Dracula, Chapter 15 summary

What happens

1. At the hospital, Seward and Van Helsing find punctures on a child’s throat resembling Lucy’s wounds.
2. That night, they discover Lucy’s coffin empty, and Van Helsing finds an unharmed child near a moving white figure.
3. They leave the child where a policeman finds it, then return to the tomb the next afternoon.
4. Lucy lies in her coffin with brighter coloring and sharper teeth, and Seward begins accepting Van Helsing’s explanation.
5. Van Helsing postpones destroying Lucy to secure Arthur’s understanding and writes a precautionary note before keeping watch alone.
6. Seward resumes doubting, while Arthur angrily rejects mutilation but finally agrees to accompany Van Helsing and wait.

In this chapter

What to notice

Seward separates what he observes from Van Helsing’s explanation. His resistance makes repeated demonstrations necessary before the men can act together.

Quick check