Ye know, Mas?r George, ye oughtenter feel ?bove nobody, on ?count yer privileges, ?cause all our privileges is gi?n to us; we ought al?ays to ?member that,? said Aunt Chloe, looking quite serious ?Well, I mean to ask Tom here, some day next week,? said George; ?and you do your prettiest, Aunt Chloe, and we?ll make him stareWon?t we make him eat so he won?t get over it for a fortnight?? ?Yes, yes?sartin,? said Aunt Chloe, delighted; ?you?ll seeLor! to think of some of our dinners! Yer mind dat ar great chicken pie I made when we guv de dinner to General Knox? I and Missis, we come pretty near quarrelling about dat ar crustWhat does get into ladies sometimes, I don?t know; but, sometimes, when a body has de heaviest kind o? ?sponsibility on ?em, as ye may say, and is all kinder ?seris? and taken up, dey takes dat ar time to be hangin? round and kinder interferin?! Now, Missis, she wanted me to do dis way, and she wanted me to do dat way; and, finally, I got kinder sarcy, and, says I, ?Now, Missis, do jist look at dem beautiful white hands o? yourn with long fingers, and all a sparkling with rings, like my white lilies when de dew ?s on ?em; and look at my great black stumpin handsNow, don?t ye think dat de Lord must have meant me to make de pie-crust, and you to stay in de parlor? Dar! I was jist so sarcy, Mas?r George ?And what did mother say?? said George ?Say??why, she kinder larfed in her eyes?dem great handsome eyes o? hern; and, says she, ?Well, Aunt Chloe, I think you are about in the right on ?t,? says she; and she went off in de parlorShe oughter cracked me over de head for bein? so sarcy; but dar?s whar ?t is?I can?t do nothin? with ladies in de kitchen!? ?Well, you made out well with that dinner,?I remember everybody said so,? said George ?Didn?t I? And wan?t I behind de dinin?-room door dat bery day? and didn?t I see de General pass his plate three times for some more dat bery pie??and, says he, ?You must have an uncommon cook, Mrs Lor! I was fit to split myself ?And de Gineral, he knows what cookin? is,? said Aunt Chloe, drawing herself up with an air?Bery nice man, de Gineral! He comes of one of de bery fustest families in Old Virginny! He knows what?s what, now, as well as I do?de GineralYe see, there?s pints in all pies, Mas?r George; but tan?t everybody knows what they is, or as orter beBut the Gineral, he knows; I knew by his ?marks he madeYes, he knows what de pints is!? By this time, Master George had arrived at that pass to which even a boy can come (under uncommon circumstances, when he really could not eat another morsel), and, therefore, he was at leisure to notice the pile of woolly heads and glistening eyes which were regarding their operations hungrily from the opposite corner ?Here, you Mose, Pete,? he said, breaking off liberal bits, and throwing it at them; ?you want some, don?t you? Come, Aunt Chloe, bake them some cakes And George and Tom moved to a comfortable seat in the chimney-corner, while Aunte Chloe, after baking a goodly pile of cakes, took her baby on her lap, and began alternately filling its mouth and her own, and distributing to Mose and Pete, who seemed rather to prefer eating theirs as they rolled about on the floor under the table, tickling each other, and occasionally pulling the baby?s toes ?O! go long, will ye?? said the mother, giving now and then a kick, in a kind of general way, under the table, when the movement became too obstreperous?Can?t ye be decent when white folks comes to see ye? Stop dat ar, now, will ye? Better mind yerselves, or I?ll take ye down a button-hole lower, when Mas?r George is gone! What meaning was couched under this terrible threat, it is difficult to say; but certain it is that its awful indistinctness seemed to produce very little impression on the young sinners addressed ?La, now!? said Uncle Tom, ?they are so full of tickle all the while, they can?t behave theirselves Here the boys emerged from under the table, and, with hands and faces well plastered with molasses, began a vigorous kissing of the baby ?Get along wid ye!? said the mother, pushing away their woolly heads?Ye?ll all stick together, and never get clar, if ye do dat fashionGo long to de spring and wash yerselves!? she said, seconding her exhortations by a slap, which resounded very formidably, but which seemed only to knock out so much more laugh from the young ones, as they tumbled precipitately over each other out of doors, where they fairly screamed with merriment ?Did ye ever see such aggravating young uns?? said Aunt Chloe, rather complacently, as, producing an old towel, kept for such emergencies, she poured a little water out of the cracked tea-pot on it, and began rubbing off the molasses from the baby?s face and hands; and, having polished her till she shone, she set her down in Tom?s lap, while she busied herself in clearing away supperThe baby employed the intervals in pulling Tom?s nose, scratching his face, and burying her fat hands in his woolly hair, which last operation seemed to afford her special content ?Aint she a peart young un?? said Tom, holding her from him to take a full-length view; then, getting up, he set her on his broad shoulder, and began capering and dancing with her, while Mas?r George snapped at her with his pocket-handkerchief, and Mose and Pete, now returned again, roared after her like bears, till Aunt Chloe declared that they ?fairly took her head off? with their noiseAs, according to her own statement, this surgical operation was a matter of daily occurrence in the cabin, the declaration no whit abated the merriment, till every one had roared and tumbled and danced themselves down to a state of composure ?Well, now, I hopes you?re done,? said Aunt Chloe, who had been busy in pulling out a rude box of a trundle-bed; ?and now, you Mose and you Pete, get into thar; for we?s goin? to have the meetin? ?O mother, we don?t wanterWe wants to sit up to meetin?,?meetin?s is so curis ?La, Aunt Chloe, shove it under, and let ?em sit up,? said Mas?r George, decisively, giving a push to the rude machine Aunt Chloe, having thus saved appearances, seemed highly delighted to push the thing under, saying, as she did so, ?Well, mebbe ?t will do ?em some good The house now resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to consider the accommodations and arrangements for the meeting ?What we?s to do for cheers, now, I declar I don?t know,? said Aunt ChloeAs the meeting had been held at Uncle Tom?s weekly, for an indefinite length of time, without any more ?cheers,? there seemed some encouragement to hope that a way would be discovered at present ?Old Uncle Peter sung both de legs out of dat oldest cheer, last week,? suggested Mose ?You go long! I?ll boun? you pulled ?em out; some o? your shines,? said Aunt Chloe ?Well, it?ll stand, if it only keeps jam up agin de wall!? said shop Mose

I have not yet seen a servant anywhere, or heard a sound near the castle except the howling of wolvesSome time after I had finished my meal, I do not know whether to call it breakfast or dinner, for it was between five and six o'clock when I had it, I looked about for something to read, for I did not like to go about the castle until I had asked the Count's permissionThere was absolutely nothing in the room, book, newspaper, or even writing materials, so I opened another door in the room and found a sort of libraryThe door opposite mine I tried, but found locked In the library I found, to my great delight, a vast number of English books, whole shelves full of them, and bound volumes of magazines and newspapersA table in the centre was littered with English magazines and newspapers, though none of them were of very recent dateThe books were of the most varied kind, history, geography, politics, political economy, botany, geology, law, all relating to England and English life and customs and mannersThere were even such books of reference as the London Directory, the "Red" and "Blue" books, Whitaker's Almanac, the Army and Navy Lists, and it somehow gladdened my heart to see it, the Law List Whilst I was looking at the books, the door opened, and the Count enteredHe saluted me in a hearty way, and hoped that I had had a good night's rest "I am glad you found your way in here, for I am sure there is much that will interest youThese companions," and he laid his hand on some of the books, "have been good friends to me, and for some years past, ever since I had the idea of going to London, have given me many, many hours of pleasureThrough them I have come to know your great England, and to know her is to love herI long to go through the crowded streets of your mighty London, to be in the midst of the whirl and rush of humanity, to share its life, its change, its death, and all that makes it what it isBut alas! As yet I only know your tongue through booksTo you, my friend, I look that I know it to speak "But, Count," I said, "You know and speak English thoroughly!" He bowed gravely "I thank you, my friend, for your all too-flattering estimate, but yet I fear that I am but a little way on the road I would travelTrue, I know the grammar and the words, but yet I know not how to speak them "Indeed," I said, "You speak excellently "Not so," he answered"Well, I know that, did I move and speak in your London, none there are who would not know me for a strangerThat is not enough for meThe common people know me, and I am masterBut a stranger in a strange land, he is no oneMen know him not, and to know not is to care not forI am content if I am like the rest, so that no man stops if he sees me, or pauses in his speaking if he hears my words, 'Ha, ha! A stranger!' I have been so long master that I would be master still, or at least that none other should be master of meYou come to me not alone as agent of my friend Peter Hawkins, of Exeter, to tell me all about my new estate in LondonYou shall, I trust, rest here with me a while, so that by our talking I may learn the English intonationAnd I would that you tell me when I make error, even of the smallest, in my speakingI am sorry that I had to be away so long today, but you will, I know forgive one who has so many important affairs in hand Of course I said all I could about being willing, and asked if I might come into that room when I choseHe answered, "Yes, certainly," and added "You may go anywhere you wish in the castle, except where the doors are locked, where of course you will not wish to goThere is reason that all things are as they are, and did you see with my eyes and know with my knowledge, you would perhaps better understand I said I was sure of this, and then he went on "We are in Transylvania, and Transylvania is not EnglandOur ways are not your ways, and there shall be to you many strange thingsNay, from what you have told me of your experiences already, you know something of what strange things there may be This led to much conversation, and as it was evident that he wanted to talk, if only for talking's sake, I asked him many questions regarding things that had already happened to me or come within my shop notice

"Where are you?" The answer came in a neutral waySleep has no place it can call its own For several minutes there was silenceMina sat rigid, and the Professor stood staring at her fixedly The rest of us hardly dared to breatheThe room was growing lighterWithout taking his eyes from Mina's face, DrVan Helsing motioned me to pull up the blindI did so, and the day seemed just upon usA red streak shot up, and a rosy light seemed to diffuse itself through the roomOn the instant the Professor spoke again "Where are you now?" The answer came dreamily, but with intentionIt were as though she were interpreting somethingI have heard her use the same tone when reading her shorthand notesIt is all strange to me!" "What do you see?" "I can see nothing "What do you hear?" I could detect the strain in the Professor's patient voice "The lapping of waterIt is gurgling by, and little waves leapI can hear them on the outside "Then you are on a ship?'" We all looked at each other, trying to glean something each from the otherWe were afraid to think The answer came quick, "Oh, yes!" "What else do you hear?" "The sound of men stamping overhead as they run aboutThere is the creaking of a chain, and the loud tinkle as the check of the capstan falls into the ratchet "What are you doing?" "I am still, oh so stillIt is like death!" The voice faded away into a deep breath as of one sleeping, and the open eyes closed again By this time the sun had risen, and we were all in the full light of dayVan Helsing placed his hands on Mina's shoulders, and laid her head down softly on her pillowShe lay like a sleeping child for a few moments, and then, with a long sigh, awoke and stared in wonder to see us all around her "Have I been talking in my sleep?" was all she saidShe seemed, however, to know the situation without telling, though she was eager to know what she had toldThe Professor repeated the conversation, and she said, "Then there is not a moment to loseIt may not be yet too late!" MrMorris and Lord Godalming started for the door but the Professor's calm voice called them back "Stay, my friendsThat ship, wherever it was, was weighing anchor at the moment in your so great Port of LondonWhich of them is it that you seek? God be thanked that we have once again a clue, though whither it may lead us we know notWe have been blind somewhatBlind after the manner of men, since we can look back we see what we might have seen looking forward if we had been able to see what we might have seen! Alas, but that sentence is a puddle, is it not? We can know now what was in the Count's mind, when he seize that money, though Jonathan's so fierce knife put him in the danger that even he dreadHear me, ESCAPE! He saw that with but one earth box left, and a pack of men following like dogs after a fox, this London was no place for himHe have take his last earth box on board a ship, and he leave the shop land

Tomorrow night is yours!" There was a low, sweet ripple of laughter, and in a rage I threw open the door, and saw without the three terrible women licking their lipsAs I appeared, they all joined in a horrible laugh, and ran away I came back to my room and threw myself on my kneesIt is then so near the end? Tomorrow! Tomorrow! Lord, help me, and those to whom I am dear! 30 June-These may be the last words I ever write in this diaryI slept till just before the dawn, and when I woke threw myself on my knees, for I determined that if Death came he should find me ready At last I felt that subtle change in the air, and knew that the morning had comeThen came the welcome cockcrow, and I felt that I was safeWith a glad heart, I opened the door and ran down the hallI had seen that the door was unlocked, and now escape was before meWith hands that trembled with eagerness, I unhooked the chains and threw back the massive bolts But the door would not moveI pulled and pulled at the door, and shook it till, massive as it was, it rattled in its casementI could see the bolt shotIt had been locked after I left the Count Then a wild desire took me to obtain the key at any risk, and I determined then and there to scale the wall again, and gain the Count's roomHe might kill me, but death now seemed the happier choice of evilsWithout a pause I rushed up to the east window, and scrambled down the wall, as before, into the Count's roomIt was empty, but that was as I expectedI could not see a key anywhere, but the heap of gold remainedI went through the door in the corner and down the winding stair and along the dark passage to the old chapelI knew now well enough where to find the monster I sought The great box was in the same place, close against the wall, but the lid was laid on it, not fastened down, but with the nails ready in their places to be hammered home I knew I must reach the body for the key, so I raised the lid, and laid it back against the wallAnd then I saw something which filled my very soul with horrorThere lay the Count, but looking as if his youth had been half restoredFor the white hair and moustache were changed to dark iron-greyThe cheeks were fuller, and the white skin seemed ruby-red underneathThe mouth was redder than ever, for on the lips were gouts of fresh blood, which trickled from the corners of the mouth and ran down over the chin and neckEven the deep, burning eyes seemed set amongst swollen flesh, for the lids and pouches underneath were bloatedIt seemed as if the whole awful creature were simply gorged with bloodHe lay like a filthy leech, exhausted with his repletion I shuddered as I bent over to touch him, and every sense in me revolted at the contact, but I had to search, or I was lostThe coming night might see my own body a banquet in a similar war to those horrid threeI felt all over the body, but no sign could I find of the keyThen I stopped and looked at the CountThere was a mocking smile on the bloated face which seemed to drive me madThis was the being I was helping to transfer to London, where, perhaps, for centuries to come he might, amongst its teeming millions, satiate his lust for blood, and create a new and ever-widening circle of semi-demons to batten on the helpless The very thought drove me madA terrible desire came upon me to rid the world of such a shop monster

?Well, it might be a real missionary work,? said she, looking rather more favorably on the childClare had touched the right stringMiss Ophelia?s conscientiousness was ever on the alert?But,? she added, ?I really didn?t see the need of buying this one;?there are enough now, in your house, to take all my time and skill ?Well, then, Cousin,? said StClare, drawing her aside, ?I ought to beg your pardon for my good-for-nothing speechesYou are so good, after all, that there?s no sense in themWhy, the fact is, this concern belonged to a couple of drunken creatures that keep a low restaurant that I have to pass by every day, and I was tired of hearing her screaming, and them beating and swearing at herShe looked bright and funny, too, as if something might be made of her;?so I bought her, and I?ll give her to youTry, now, and give her a good orthodox New England bringing up, and see what it?ll make of herYou know I haven?t any gift that way; but I?d like you to try ?Well, I?ll do what I can,? said Miss Ophelia; and she approached her new subject very much as a person might be supposed to approach a black spider, supposing them to have benevolent designs toward it ?She?s dreadfully dirty, and half naked,? she said ?Well, take her down stairs, and make some of them clean and clothe her up Miss Ophelia carried her to the kitchen regions ?Don?t see what Mas?r StClare wants of ?nother nigger!? said Dinah, surveying the new arrival with no friendly air?Won?t have her around under my feet, I know!? ?Pah!? said Rosa and Jane, with supreme disgust; ?let her keep out of our way! What in the world Mas?r wanted another of these low niggers for, I can?t see!? ?You go long! No more nigger dan you be, Miss Rosa,? said Dinah, who felt this last remark a reflection on herself?You seem to tink yourself white folksYou an?t nerry one, black nor white, I?d like to be one or turrer Miss Ophelia saw that there was nobody in the camp that would undertake to oversee the cleansing and dressing of the new arrival; and so she was forced to do it herself, with some very ungracious and reluctant assistance from Jane It is not for ears polite to hear the particulars of the first toilet of a neglected, abused childIn fact, in this world, multitudes must live and die in a state that it would be too great a shock to the nerves of their fellow-mortals even to hear describedMiss Ophelia had a good, strong, practical deal of resolution; and she went through all the disgusting details with heroic thoroughness, though, it must be confessed, with no very gracious air,?for endurance was the utmost to which her principles could bring herWhen she saw, on the back and shoulders of the child, great welts and calloused spots, ineffaceable marks of the system under which she had grown up thus far, her heart became pitiful within her ?See there!? said Jane, pointing to the marks, ?don?t that show she?s a limb? We?ll have fine works with her, I reckonI hate these nigger young uns! so disgusting! I wonder that Mas?r would buy her!? The ?young un? alluded to heard all these comments with the subdued and doleful air which seemed habitual to her, only scanning, with a keen and furtive glance of her flickering eyes, the ornaments which Jane wore in her earsWhen arrayed at last in a suit of decent and whole clothing, her hair cropped short to her head, Miss Ophelia, with some satisfaction, said she looked more Christian-like than she did, and in her own mind began to mature some plans for her instruction Sitting down before her, she began to question her ?How old are you, Topsy?? ?Dun no, Missis,? said the image, with a grin that showed all her teeth ?Don?t know how old you are? Didn?t anybody ever tell you? Who was your mother?? ?Never had none!? said the child, with another grin ?Never had any mother? What do you mean? Where were you born?? ?Never was born!? persisted Topsy, with another grin, that looked so goblin-like, that, if Miss Ophelia had been at all nervous, she might have fancied that she had got hold of some sooty gnome from the land of Diablerie; but Miss Ophelia was not nervous, but plain and business-like, and she said, with some sternness, ?You mustn?t answer me in that way, child; I?m not playing with youTell me where you were born, and who your father and mother were ?Never was born,? reiterated the creature, more emphatically; ?never had no father nor mother, nor nothin?I was raised by a speculator, with lots of othersOld Aunt Sue used to take car on us The child was evidently sincere, and Jane, breaking into a short laugh, said, ?Laws, Missis, there?s heaps of ?emSpeculators buys ?em up cheap, when they?s little, and gets ?em raised for market ?How long have you lived with your master and mistress?? ?Dun no, Missis ?Is it a year, or more, or less?? ?Dun no, shop Missis