Mina
Murray's Journal26 July I am anxious, and it soothes me to express
myself here. It is like whispering to one's self and listening at the same time.
And there is also something about the shorthand symbols that makes it different
from writing. I am unhappy about Lucy and about Jonathan. I had not heard from
Jonathan for some time, and was very concerned, but yesterday dear Mr. Hawkins,
who is always so kind, sent me a letter from him. I had written asking him if
he had heard, and he said the enclosed had just been received. It is only a line
dated from Castle Dracula, and says that he is just starting for home. That is
not like Jonathan. I do not understand it, and it makes me uneasy. Then,
too, Lucy, although she is so well, has lately taken to her old habit of walking
in her sleep. Her mother has spoken to me about it, and we have decided that I
am to lock the door of our room every night. Mrs. Westenra has got an idea
that sleep-walkers always go out on roofs of houses and along the edges of cliffs
and then get suddenly wakened and fall over with a despairing cry that echoes
all over the place. Poor dear, she is naturally anxious about Lucy, and
she tells me that her husband, Lucy's father, had the same habit, that he would
get up in the night and dress himself and go out, if he were not stopped. Lucy
is to be married in the autumn, and she is already planning out her dresses and
how her house is to be arranged. I sympathise with her, for I do the same, only
Jonathan and I will start in life in a very simple way, and shall have to try
to make both ends meet. Mr. Holmwood, he is the Hon. Arthur Holmwood, only
son of Lord Godalming, is coming up here very shortly, as soon as he can leave
town, for his father is not very well, and I think dear Lucy is counting the moments
till he comes. She wants to take him up in the seat on the churchyard cliff
and show him the beauty of Whitby. I daresay it is the waiting which disturbs
her. She will be all right when he arrives. |
