| Mina is sleeping now, calmly and sweetly like a little childHer lips are curved and her face beams with happinessThank God, there are such moments still for her-How strange it all isI sat watching Mina's happy sleep, and I came as near to being happy myself as I suppose I shall ever beAs 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 honourA 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 tearsQuick, you must make it to me at once
"Mina," I said, "a promise like that, I cannot make at onceI 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 itAnd it is not for myselfVan Helsing if I am not rightIf he disagrees you may do as you willNay, more if you all agree, later you are absolved from the promise
"I promise!" I said, and for a moment she looked supremely happyThough 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 CountNot by word, or inference, or implication, not at any time whilst this remains to me!" And she solemnly pointed to the scarI 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 eveningSo much so that all the rest seemed to take courage, as if infected somewhat with her gaietyAs a result even I myself felt as if the pall of gloom which weighs us down were somewhat liftedMina is now sleeping like a little childIt is wonderful thing that her faculty of sleep remains to her in the midst of her terrible troubleThank God for it, for then at least she can forget her carePerhaps her example may affect me as her gaiety did tonightOh! For a dreamless sleep
6 October, morningMina woke me early, about the same time as yesterday, and asked me to bring DrI thought that it was another occasion for hypnotism, and without question went for the ProfessorHe had evidently expected some such call, for I found him dressed in his roomHis door was ajar, so that he could hear the opening of the door of our roomAs he passed into the room, he asked Mina if the others might come, too
"No," she said quite simply, "it will not be necessaryYou can tell them just as wellI must go with you on your journeyVan Helsing was as startled as I shop was |