Mina

6 November. – It was late in the afternoon when the Professor and I took our way towards the east whence I knew Jonathan was coming. We did not go fast, though the way was steeply downhill, for we had to take heavy rugs and wraps with us; we dared not face the possibility of being left without warmth in the cold and the snow. ( We had to take some of our provisions too... )

2 November, night. – All day long driving. The country gets wilder as we go, and the great spurs of the Carpathians, which at Veresti seemed so far from us and so low on the horizon, now seem to gather round us and tower in front. We both seem in good spirits; ( I think we make an effort each to cheer the other... )

2 November, morning. – I was successful, and we took turns driving all night; now the day is on us, bright though cold. There is a strange heaviness in the air - I say heaviness for want of a better word; I mean that it oppresses us both. It is very cold, and only our warm furs keep us comfortable. At dawn Van Helsing hypnotized me; he says I answered "darkness, creaking wood and roaring water," so the river is changing as they ascend. I do hope that my darling will not run any chance of danger - more than need be; but we are in God's hands.

1 November. – All day long we have travelled, and at a good speed. The horses seem to know that they are being kindly treated, for they go willingly their full stage at best speed. We have now had so many changes and find the same thing so constantly that we are encouraged to think that the journey will be an easy one. ( Dr Van Helsing is laconic... )

31 October. – Arrived at Veresti at noon. The Professor tells me that this morning at dawn he could hardly hypnotize me at all, and that all I could say was, "dark and quiet." He is off now buying a carriage and horses. He says that he will later on try to buy additional horses, so that we may be able to change them on the way. We have something more than 70 miles before us. ( The country is lovely, and most interesting... )

(Entered in her journal)

Ground of inquiry. – Count Dracula's problem is to get back to his own place.

(a) He must be brought back by some one. ( This is evident... )

30 October, evening. – They were so tired and worn out and dispirited that there was nothing to be done till they had some rest; so I asked them all to lie down for half an hour whilst I should enter everything up to the moment. I feel so grateful to the man who invented the "Traveller's" typewriter, and to Mr Morris for getting this one for me. I should have felt quite astray doing the work if I had to write with a pen...

( It is all done... )

30 October. – Mr Morris took me to the hotel where our rooms had been ordered by telegraph, he being the one who could best be spared, since he does not speak any foreign language. The forces were distributed much as they had been at Varna, except that Lord Godalming went to the Vice Consul, as his rank might serve as an immediate guarantee of some sort to the official, we being in extreme hurry. Jonathan and the two doctors went to the shipping agent to learn particulars of the arrival of the Czarina Catherine.

Later. – Lord Godalming has returned. The Consul is away, and the Vice Consul sick; so the routine work has been attended to by a clerk. He was very obliging, and offered to do anything in his power.

5 October, 5 p.m. – Our meeting for report. Present: Professor Van Helsing, Lord Godalming, Dr Seward, Mr Quincey Morris, Jonathan Harker, Mina Harker.

Dr Van Helsing described what steps were taken during the day to discover on what boat and whither bound Count Dracula made his escape:-

( "As I knew that he wanted to get back to Transylvania..." )

(Mentioned in Dr Seward's Diary)

Look out for D. He has just now, 12.45, come from Carfax suddenly and hastened towards the south. He seems to be going the round and may want to see you: Mina.

2 October, 10 p.m. – Last night I slept, but did not dream. I must have slept soundly, for I was not waked by Jonathan coming to bed; but the sleep has not refreshed me, for today I feel terribly weak and spiritless. I spent all yesterday trying to read, or lying down dozing. In the afternoon, Mr Renfield asked if he might see me. Poor man, he was very gentle, and when I came away he kissed my hand and bade God bless me. ( Some way it affected me much... )

1 October. – It is strange to me to be kept in the dark as I am today; after Jonathan's full confidence for so many years, to see him manifestly avoid certain matters, and those the most vital of all. This morning I slept late after the fatigues of yesterday, and though Jonathan was late too, he was the earlier. He spoke to me before he went out, never more sweetly or tenderly, but he never mentioned a word of what had happened in the visit to the Count's house. ( And yet he must have known how terribly anxious I was... )

30 September. – When we met in Dr Seward's study two hours after dinner, which had been at six o'clock, we unconsciously formed a sort of board or committee. Professor Van Helsing took the head of the table, to which Dr Seward motioned him as he came into the room. He made me sit next to him on his right, and asked me to act as secretary. Jonathan sat next to me. Opposite us were Lord Godalming, Dr Seward, and Mr Morris - Lord Godalming being next the Professor, and Dr Seward in the centre. The Professor said:-

( "I may, I suppose, take it that we are all acquainted with the facts that are in these papers"... )

30 September. – I am so glad that I hardly know how to contain myself. It is, I suppose, the reaction from the haunting fear which I have had: that this terrible affair and the reopening of his old wound might act detrimentally on Jonathan. I saw him leave for Whitby with as brave a face as I could, but I was sick with apprehension. ( The effort has, however, done him good... )

29 September. – After dinner I came with Dr Seward to his study. He brought back the phonograph from my room, and I took my typewriter. He placed me in a comfortable chair, and arranged the phonograph so that I could touch it without getting up, and showed me how to stop it in case I should want to pause. Then he very thoughtfully took a chair, with his back to me, so that I might be as free as possible, and began to read. I put the forked metal to my ears and listened.

( When the terrible story of Lucy's death, and - and all that followed, was done... )

29 September. – After I had tidied myself, I went down to Dr Seward's study. At the door I paused a moment, for I thought I heard him talking with some one. As, however, he had pressed me to be quick, I knocked at the door, and on his calling out, "Come in," I entered.

( To my intense surprise, there was no one with him... )

(Mentioned in Dr Seward's Diary)

Am coming up by train. Jonathan at Whitby. Important news. – MINA HARKER.

25 September. – I cannot help feeling terribly excited as the time draws near for the visit of Dr Van Helsing, for somehow I expect that it will throw some light upon Jonathan's sad experience, and as he attended poor dear Lucy in her last illness, he can tell me all about her. ( That is the reason of his coming... )