(Spoken By Van Helsing).

  This to Jonathan Harker.
  You are to stay with your dear Madam Mina. We shall go to make our
search- if I can call it so, for it is not search but knowing, and
we seek confirmation only. But do you stay and take care of her
to-day. This is your best and most holiest office. This day nothing
can find him here. Let me tell you that so you will know what we
four know already, for I have tell them. He, our enemy, have gone
away; he have gone back to his Castle in Transylvania. I know it so
well, as if a great hand of fire wrote it on the wall. He have prepare
for this in some way, and that last earth-box was ready to ship
somewheres. For this he took the money; for this he hurry at the last,
lest we catch him before the sun go down. It was his last hope, save
that the might hide in the tomb that he think poor Miss Lucy, being as
he thought like him, keep open to him. But there was not of time. When
that fail he make straight for his last resource- his last earthwork I
might say did I wish double entente. He is clever, oh so clever! he
know that his game here was finish; and so he decide he go back
home. He find ship going by the route he came, and he go in it. We
go off now to find what ship, and whither bound; when we have discover
that, we come back and tell you all. Then we will comfort you and poor
dear Madam Mina with new hope. For it will be hope when you think it
over: that all is not lost. This very creature that we pursue, he take
hundreds of years to get so far as London; and yet in one day, when we
know of the disposal of him we drive him out. He is finite, though
he is powerful to do much harm and suffers not as we do. But we are
strong, each in our purpose; and we are all more strong together. Take
heart afresh dear husband of Madam Mina. This battle is but begun, and
in the end we shall win- so sure as that God sits on high to watch
over His children. Therefore be of much comfort till we return.

                                                          Van Helsing
 

                      Jonathan Harker's Journal.

  4 October.- When I read to Mina, Van Helsing's message in the
phonograph, the poor girl brightened up considerably. Already the
certainty that the Count is out of the country has given her
comfort; and comfort is strength to her. For my own part, now that his
horrible danger is not face to face with us, it seems almost
impossible to believe in it. Even my own terrible experiences in
Castle Dracula seem like a long-forgotten dream. Here in the crisp
autumn air in the bright sunlight-
  Alas! how can I disbelieve! In the midst of my thought my eye fell
on the red scar on my poor darling's white forehead. Whilst that
lasts, there can be no disbelief. And afterwards the very memory of it
will keep faith crystal clear. Mina and I fear to be idle, so we
have been over all the diaries agains and again. Somehow, although the
reality seems greater each time, the pain and the fear seem less.
There is something of a guiding purpose manifest throughout, which
is comforting. Mina says that perhaps we are the instruments of
ultimate good. It may be I shall try to think as she does. We have
never spoken to each other yet of the future. It is better to wait
till we see the Professor and the others after their investigations.
  The day is running by more quickly than I ever thought a day could
run for me again. It is now three o'clock.
 

                        Mina Harker's Journal.

  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, I felt sure
that he must go by the Danube mouth; or by somewhere in the Black Sea,
since by that way he come. It was a dreary blank that was before us.
Omne ignotum pro magnifico, and so with heavy hearts we start to
find what ships leave for the Black Sea last night. He was in
sailing ship, since Madam Mina tell of sails being set. These not so
important as to go in your list of the shipping in the Times. and so
we go, by suggestion of Lord Godalming, to your Lloyd's, where are
note of all ships that sail, however so small. There we find that only
one Black-Sea-bound ship go out with the tide. She is the Czarina
Catherine, and she sail from Doolittle's Wharf for Varna, and thence
on to other parts and up the Danube. 'Soh!' said I, 'this is the
ship whereon is the Count.' So off we go to Doolittle's Wharf, and
there we find a man in an office of wood so small that the man look
bigger than the office. From him we inquire of the goings of the
Czarina Catherine. He swear much, and he red face and loud of voice,
but he good fellow all the same; and when Quincey give him something
from his pocket which crackle as he roll it up, and put it in a so
small bag which he have hid deep in his clothing, he still better
fellow and humble servant to us. He come with us, and ask many men who
are rough and hot; these be better fellows too when they have been
no more thirsty. They say much of blood and bloom and of others
which I comprehend not, though I guess what they mean; but
nevertheless they tell us all things which we want to know.
  "They make known to us among them, how last afternoon at about
five o'clock comes a man so hurry. A tall man, thin and pale, with
high nose and teeth so white, and eyes that seem to be burning. That
he be all in black, except that he have a hat of straw which suit
not him or the time. That he scatter his money in making quick inquiry
as to what ship sails for the Black Sea and for where. Some took him
to the office and then to the ship, where he will not go aboard but
halt at shore end of gang-plank, and ask that the captain come to him.
The captain come, when told that he will be pay well; and though he
swear much at the first he agree to term. Then the thin man go and
some one tell him where horse and cart can be hired. He go there and
soon he come again, himself driving cart on which a great box; this he
himself lift down, though it take several to put it on truck for the
ship. He give much talk to captain as to how and where his box is to
be place; but the captain like it not and swear at him in many
tongues, and tell him that if he like he can come and see where it
shall be. But he say 'no;' that he come not yet, for that he have much
to do. Whereupon the captain tell him that he had better be quick-
with blood- for that his ship will leave the place- of blood- before
the turn of the tide- with blood. Then the thin man smile and say that
of course he must go when he think fit; but he will be surprise if
he go quite so soon. The captain swear again, polyglot, and the thin
man make him bow, and thank him, and say that he will so far intrude
on his kindness as to come aboard before the sailing. Final the
captain, more red than ever, and in more tongues, tell him that he
doesn't want no Frenchmen- with bloom upon them and also with blood-
in his ship- with blood on her also. And so, after asking where
there might be close at hand a shop where he might purchase ship
forms, he departed.
  "No one knew where he went 'or bloomin' well cared,' as they said,
for they had something else to think of- well with blood again; for it
soon became apparent to all that the Czarina Catherine would not
sail as was expected. A thin mist began to creep up from the river,
and it grew, and grew, till soon a dense fog enveloped the ship and
all around her. The captain swore polyglot- very polyglot- polyglot
with bloom and blood; but he could do nothing. The water rose and
rose; and he began to fear that he would lose the tide altogether.
He was in no friendly mood, when just at full tide, the thin man
came up the gang-plank again and asked to see where his box had been
stowed. Then the captain replied that he wished that he and his box-
old and with much bloom and blood- were in hell. But the thin man
did not be offend, and went down with the mate and saw where it was
place, and came up and stood awhile on deck in fog. He must have
come off by himself, for none notice him. Indeed they thought not of
him; for soon the fog begin to melt away, and all was clear again.
My friends of the thirst and the language that was of bloom and
blood laughed, as they told how the captain's swears exceeded even his
usual polyglot, and was more than ever full of picturesque, when on
questioning other mariners who were on movement up and down on the
river that hour, he found that few of them had seen any of fog at all,
except where it lay round the wharf! However, the ship went out on the
ebb tide; and was doubtless by morning far down the river mouth. She
was by then, when they told us, well out to sea.
  "And so my dear Madam Mina, it is that we have to rest for a time,
for our enemy is on the sea, with the fog at his command, on his way
to the Danube mouth. To sail a ship takes time, go she never so quick;
and when we start we go on land more quick, and we meet him there. Our
best hope is to come on him when in the box between sunrise and
sunset; for then he can make no struggle, and we may deal with him
as we should. There are days for us, in which we can make ready our
plan. We know all about where he go; for we have seen the owner of the
ship, who have shown us invoices and all papers that can be. The box
we seek is to be landed in Varna, and to be given to an agent, one
Ristics who will there present his credentials; and so our merchant
friend will have done his part. When he ask if there be any wrong, for
that so, he can telegraph and have inquiry made at Varna, we say 'no;'
for what is to be done is not for police or of the customs. It must be
done by us alone and in our own way."
  When Dr. Van Helsing had done speaking, I asked him if he were
certain that the Count had remained on board the ship. He replied: "We
have the best proof of that: your own evidence, when in the hypnotic
trance this morning." I asked him again if it were really necessary
that they should pursue the Count, for oh! I dread Jonathan leaving
me, and I know that he would surely go if the others went. He answered
in growing passion, at first quietly. As he went on, however, he
grew more angry and more forceful, till in the end we could not but
see wherein was at least some of that personal dominance which made
him so long a master amongst men:-
  "Yes it is necessary- necessary- necessary! For your sake in the
first, and then for the sake of humanity. This monster has done much
harm already, in the narrow scope where he find himself, and in the
short time when as yet he was only as a body groping his so small
measure in darkness and not knowing. All this have I told these
others; you, my dear Madam Mina, will learn it in the phonograph of my
friend John, or in that of your husband. I have told them how the
measure of leaving his own barren land- barren of peoples- and
coming to a new land where life of man teems till they are like the
multitude of standing corn, was the work of centuries. Were another of
the Un-Dead, like him, to try to do what he has done, perhaps not
all the centuries of the world that have been, or that will be,
could aid him. With this one, all the forces of nature that are occult
and deep and strong must have worked together in some wondrous way.
The very place, where he have been alive, Un-Dead for all these
centuries, is full of strangeness of the geologic and chemical
world. There are deep caverns and fissures that reach none know
whither. There have been volcanoes, some of whose openings still
send out waters of strange properties, and gases that kill or make
to vivify. Doubtless, there is something magnetic or electric in
some of these combinations of occult forces which work for physical
life in strange way; and in himself were from the first some great
qualities. In a hard and warlike time he was celebrate that he have
more iron nerve, more subtle brain, more braver heart, than any man.
In him some vital principle have in strange way found their utmost;
and as his body keep strong and grow and thrive, so his brain grow
too. All this without that diabolic aid which is surely to him; for it
have to yield to the powers that come from, and are, symbolic of good.
And now this is what he is to us. He have infect you- oh forgive me,
my dear, that I must say such; but it is for good of you that I speak.
He infect you in such wise, that even if he do no more, you have
only to live- to live in your own old, sweet way; and so in time,
death, which is of man's common lot and with God's sanction, shall
make you like to him. This must not be! We have sworn together that it
must not. Thus are we ministers of God's own wish: that the world, and
men for whom His Son die, will not be given over to monsters, whose
very existence would defame Him. He have allowed us to redeem one soul
already, and we go out as the old knights of the Cross to redeem more.
Like them we shall travel towards the sunrise; and like them, if we
fall, we fall in good cause." He paused and I said:-
  "But will not the Count take his rebuff wisely? Since he has been
driven from England, will he not avoid it, as a tiger does the village
from which he has been hunted?"
  "Aha!" he said, "your simile of the tiger good, for me, and I
shall adopt him. Your man-eater, as they of India call the tiger who
has once taste blood of the human, care no more for other prey, but
prowl unceasing till he get him. This that we hunt from our village is
a tiger, too, a man-eater, and he never cease to prowl. Nay in himself
he is not one to retire and stay afar. In his life, his living life,
he go over the Turkey frontier and attack his enemy on his own ground;
he be beaten back, but did he stay? No! He come again, and again,
and again. Look at his persistence and endurance. With the child-brain
that was to him he have long since conceive the idea of coming to a
great city. What does he do? He find out the place of all the world
most of promise for him. Then he deliberately set himself down to
prepare for the task. He find in patience just how is his strength,
and what are his powers. He study new tongues. He learn new social
life; new environment of old ways, the politic, the law, the
finance, the science, the habit of a new land and a new people who
have come to be since he was. His glimpse that he have had, whet his
appetite only and enkeen his desire. Nay, it help him to grow as to
his brain; for it all prove to him how right he was at the first in
his surmises. He have done this alone; all alone! from a ruin tomb
in a forgotten land. What more may he not do when the greater world of
thought is open to him. He that can smile at death, as we know him;
who can flourish in the midst of diseases that kill off whole peoples.
Oh! if such an one was to come from God, and not the Devil, what a
force for good might he not be in this old world of ours. But we are
pledged to set the world free. Our toil must be in silence, and our
efforts all in secret; for in this enlightened age, when men believe
not even what they see, the doubting of wise men would be his greatest
strength. It would be at once his sheath and his armour, and his
weapons to destroy us, his enemies, who are willing to peril even
our own souls for the safety of one we love- for the good of
mankind, and for the honour and glory of God."
  After a general discussion it was determined that for tonight
nothing be definitely settled; that we should all sleep on the
facts, and try to think out the proper conclusions. To-morrow at
breakfast we are to meet again, and, after making our conclusions
known to one another, we shall decide on some definite cause of
action.
  I feel a wonderful peace and rest to-night. It is as if some
haunting presence were removed from me. Perhaps...
  My surmise was not finished, could not be; for I caught sight in the
mirror of the red mark upon my forehead; and I knew that I was still
unclean.
 

                         Dr. Seward's Diary.

  5 October.- We all rose early, and I think that sleep did much for
each and all of us. When we met at early breakfast there was more
general cheerfulness than any of us had ever expected to experience
again.
  It is really wonderful how much resilience there is in human nature.
Let any obstructing cause, no matter what, be removed in any way- even
by death- and we fly back to first principles of hope and enjoyment.
More than once as we sat around the table, my eyes opened in wonder
whether the whole of the past days had not been a dream. It was only
when I caught sight of the red blotch on Mrs. Harker's forehead that I
was brought back to reality. Even now, when I am gravely revolving the
matter, it is almost impossible to realise that the cause of all our
trouble is still existent. Even Mrs. Harker seems to lose sight of her
trouble for whole spells; it is only now and again, when something
recalls it to her mind, that she thinks of her terrible scar. We are
to meet here in my study in half an hour and decide on our course of
action. I see only one immediate difficulty, I know it by instinct
rather than reason: we shall all have to speak frankly; and yet I fear
that in some mysterious way poor Mrs. Harker's tongue is tied. I
know that she forms conclusions of her own, and from all that has been
I can guess how brilliant and how true they must be; but she will not,
or cannot, give them utterance. I have mentioned this to Van
Helsing, and he and I are to talk it over when we are alone. I suppose
it is some of that horrid poison which has got into her veins
beginning to work. The Count had his own purposes when he gave her
what Van Helsing called "the Vampire's baptism of blood." Well,
there may be a poison that distils itself out of good things; in an
age when the existence of ptomaines is a mystery we should not
wonder at anything! One thing I know: that if my instinct be true
regarding poor Mrs. Harker's silences, then there is a terrible
difficulty- an unknown danger- in the work before us. The same power
that compels her silence may compel her speech. I dare not think
further; for so I should in my thoughts dishonour a noble woman!
  Van Helsing is coming to my study a little before the others. I
shall try to open the subject with him.

  Later.- When the Professor came in, we talked over the state of
things. I could see that he had something on his mind which he
wanted to say, but felt some hesitancy about broaching the subject.
After beating about the bush a little, he said suddenly:-
  "Friend John, there is something that you and I must talk of
alone, just at the first at any rate. Later, we may have to take the
others into our confidence;" then he stopped, so I waited; he went
on:-
  "Madam Mina, our poor, dear Madam Mina is changing." A cold shiver
ran through me to find my worst fears thus endorsed. Van Helsing
continued:-
  "With the sad experience of Miss Lucy, we must this time be warned
before things go too far. Our task is now in reality more difficult
than ever, and this new trouble makes every hour of the direst
importance. I can see the characteristics of the vampire coming in her
face. It is now but very, very slight; but it is to be seen if we have
eyes to notice without to prejudge. Her teeth are some sharper, and at
times her eyes are more hard. But these are not all, there is to her
the silence now often; as so it was with Miss Lucy. She did not speak,
even when she wrote that which she wished to be known later. Now my
fear is this. If it be that she can, by our hypnotic trance, tell what
the Count see and hear, is it not more true that he who have hypnotise
her first, and who have drink of her very blood and make her drink
of his, should, if he will, compel her mind to disclose to him that
which she know?" I nodded acquiescence; he went on:-
  "Then, what we must do is to prevent this; we must keep her ignorant
of our intent, and so she cannot tell what she know not. This is a
painful task! Oh! so painful that it heart-break me to think of, but
it must be. When to-day we meet, I must tell her that for reason which
we will not to speak she must not more be of our council, but be
simply guarded by us." He wiped his forehead, which had broken out
in profuse perspiration at the thought of the pain which he might have
to inflict upon the poor soul already so tortured. I knew that it
would be some sort of comfort to him if I told him that I also had
come to the same conclusion; for at any rate it would take away the
pain of doubt. I told him, and the effect was as I expected.
  It is now close to the time of our general gathering. Van Helsing
has gone away to prepare for the meeting, and his painful part of
it. I really believe his purpose is to be able to pray alone.

  Later.- At the very outset of our meeting a great personal relief
was experienced by both Van Helsing and myself. Mrs. Harker had sent a
message by her husband to say that she would not join us at present,
as she thought it better that we should be free to discuss our
movements without her presence to embarrass us. The Professor and I
looked at each other for an instant, and somehow we both seemed
relieved. For my own part, I thought that if Mrs. Harker realised
the danger herself, it was much pain as well as much danger averted.
Under the circumstances we agreed, by a questioning look and answer,
with finger on lip, to preserve silence in our suspicions, until we
should have been able to confer alone again. We went at once into
our Plan of Campaign. Van Helsing roughly put the facts before us
first:-
  "The Czarina Catherine left the Thames yesterday morning. It will
take her at the quickest speed she has ever made at least three
weeks to reach Varna; but we can travel overland to the same place
in three days. Now, if we allow for two days less for the ship's
voyage, owing to such weather influences as we know that the Count can
bring to bear, and if we allow a whole day and night for any delays
which may occur to us, then we have a margin of nearly two weeks.
Thus, in order to be quite safe, we must leave here on 17th at latest.
Then we shall at any rate be in Varna a day before the ship arrives,
and able to make such preparations as may be necessary. Of course we
shall all go armed- armed against evil things, spiritual as well as
physical." Here Quincey Morris added:-
  "I understand that the Count comes from a wolf country, and it may
be that he shall get there before us. I propose that we add
Winchesters to our armament. I have a kind of belief in a Winchester
when there is any trouble of that sort around. Do you remember Art,
when we had the pack after us at Tobolsk? What wouldn't we have
given then for a repeater apiece!"
  "Good!" said Van Helsing, "Winchester's it shall be. Quincey's
head is level at all times, but most so when there is to hunt,
though my metaphor be more dishonour to science than wolves be of
danger to man. In the meantime we can do nothing here; and as I
think that Varna is not familiar to any of us, why not go there more
soon? It is as long to wait here as there. To-night and to-morrow we
can get ready, and then, if all be well, we four can set out on our
journey."
  "We four?" said Harker interrogatively, looking from one to
another of us.
  "Of course!" answered the Professor quickly, "you must remain to
take care of your so sweet wife!" Harker was silent for awhile and
then said in a hollow voice:-
  "Let us talk of that part of it in the morning. I want to consult
with Mina." I thought that now was the time for Van Helsing to warn
him not to disclose our plans to her, but he took no notice. I
looked at him significantly and coughed. For answer he put his
finger on his lips and turned away.
 

                      Jonathan Harker's Journal.

  5 October, afternoon.- For some time after our meeting this
morning I could not think. The new phases of things leave my mind in a
state of wonder which allows no room for active thought. Mina's
determination not to take any part in the discussion set me
thinking; and as I could not argue the matter with her, I could only
guess. I am as far as ever from a solution now. The way the others
received it, too, puzzled me; the last time we talked of the subject
we agreed that there was to be no more concealment of anything amongst
us. Mina is sleeping now, calmly and sweetly like a little child.
Her lips are curved and her face beams with happiness. Thank God there
are such moments still for her.

  Later.- How strange it all is. I sat watching Mina's happy sleep,
and came as near to being happy myself as I suppose I shall ever be.
As the evening drew on, and the earth took its shadows from the sun
sinking lower, the silence of the room grew more and more solemn to
me. All at once Mina opened her eyes, and looking at me tenderly,
said:-
  "Jonathan, I want you to promise me something on your word of
honour. A promise made to me, but made holily in God's hearing, and
not to be broken though I should go down on my knees and implore you
with bitter tears. Quick, you must make it to me at once."
  "Mina," I said, "a promise like that, I cannot make at once. I may
have no right to make it."
  "But, dear one," she said, with such spiritual intensity that her
eyes were like pole stars, "It is I who wish it; and it is not for
myself. You can ask Dr. Van Helsing if I am not right; if he disagrees
you may do as you will. Nay more, if you all agree, later, you are
absolved from the promise."
  "I promise!" I said, and for a moment she looked supremely happy;
though to me all happiness for her was denied by the red scar on her
forehead. She said:-
  "Promise me that you will not tell me anything of the plans formed
for the campaign against the Count. Not by word, or inference, or
implication; not at any time whilst this remains to me!" and she
solemnly pointed to the scar. I saw that she was in earnest, and
said solemnly:-
  "I promise!" and as I said it I felt that from that instant a door
had been shut between us.

  Later, midnight- Mina has been bright and cheerful all the
evening. So much so that all the rest seemed to take courage, as if
infected somewhat with her gaiety; as a result even I myself felt as
if the pall of gloom which weighs us down were somewhat lifted. We all
retired early. Mina is now sleeping like a little child; it is a
wonderful thing that her faculty of sleep remains to her in the
midst of her terrible trouble. Thank God for it, for then at least she
can forget her care. Perhaps her example may affect me as her gaiety
did to-night. I shall try it. Oh! for a dreamless sleep.

  6 October, morning.- Another surprise. Mina woke me early, about the
same time as yesterday, and asked me to bring Dr. Van Helsing. I
thought that it was another occasion for hypnotism, and without
question went for the Professor. He had evidently expected some such
call, for I found him dressed in his room. His door was ajar, so
that he could hear the opening of the door of our room. He came at
once; as he passed into the room, he asked Mina if the others might
come too.
  "No," she said quite simply, "It will not be necessary. You can tell
them just as well. I must go with you on your journey."
  Dr. Van Helsing was startled as I was. After a moment's pause he
asked:-
  "But why?"
  "You must take me with you. I am safer with you, and you shall be
safer too."
  "But why, dear Madam Mina? You know that your safety is our
solemnest duty. We go into danger, to which you are, or may be, more
liable than any of us from- from circumstances- things that have
been." He paused embarrassed.
  As she replied, she raised her finger and pointed to her forehead:-
  "I know. That is why I must go. I can tell you now, whilst the sun
is coming up; I may not be able again. I know that when the Count
wills me I must go. I know that if he tells me to come in secret, I
must come by wile; by any device to hoodwink- even Jonathan." God
saw the look that she turned on me as she spoke, and if there be
indeed a Recording Angel that look is noted to her everlasting honour.
I could only clasp her hand. I could not speak; my emotion was too
great for even the relief of tears. She went on:-
  "You men are brave and strong. You are strong in your numbers, for
you can defy that which would break down the human endurance of one
who had to guard alone. Besides, I may be of service, since you can
hypnotise me and so learn that which even I myself do not know." Dr.
Van Helsing said very gravely:-
  "Madam Mina you are, as always, most wise. You shall with us come;
and together we shall do that which we go forth to achieve." When he
had spoken, Mina's long spell of silence made me look at her. She
had fallen back on her pillow asleep; she did not even wake when I had
pulled up the blind and let in the sunlight which flooded the room.
Van Helsing motioned to me to come with him quietly. We went to his
room, and within a minute Lord Godalming, Dr. Seward, and Mr. Morris
were with us also. He told them what Mina had said, and went on:-
  "In the morning we shall leave for Varna. We have now to deal with a
new factor: Madam Mina. Oh, but her soul is true. It is to her an
agony to tell us so much as she has done; but it is most right, and we
are warned in time. There must be no chance lost, and in Varna we must
be ready to act the instant when that ship arrives."
  "What shall we do exactly?" asked Mr. Morris laconically. The
Professor paused before replying:-
  "We shall at the first board that ship; then, when we have
identified the box, we shall place a branch of the wild rose on it.
This we shall fasten, for when it is there none can emerge; so at
least says the superstition. And to superstition must we trust at
the first; it was man's faith in the early, and it have its root in
faith still. Then, when we get the opportunity that we seek, when none
are near to see, we shall open the box, and- and all will be well."
  "I shall not wait for any opportunity," said Morris. "When I see the
box I shall open it and destroy the monster, though there were a
thousand men looking on, and if I am to be wiped out for it the next
moment!" I grasped his hand instinctively and found it as firm as a
piece of steel. I think he understood my look; I hope he did.
  "Good boy," said Dr. Van Helsing. "Brave boy. Quincey is all man,
God bless him for it. My child, believe me none of us shall lag behind
or pause from any fear. I do but say what we may do- what we must
do. But, indeed, indeed we cannot say what we shall do. There are so
many things which may happen, and their ways and their ends are so
various that until the moment we may not say. We shall all be armed,
in all ways; and when the time for the end has come, our effort
shall not be lack. Now let us to-day put all our affairs in order. Let
all things which touch on others dear to us, and who on us depend,
be complete; for none of us can tell what, or when, or how, the end
may be. As for me, my own affairs are regulate; and as I have
nothing else to do, I shall go make arrangement for the travel. I
shall have all tickets and so forth for our journey."
  "There was nothing further to be said, and we parted. I shall now
settle up all my affairs of earth, and be ready for whatever may
come...

  Later.- It is all done; my will is made, and all complete. Mina if
she survive is my sole heir. If it should not be so, then the others
who have been so good to us shall have remainder.
  It is now drawing towards the sunset; Mina's uneasiness calls my
attention to it. I am sure that there is something on her mind which
the time of exact sunset will reveal. These occasions are becoming
harrowing times for us all, for each sunrise and sunset opens up
some new danger- some new pain, which, however, may in God's will be
means to a good end. I write all these things in the diary since my
darling must not hear them now, but if it may be that she can see them
again, they shall be ready."
  She is calling to me.
 

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