Chapter I: Adam Salton Arrives

by Bram Stoker

　　Adam Salton sauntered into the Empire Club, Sydney, and foundawaiting him a letter from his grand-uncle. He had first heard fromthe old gentleman less than a year before, when Richard Salton hadclaimed kinship, stating that he had been unable to write earlier,as he had found it very difficult to trace his grand-nephew'saddress. Adam was delighted and replied cordially; he had oftenheard his father speak of the older branch of the family with whomhis people had long lost touch. Some interesting correspondence hadensued. Adam eagerly opened the letter which had only just arrived,and conveyed a cordial invitation to stop with his grand-uncle atLesser Hill, for as long a time as he could spare."Indeed," Richard Salton went on, "I am in hopes that you will makeyour permanent home here. You see, my dear boy, you and I are allthat remain of our race, and it is but fitting that you shouldsucceed me when the time comes. In this year of grace, 1860, I amclose on eighty years of age, and though we have been a long-livedrace, the span of life cannot be prolonged beyond reasonable bounds.I am prepared to like you, and to make your home with me as happy asyou could wish. So do come at once on receipt of this, and find thewelcome I am waiting to give you. I send, in case such may makematters easy for you, a banker's draft for 200 pounds. Come soon,so that we may both of us enjoy many happy days together. If youare able to give me the pleasure of seeing you, send me as soon asyou can a letter telling me when to expect you. Then when youarrive at Plymouth or Southampton or whatever port you are boundfor, wait on board, and I will meet you at the earliest hourpossible."Old Mr. Salton was delighted when Adam's reply arrived and sent agroom hot-foot to his crony, Sir Nathaniel de Salis, to inform himthat his grand-nephew was due at Southampton on the twelfth of June.Mr. Salton gave instructions to have ready a carriage early on theimportant day, to start for Stafford, where he would catch the 11.40a.m. train. He would stay that night with his grand-nephew, eitheron the ship, which would be a new experience for him, or, if hisguest should prefer it, at a hotel. In either case they would startin the early morning for home. He had given instructions to hisbailiff to send the postillion carriage on to Southampton, to beready for their journey home, and to arrange for relays of his ownhorses to be sent on at once. He intended that his grand-nephew,who had been all his life in Australia, should see something ofrural England on the drive. He had plenty of young horses of hisown breeding and breaking, and could depend on a journey memorableto the young man. The luggage would be sent on by rail to Stafford,where one of his carts would meet it. Mr. Salton, during thejourney to Southampton, often wondered if his grand-nephew was asmuch excited as he was at the idea of meeting so near a relation forthe first time; and it was with an effort that he controlledhimself. The endless railway lines and switches round theSouthampton Docks fired his anxiety afresh.As the train drew up on the dockside, he was getting his hand trapstogether, when the carriage door was wrenched open and a young manjumped in."How are you, uncle? I recognised you from the photo you sent me!I wanted to meet you as soon as I could, but everything is sostrange to me that I didn't quite know what to do. However, here Iam. I am glad to see you, sir. I have been dreaming of thishappiness for thousands of miles; now I find that the reality beatsall the dreaming!" As he spoke the old man and the young one wereheartily wringing each other's hands.The meeting so auspiciously begun proceeded well. Adam, seeing thatthe old man was interested in the novelty of the ship, suggestedthat he should stay the night on board, and that he would himself beready to start at any hour and go anywhere that the other suggested.This affectionate willingness to fall in with his own plans quitewon the old man's heart. He warmly accepted the invitation, and atonce they became not only on terms of affectionate relationship, butalmost like old friends. The heart of the old man, which had beenempty for so long, found a new delight. The young man found, onlanding in the old country, a welcome and a surrounding in fullharmony with all his dreams throughout his wanderings and solitude,and the promise of a fresh and adventurous life. It was not longbefore the old man accepted him to full relationship by calling himby his Christian name. After a long talk on affairs of interest,they retired to the cabin, which the elder was to share. RichardSalton put his hands affectionately on the boy's shoulders--thoughAdam was in his twenty-seventh year, he was a boy, and always wouldbe, to his grand-uncle."I am so glad to find you as you are, my dear boy--just such a youngman as I had always hoped for as a son, in the days when I still hadsuch hopes. However, that is all past. But thank God there is anew life to begin for both of us. To you must be the larger part--but there is still time for some of it to be shared in common. Ihave waited till we should have seen each other to enter upon thesubject; for I thought it better not to tie up your young life to myold one till we should have sufficient personal knowledge to justifysuch a venture. Now I can, so far as I am concerned, enter into itfreely, since from the moment my eyes rested on you I saw my son--ashe shall be, God willing--if he chooses such a course himself.""Indeed I do, sir--with all my heart!""Thank you, Adam, for that." The old, man's eyes filled and hisvoice trembled. Then, after a long silence between them, he wenton: "When I heard you were coming I made my will. It was well thatyour interests should be protected from that moment on. Here is thedeed--keep it, Adam. All I have shall belong to you; and if loveand good wishes, or the memory of them, can make life sweeter, yoursshall be a happy one. Now, my dear boy, let us turn in. We startearly in the morning and have a long drive before us. I hope youdon't mind driving? I was going to have the old travelling carriagein which my grandfather, your great-grand-uncle, went to Court whenWilliam IV. was king. It is all right--they built well in thosedays--and it has been kept in perfect order. But I think I havedone better: I have sent the carriage in which I travel myself.The horses are of my own breeding, and relays of them shall take usall the way. I hope you like horses? They have long been one of mygreatest interests in life.""I love them, sir, and I am happy to say I have many of my own. Myfather gave me a horse farm for myself when I was eighteen. Idevoted myself to it, and it has gone on. Before I came away, mysteward gave me a memorandum that we have in my own place more thana thousand, nearly all good.""I am glad, my boy. Another link between us.""Just fancy what a delight it will be, sir, to see so much ofEngland--and with you!""Thank you again, my boy. I will tell you all about your futurehome and its surroundings as we go. We shall travel in old-fashioned state, I tell you. My grandfather always drove four-in-hand; and so shall we.""Oh, thanks, sir, thanks. May I take the ribbons sometimes?""Whenever you choose, Adam. The team is your own. Every horse weuse to-day is to be your own.""You are too generous, uncle!""Not at all. Only an old man's selfish pleasure. It is not everyday that an heir to the old home comes back. And--oh, by the way. .. No, we had better turn in now--I shall tell you the rest in themorning."