long, he turned aside. I told him that that must be good-bye, as the
coffin had to be prepared; so he went back and took her dead hand in his
and kissed it, and bent over and kissed her forehead. He came away,
fondly looking back over his shoulder at her as he came.
I left him in the drawing-room, and told Van Helsing that he had said
good-bye; so the latter went to the kitchen to tell the undertaker s men
to proceed with the preparations and to screw up the coffin. When he
came out of the room again I told him of Arthur s question, and he
replied:--
I am not surprised. Just now I doubted for a moment myself!
We all dined together, and I could see that poor Art was trying to make
the best of things. Van Helsing had been silent all dinner-time; but
when we had lit our cigars he said--
Lord---- ; but Arthur interrupted him:--
No, no, not that, for God s sake! not yet at any rate. Forgive me, sir:
I did not mean to speak offensively; it is only because my loss is so
recent.
The Professor answered very sweetly:--
I only used that name because I was in doubt. I must not call you
Mr., and I have grown to love you--yes, my dear boy, to love you--as
Arthur.
Arthur held out his hand, and took the old man s warmly.
Call me what you will, he said. I hope I may always have the title of
a friend. And let me say that I am at a loss for words to thank you for
your goodness to my poor dear. He paused a moment, and went on: I know
that she understood your goodness even better than I do; and if I was
rude or in any way wanting at that time you acted so--you remember --the
Professor nodded-- you must forgive me.
He answered with a grave kindness:--
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