Кармилла

           Ishan’trequireanyassistance—and,shallIconfessmyweakness,Iamhauntedwithaterrorofrobbers.Ourhousewasrobbedonce,andtwoservantsmurdered,soIalwayslockmydoor.Ithasbecomeahabit—andyoulooksokindIknowyouwillforgiveme.Iseethereisakeyinthelock."

           Sheheldmecloseinherprettyarmsforamomentandwhisperedinmyear,"Goodnight,darling,itisveryhardtopartwithyou,butgoodnight;tomorrow,butnotearly,Ishallseeyouagain."

           Shesankbackonthepillowwithasigh,andherfineeyesfollowedmewithafondandmelancholygaze,andshemurmuredagain"Goodnight,dearfriend."

           Youngpeoplelike,andevenlove,onimpulse.Iwasflatteredbytheevident,thoughasyetundeserved,fondnesssheshowedme.Ilikedtheconfidencewithwhichsheatoncereceivedme.Shewasdeterminedthatweshouldbeverynearfriends.

           Nextdaycameandwemetagain.Iwasdelightedwithmycompanion;thatistosay,inmanyrespects.

           Herlookslostnothingindaylight—shewascertainlythemostbeautifulcreatureIhadeverseen,andtheunpleasantremembranceofthefacepresentedinmyearlydream,hadlosttheeffectofthefirstunexpectedrecognition.

           Sheconfessedthatshehadexperiencedasimilarshockonseeingme,andpreciselythesamefaintantipathythathadmingledwithmyadmirationofher.Wenowlaughedtogetheroverourmomentaryhorrors.