“Well?” said Van Helsing.

“Well,” said I.  “I can make nothing of it.”

The Professor stood up.  “I must go back to Amsterdam tonight,” he said “There are books and things there which I want.  You must remain here all night, and you must not let your sight pass from her.”

“Shall I have a nurse?” I asked.

“We are the best nurses, you and I. You keep watch all night.  See that she is well fed, and that nothing disturbs her.  You must not sleep all the night.  Later on we can sleep, you and I. I shall be back as soon as possible.  And then we may begin.”

“May begin?” I said.  “What on earth do you mean?”

“We shall see!” he answered, as he hurried out.  He came back a moment later and put his head inside the door and said with a warning finger held up, “Remember, she is your charge.  If you leave her, and harm befall, you shall not sleep easy hereafter!”

DR. SEWARD’S DIARY—­CONTINUED

8 September.—­I sat up all night with Lucy.  The opiate worked itself off towards dusk, and she waked naturally.  She looked a different being from what she had been before the operation.  Her spirits even were good, and she was full of a happy vivacity, but I could see evidences of the absolute prostration which she had undergone.  When I told Mrs. Westenra that Dr. Van Helsing had directed that I should sit up with her, she almost pooh-poohed the idea, pointing out her daughter’s renewed strength and excellent spirits.  I was firm, however, and made preparations for my long vigil.  When her maid had prepared her for the night I came in, having in the meantime had supper, and took a seat by the bedside.

She did not in any way make objection, but looked at me gratefully whenever I caught her eye.  After a long spell she seemed sinking off to sleep, but with an effort seemed to pull herself together and shook it off.  It was apparent that she did not want to sleep, so I tackled the subject at once.

“You do not want to sleep?”

“No.  I am afraid.”

“Afraid to go to sleep!  Why so?  It is the boon we all crave for.”

“Ah, not if you were like me, if sleep was to you a presage of horror!”

“A presage of horror!  What on earth do you mean?”

“I don’t know.  Oh, I don’t know.  And that is what is so terrible.  All this weakness comes to me in sleep, until I dread the very thought.”

“But, my dear girl, you may sleep tonight.  I am here watching you, and I can promise that nothing will happen.”

“Ah, I can trust you!” she said.

I seized the opportunity, and said, “I promise that if I see any evidence of bad dreams I will wake you at once.”

“You will?  Oh, will you really?  How good you are to me.  Then I will sleep!” And almost at the word she gave a deep sigh of relief, and sank back, asleep.