6 September.
My dear Arthur,
The news today is not good. Lucy is worse. Mrs. Westenra is very worried about her. I told Mrs. Westenra that Professor Van Helsing is a great doctor. She wants us to help Lucy together. We must be careful because Mrs. Westenra has a weak heart. A shock could kill her. I will write to you again soon.
Your friend,
JOHN SEWARD.
Dr. Seward’s Diary.
7 September.
I met Professor Van Helsing at the train station. He told me to keep our thoughts secret. He said we should not tell Arthur everything yet. He wants to wait and see what happens to Lucy. He said that every small detail is important, so we must write everything down.
We went to see Lucy. She looked terrible. Her face was as white as chalk. There was no color in her lips. She was too weak to speak. Professor Van Helsing looked very serious. We went into another room to talk.
Professor Van Helsing said, "She will die soon. She needs more blood." He wanted to do a transfusion. I told him I was young and strong. I wanted to give my blood.
Suddenly, Arthur arrived at the house. He was very worried about Lucy. Professor Van Helsing saw that Arthur was a strong man. He told him, "You can save her. She needs your blood."
Arthur was very brave. He said, "I will give all my blood for her." We went to Lucy’s room. Professor Van Helsing gave her a narcotic. When she was asleep, he started the transfusion.
Arthur gave his blood to Lucy. Her cheeks became a little pink again. Arthur became very pale and weak. Professor Van Helsing finished the work. He told Arthur to go home and rest.
I looked at Lucy’s neck. I saw a small black ribbon around her throat. I moved the ribbon and saw a red mark. There were two small holes in her skin. They did not look healthy. I did not know what they were. Professor Van Helsing told me to watch Lucy all night.
8 September.
I stayed with Lucy all night. She woke up and looked much better. But she told me she was afraid to sleep. She said, "Terrible things happen to me in my sleep. I am afraid of the dark."
I told her, "I am here. I will watch you. If you have a bad dream, I will wake you." Lucy felt safe then. She fell into a deep, quiet sleep. She did not move all night. In the morning, she looked healthy. I sent a message to Arthur and Professor Van Helsing.
9 September.
I was very tired after two nights without sleep. Lucy felt very well. She told me, "You must sleep tonight. I am healthy now." She gave me a room next to her room. I lay on the sofa and fell asleep immediately.
Lucy Westenra’s Diary.
9 September.
I feel very happy tonight. I am strong again. Arthur feels very close to me. I slept so well last night because Dr. Seward watched me. Tonight I am not afraid. Dr. Seward is in the next room. Thank God for my good friends.
Dr. Seward’s Diary.
10 September.
Professor Van Helsing woke me up this morning. We went into Lucy’s room. I opened the curtains and the sun came in. Professor Van Helsing gasped in horror. Lucy was as white as a dead person.
"We are too late!" Professor Van Helsing said. "All our work was for nothing." Lucy’s heart was still beating, but it was very weak. Arthur was not there. Professor Van Helsing said, "John, I need your blood now."
I took off my coat. We did another transfusion. I felt my blood leaving my body. I felt very weak and sick. But Lucy’s lips became red again. We finished the operation. Professor Van Helsing told me to rest and eat a big breakfast.
Lucy woke up later. She did not know what happened. Her mother came to see her. Mrs. Westenra told me, "You look very pale, Dr. Seward. You need a wife to look after you." Lucy turned red for a moment, then she became very pale again.
Professor Van Helsing stayed with Lucy that night. I went home to sleep.
11 September.
I went to see Lucy today. She looked better. Professor Van Helsing received a large box from another country. Inside were many white flowers. They were flowers from garlic.
Lucy laughed. She said, "Are these for me? They have a very strong smell."
Professor Van Helsing was very serious. He told her, "These are not a joke. These are medicine. You must wear them around your neck at night."
Then we went around the room. Professor Van Helsing rubbed the garlic on the windows and the door. He put garlic in the fireplace. He said the smell would protect Lucy. He told her, "Do not open the window. Do not take the flowers off your neck."
Lucy promised to obey. Professor Van Helsing was very happy. He said, "Tonight I can sleep in peace." But I felt afraid. I did not know why.