My true friend! was all she could say amid her fast-falling tears, as,
bending over, she kissed his hand.
I swear the same, my dear Madam Mina! said Van Helsing.
And I! said Lord Godalming, each of them in turn kneeling to her to
take the oath. I followed, myself. Then her husband turned to her
wan-eyed and with a greenish pallor which subdued the snowy whiteness of
his hair, and asked:--
And must I, too, make such a promise, oh, my wife?
You too, my dearest, she said, with infinite yearning of pity in her
voice and eyes. You must not shrink. You are nearest and dearest and
all the world to me; our souls are knit into one, for all life and all
time. Think, dear, that there have been times when brave men have killed
their wives and their womenkind, to keep them from falling into the
hands of the enemy. Their hands did not falter any the more because
those that they loved implored them to slay them. It is men s duty
towards those whom they love, in such times of sore trial! And oh, my
dear, if it is to be that I must meet death at any hand, let it be at
the hand of him that loves me best. Dr. Van Helsing, I have not
forgotten your mercy in poor Lucy s case to him who loved --she stopped
with a flying blush, and changed her phrase-- to him who had best right
to give her peace. If that time shall come again, I look to you to make
it a happy memory of my husband s life that it was his loving hand which
set me free from the awful thrall upon me.
Again I swear! came the Professor s resonant voice. Mrs. Harker
smiled, positively smiled, as with a sigh of relief she leaned back and
said:--
And now one word of warning, a warning which you must never forget:
this time, if it ever come, may come quickly and unexpectedly, and in
such case you must lose no time in using your opportunity. At such a
time I myself might be--nay! if the time ever comes, _shall be_--leagued
with your enemy against you.
One more request; she became very solemn as she said this, it is not
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