It was all very ridiculous but I did not feel comfortable. However, there was business to be done, and I could allow nothing to interfere with it. I tried to raise her up, and said, as gravely as I could, that I thanked her, but my duty was imperative, and that I must go. She then rose and dried her eyes, and taking a crucifix from her neck offered it to me. I did not know what to do, for, as an English Churchman, I have been taught to regard such things as in some measure idolatrous, and yet it seemed so ungracious to refuse an old lady meaning so well and in such a state of mind. She saw, I suppose, the doubt in my face, for she put the rosary round my neck and said, "For your mother's sake," and went out of the room. I am writing up this part of the diary whilst I am waiting for the coach, which is, of course, late; and the crucifix is still round my neck. Whether it is the old lady's fear, or the many ghostly traditions of this place, or the crucifix itself, I do not know, but I am not feeling nearly as easy in my mind as usual. If this book should ever reach Mina before I do, let it bring my good-bye. Here comes the coach! (1.15)

Jonathan Harker has just arrived in Transylvania. He's gotten a promotion as a solicitor (kind of like a lawyer-accountant combo), and he's handling his boss's biggest new client: Count Dracula. Now, Jonny-boy does not know Dracula is a vampire, but the townspeople sure seem to know something's wrong with the creepy guy who lives in the Gothic castle in the desolate wilderness.

Since this particular old woman fails to convince Harker not to meet with Dracula, she offers him a crucifix in order to try to keep him safe.

What's a good English boy to do? To refuse the crucifix would be rude, but to accept could potentially be morally wrong. After all, Harker belongs to the Church of England and this is a holy item from the Catholic Church.

This tension may seem weird since so much of Anglicanism is modeled on Catholicism, but the exchange highlights several things:

1. The rift between the two institutions
2. The prevalent associations in England during 18th and19th centuries of Catholicism as something "other" and superstitious
3. The anxiety over false belief.

Apparently, being a good guest wins out over these concerns. Good thing, too, because Harker's going to need that pendant.

Dracula plays with perspective and composes its mystery using the popular convention of the epistolary novel. Here, Harker is writing his journal entries partially as letters to his wife Mina. It allows us the opportunity to access Harker's inner thoughts with slightly less concern that he's not telling us something. Plus, when we switch to other characters' letters and journals, we get an interesting look at how different people piece together the same mystery.