairs go in evidence of what he has suffered, who all his life has done no wrong, and on whom so many sorrows have come We men were all in tears nowThere was no resisting them, and we wept openlyShe wept, too, to see that her sweeter counsels had prevailedHer husband flung himself on his knees beside her, and putting his arms round her, hid his face in the folds of her dressVan Helsing beckoned to us and we stole out of the room, leaving the two loving hearts alone with their God Before they retired the Professor fixed up the room against any coming of the Vampire, and assured MrsHarker that she might rest in peaceShe tried to school herself to the belief, and manifestly for her husband's sake, tried to seem contentIt was a brave struggle, and was, I think and believe, not without its rewardVan Helsing had placed at hand a bell which either of them was to sound in case of any emergencyWhen they had retired, Quincey, Godalming, and I arranged that we should sit up, dividing the night between us, and watch over the safety of the poor stricken ladyThe first watch falls to Quincey, so the rest of us shall be off to bed as soon as we can Godalming has already turned in, for his is the second watchNow that my work is done I, too, shall go to bed JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL 3-4 October, close to midnight-I thought yesterday would never endThere was over me a yearning for sleep, in some sort of blind belief that to wake would be to find things changed, and that any change must now be for the betterBefore we parted, we discussed what our next step was to be, but we could arrive at no resultAll we knew was that one earth box remained, and that the Count alone knew where it wasIf he chooses to lie hidden, he may baffle us for yearsAnd in the meantime, the thought is too horrible, I dare not think of it even nowThis I know, that if ever there was a woman who was all perfection, that one is my poor wronged darlingI loved her a thousand times more for her sweet pity of last night, a pity that made my own hate of the monster seem despicableSurely God will not permit the world to be the poorer by the loss of such a creatureWe are all drifting reefwards now, and faith is our only anchorThank God! Mina is sleeping, and sleeping without dreamsI fear what her dreams might be like, with such terrible memories to ground them inShe has not been so calm, within my seeing, since the sunsetThen, for a while, there came over her face a repose which was like spring after the blasts of MarchI thought at the time that it was the softness of the red sunset on her face, but somehow now I think it has a deeper meaningI am not sleepy myself, though I am weary? weary to deathHowever, I must try to sleepFor there is tomorrow to think of, and there is no rest for me until? Later--I must have fallen asleep, for I was awakened by Mina, who was sitting up in bed, with a startled look on her faceI could see easily, for we did not leave the room in darknessShe had placed a warning hand over my mouth, and now she whispered in my ear, "Hush! There is someone in the corridor!" I got up softly, and crossing the room, gently opened the door Just outside, stretched on a mattress, lay MrHe raised a warning hand for silence as he whispered to me, "Hush! Go back to bedOne of us will be here all nightWe don't mean to take any chances!" His look and gesture forbade discussion, so I came back and told shop Mina

But I pray that God may not have treasured your wild words, except as the heart-broken wail of a very loving and sorely stricken manOh, God, let these poor white hairs go in evidence of what he has suffered, who all his life has done no wrong, and on whom so many sorrows have come We men were all in tears nowThere was no resisting them, and we wept openlyShe wept, too, to see that her sweeter counsels had prevailedHer husband flung himself on his knees beside her, and putting his arms round her, hid his face in the folds of her dressVan Helsing beckoned to us and we stole out of the room, leaving the two loving hearts alone with their God Before they retired the Professor fixed up the room against any coming of the Vampire, and assured MrsHarker that she might rest in peaceShe tried to school herself to the belief, and manifestly for her husband's sake, tried to seem contentIt was a brave struggle, and was, I think and believe, not without its rewardVan Helsing had placed at hand a bell which either of them was to sound in case of any emergencyWhen they had retired, Quincey, Godalming, and I arranged that we should sit up, dividing the night between us, and watch over the safety of the poor stricken ladyThe first watch falls to Quincey, so the rest of us shall be off to bed as soon as we can Godalming has already turned in, for his is the second watchNow that my work is done I, too, shall go to bed JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL 3-4 October, close to midnight-I thought yesterday would never endThere was over me a yearning for sleep, in some sort of blind belief that to wake would be to find things changed, and that any change must now be for the betterBefore we parted, we discussed what our next step was to be, but we could arrive at no resultAll we knew was that one earth box remained, and that the Count alone knew where it wasIf he chooses to lie hidden, he may baffle us for yearsAnd in the meantime, the thought is too horrible, I dare not think of it even nowThis I know, that if ever there was a woman who was all perfection, that one is my poor wronged darlingI loved her a thousand times more for her sweet pity of last night, a pity that made my own hate of the monster seem despicableSurely God will not permit the world to be the poorer by the loss of such a creatureWe are all drifting reefwards now, and faith is our only anchorThank God! Mina is sleeping, and sleeping without dreamsI fear what her dreams might be like, with such terrible memories to ground them inShe has not been so calm, within my seeing, since the sunsetThen, for a while, there came over her face a repose which was like spring after the blasts of MarchI thought at the time that it was the softness of the red sunset on her face, but somehow now I think it has a deeper meaningI am not sleepy myself, though I am weary? weary to deathHowever, I must try to sleepFor there is tomorrow to think of, and there is no rest for me until? Later--I must have fallen asleep, for I was awakened by Mina, who was sitting up in bed, with a startled look on her faceI could see easily, for we did not leave the room in darknessShe had placed a warning hand over my mouth, and now she whispered in my ear, "Hush! There is someone in the corridor!" I got up softly, and crossing the room, gently opened the door Just outside, stretched on a mattress, lay MrHe raised a warning hand for silence as he whispered to me, "Hush! Go back to bedOne of us will be here all shop night

At first I inclined to slack off sail and beat about till the fog was liftedBut whiles, I thocht that if the Deil was minded to get us into the Black Sea quick, he was like to do it whether we would or noIf we had a quick voyage it would be no to our miscredit wi' the owners, or no hurt to our traffic, an' the Old Mon who had served his ain purpose wad be decently grateful to us for no hinderin' him This mixture of simplicity and cunning, of superstition and commercial reasoning, aroused Van Helsing, who said, "Mine friend, that Devil is more clever than he is thought by some, and he know when he meet his match!" The skipper was not displeased with the compliment, and went on, "When we got past the Bosphorus the men began to grumbleSome o' them, the Roumanians, came and asked me to heave overboard a big box which had been put on board by a queer lookin' old man just before we had started frae LondonI had seen them speer at the fellow, and put out their twa fingers when they saw him, to guard them against the evil eyeMan! but the supersteetion of foreigners is pairfectly rideeculous! I sent them aboot their business pretty quick, but as just after a fog closed in on us I felt a wee bit as they did anent something, though I wouldn't say it was again the big boxWell, on we went, and as the fog didn't let up for five days I joost let the wind carry us, for if the Deil wanted to get somewheres, well, he would fetch it up a'reetAn' if he didn't, well, we'd keep a sharp lookout anyhowSure eneuch, we had a fair way and deep water all the timeAnd two days ago, when the mornin' sun came through the fog, we found ourselves just in the river opposite GalatzThe Roumanians were wild, and wanted me right or wrong to take out the box and fling it in the riverI had to argy wi' them aboot it wi' a handspikeAn' when the last o' them rose off the deck wi' his head in his hand, I had convinced them that, evil eye or no evil eye, the property and the trust of my owners were better in my hands than in the river DanubeThey had, mind ye, taken the box on the deck ready to fling in, and as it was marked Galatz via Varna, I thocht I'd let it lie till we discharged in the port an' get rid o't althegitherWe didn't do much clearin' that day, an' had to remain the nicht at anchorBut in the mornin', braw an' airly, an hour before sunup, a man came aboard wi' an order, written to him from England, to receive a box marked for one Count DraculaSure eneuch the matter was one ready to his handHe had his papers a' reet, an' glad I was to be rid o' the dam' thing, for I was beginnin' masel' to feel uneasy at itIf the Deil did have any luggage aboord the ship, I'm thinkin' it was nane ither than that same!" "What was the name of the man who took it?" asked DrVan Helsing with restrained eagerness "I'll be tellin' ye quick!" he answered, and stepping down to his cabin, produced a receipt signed "Immanuel Hildesheim Burgen-strasse 16 was the addressWe found out that this was all the Captain knew, so with thanks we came away We found Hildesheim in his office, a Hebrew of rather the Adelphi Theatre type, with a nose like a sheep, and a fezHis arguments were pointed with specie, we doing the punctuation, and with a little bargaining he told us what he knewThis turned out to be simple but importantHe had received a letter from Mrde Ville of London, telling him to receive, if possible before sunrise so as to avoid customs, a box which would arrive at Galatz in the Czarina CatherineThis he was to give in charge to a certain Petrof Skinsky, who dealt with the Slovaks who traded down the river to the portHe had been paid for his work by an English bank note, which had been duly cashed for gold at the Danube International BankWhen Skinsky had come to him, he had taken him to the ship and handed over the box, so as to save porterage We then sought for Skinsky, but were unable to find himOne of his neighbors, who did not seem to bear him any affection, said that he had gone away two days before, no one knew whitherThis was corroborated by his landlord, who had received by messenger the key of the house together with the rent due, in English moneyThis had been between ten and eleven o'clock last nightWe were at a standstill again Whilst we were talking one came running and breathlessly gasped out that the body of Skinsky had been found inside the wall of the churchyard of StPeter, and that the throat had been torn open as if by some wild animalThose we had been speaking with ran off to see the horror, the women crying shop out

But it was Jonathan, and he was my husband, and we didn't know anybody who saw us, and we didn't care if they did, so on we walkedI was looking at a very beautiful girl, in a big cart-wheel hat, sitting in a victoria outside Guiliano's, when I felt Jonathan clutch my arm so tight that he hurt me, and he said under his breath, "My God!" I am always anxious about Jonathan, for I fear that some nervous fit may upset him againSo I turned to him quickly, and asked him what it was that disturbed him He was very pale, and his eyes seemed bulging out as, half in terror and half in amazement, he gazed at a tall, thin man, with a beaky nose and black moustache and pointed beard, who was also observing the pretty girlHe was looking at her so hard that he did not see either of us, and so I had a good view of himHis face was not a good faceIt was hard, and cruel, and sensual, and big white teeth, that looked all the whiter because his lips were so red, were pointed like an animal'sJonathan kept staring at him, till I was afraid he would noticeI feared he might take it ill, he looked so fierce and nastyI asked Jonathan why he was disturbed, and he answered, evidently thinking that I knew as much about it as he did, "Do you see who it is?" "No, dear," I said"I don't know him, who is it?" His answer seemed to shock and thrill me, for it was said as if he did not know that it was me, Mina, to whom he was speaking"It is the man himself!" The poor dear was evidently terrified at something, very greatly terrifiedI do believe that if he had not had me to lean on and to support him he would have sunk downA man came out of the shop with a small parcel, and gave it to the lady, who then drove offThe dark man kept his eyes fixed on her, and when the carriage moved up Piccadilly he followed in the same direction, and hailed a hansomJonathan kept looking after him, and said, as if to himself, "I believe it is the Count, but he has grown youngMy God, if this be so! Oh, my God! My God! If only I knew! If only I knew!" He was distressing himself so much that I feared to keep his mind on the subject by asking him any questions, so I remained silentI drew away quietly, and he, holding my arm, came easilyWe walked a little further, and then went in and sat for a while in the Green ParkIt was a hot day for autumn, and there was a comfortable seat in a shady placeAfter a few minutes' staring at nothing, Jonathan's eyes closed, and he went quickly into a sleep, with his head on my shoulderI thought it was the best thing for him, so did not disturb himIn about twenty minutes he woke up, and said to me quite cheerfully, "Why, Mina, have I been asleep! Oh, do forgive me for being so rudeCome, and we'll have a cup of tea somewhere He had evidently forgotten all about the dark stranger, as in his illness he had forgotten all that this episode had reminded him ofI don't like this lapsing into forgetfulnessIt may make or continue some injury to the brainI must not ask him, for fear I shall do more harm than good, but I must somehow learn the facts of his journey abroadThe time is come, I fear, when I must open the parcel, and know what is writtenOh, Jonathan, you will, I know, forgive me if I do wrong, but it is for your own dear sake-A sad homecoming in every way, the house empty of the dear soul who was so good to usJonathan still pale and dizzy under a slight relapse of his malady, and now a telegram from Van Helsing, whoever he may be"You will be grieved to hear that MrsWestenra died five days ago, and that Lucy died the day before yesterdayThey were both buried today Oh, what a wealth of sorrow in a few words! Poor MrsWestenra! Poor Lucy! Gone, gone, never to return to us! And poor, poor Arthur, to have lost such a sweetness out of his life! God help us all to bear our troublesArthur has gone back to Ring, and has taken Quincey Morris with himWhat a fine fellow is Quincey! I believe in my heart of hearts that he suffered as much about Lucy's death as any of us, but he bore himself through it like a moral VikingIf America can go on breeding men like that, she will be a power in the world shop indeed