"stoker-dracula-168" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stoker Bram)

to the bridge, which was the only way to reach the East Cliff. The
town seemed as dead, for not a soul did I see; I rejoiced that it
was so, for I wanted no witness of poor Lucy's condition. The time and
distance seemed endless, and my knees trembled and my breath came
laboured as I toiled up the endless steps to the abbey. I must have
gone fast, and yet it seemed to me as if my feet were weighted with
lead, and as though every joint in my body were rusty. When I got
almost to the top I could see the seat and the white figure, for I was
now close enough to distinguish it even through the spells of
shadow. There was undoubtedly something, long and black, bending
over the half-reclining white figure. I called in fright, "Lucy!
Lucy!" and something raised a head, and from where I was I could see a
white face and red, gleaming eyes. Lucy did not answer, and I ran on
to the entrance of the churchyard. As I entered, the church was
between me and the seat, and for a minute or so I lost sight of her.
When I came in view again the cloud had passed, and the moonlight
struck so brilliantly that I could see Lucy half reclining with her
head lying over the back of the seat. She was quite alone, and there
was not a sign of any living thing about.

When I bent over her I could see that she was still asleep. Her lips
were parted, and she was breathing- not softly, as usual with her, but
in long, heavy gasps, as though striving to get her lungs full at
every breath. As I came close, she put up her hand in her sleep and
pulled the collar of her nightdress close around her throat. Whilst
she did so there came a little shudder through her, as though she felt
the cold. I flung the warm shawl over her, and drew the edges tight
round her neck, for I dreaded lest she should get some deadly chill
from the night air, unclad as she was I feared to wake her all at
once, so, in order to have my hands free that I might help her. I
fastened the shawl at her throat with a big safety-pin; but I must
have been clumsy in my anxiety and pinched or pricked her with it, for
by-and-by, when her breathing became quieter, she put her hand to
her throat again and moaned. When I had her carefully wrapped up I put
my shoes on her feet, and then began very gently to wake her. At first
she did not respond; but gradually she became more and more uneasy
in her sleep, moaning and sighing occasionally. At last, as time was
passing fast, and, for many other reasons, I wished to get her home at
once, I shook her more forcibly, till finally she opened her eyes
and awoke. She did not seem surprised to see me, as, of course, she
did not realise all at once where she was. Lucy always wakes prettily,
and even at such a time, when her body must have been chilled with
cold, and her mind somewhat appalled at waking unclad in a
churchyard at night, she did not lose her grace. She trembled a
little, and clung to me; when I told her to come at once with me
home she rose without a word, with the obedience of a child. As we
passed along, the gravel hurt my feet, and Lucy noticed me wince.
She stopped and wanted to insist upon my taking my shoes; but I
would not. However, when we got to the pathway outside the churchyard,
where there was a puddle of water remaining from the storm, I daubed