And then away for home! Away to the quickest and nearest train! Away from this cursed spot, from this cursed land, where the devil and his children still walk with earthly feet!

The precipice is steep and high. But it is better to try to escape than to stay here.

Goodbye, all! Mina!

9 May.

My dearest Lucy,

I want to be with you, and by the sea, where we can talk together freely. Jonathan and I sometimes write letters in shorthand, and he is keeping a stenographic journal of his travels abroad. When I am with you I shall keep a diary in the same way. I shall try to do what I see journalists do: interviewing and writing. I will tell you of my little plans when we meet. I have just received a few lines from Jonathan from Transylvania. He is well, and will return in about a week. It’s ten o’clock. Goodbye.

Your loving

Mina

P. S. Tell me all the news when you write. I hear rumours, and especially of a tall, handsome, curly-haired man???

17, Chatham Street,

Wednesday.

My dearest Mina,

I have nothing to tell you. There is really nothing to interest for walks and rides in the park. As to [59] the tall, curly-haired man, that is Mr. Holmwood. [60] He often comes to see us.

We met some time ago a very interesting man. He is handsome and rich. He is a doctor and really clever. He is only nine-and-twenty, and he has his own lunatic asylum. [61] Mr. Holmwood introduced him to me, and he often comes now. He seems absolutely imperturbable. Arthur is not against him. Oh, Arthur!

Mina, we have told all our secrets to each other since we were children; we have slept together and eaten together, and laughed and cried together. Oh, Mina, can you guess? I love him. Arthur. I think he loves me, too, although he has not told me so in words. But oh, Mina, I love him; I love him; I love him! Please, tell me all that you think about it.

Mina, I must stop. Goodnight. Bless me in your prayers; and, Mina, pray for my happiness.

Lucy

P. S. Of course, this is a secret. Goodnight again.

24 May.

My dearest Mina,

Thanks, and thanks, and thanks again for your sweet letter. My dear, I shall be twenty in September, and yet I never had a proposal [62] till today, not a real proposal, and today I have had three. Three proposals in one day! Isn’t it awful! I feel sorry, really and truly sorry, for two of the poor fellows. Oh, Mina, I am so happy that I don’t know what to do with myself. And three proposals!

Well, my dear, number One came just before lunch. I told you of him, Dr. John Seward, [63] the lunatic-asylum man, [64] with the strong jaw and the good forehead. He was very cool outwardly, but was nervous all the same. He spoke to me, Mina, very straightforwardly. [65] He told me how dear I was to him. He said that he was my friend. My dear, I must stop here at present, I feel so miserable, though I am so happy.

24 May, evening.

Arthur has just gone, so I can go on. Well, my dear, number Two came after lunch. He is an American from Texas, and he looks young and fresh. Mr. Quincey P. Morris [66] telling us his stories, and Arthur never told any, and yet —

My dear, Mr. Morris is really well educated and has exquisite manners. He took my hand in his, and said ever so sweetly, “Miss Lucy, you are an honest hearted girl, I know. Tell me, is there any one else that you love? And if there is I’ll be just a very faithful friend.”

My dear Mina, why are men so noble when we women are so little worthy of them? I was able to look into Mr. Morris’s brave eyes, and I told him, “Yes, there is some one I love.”

Ever your loving

Lucy.

P. S. Oh, about number Three – I needn’t tell you of number Three, need I? Besides, it was all so confused. When he entered the room, he kissed me. I am very, very happy, and I don’t know what I have done to deserve it. God Himself sent me such a lover, such a husband, and such a friend.

Goodbye.

25 May. – No appetite today. I cannot eat, cannot rest. The only cure for this is work, so I went to the asylum. There is a patient there who is of great interest to me.

R. M. Renfield, [67] 59. Sanguine temperament; [68] great physical strength; morbidly excitable; periods of gloom, fixed ideas. [69]