Кармилла

           ItisnotMarcia;itlooksasifitwasdoneingold.ThenameisMircalla,CountessKarnstein,andthisisalittlecoronetoverandunderneathA.D.1698.IamdescendedfromtheKarnsteins;thatis,mammawas."

           "Ah!"saidthelady,languidly,"soamI,Ithink,averylongdescent,veryancient.ArethereanyKarnsteinslivingnow?"

           "Nonewhobearthename,Ibelieve.Thefamilywereruined,Ibelieve,insomecivilwars,longago,buttheruinsofthecastleareonlyaboutthreemilesaway."

           "Howinteresting!"shesaid,languidly."Butseewhatbeautifulmoonlight!"Sheglancedthroughthehalldoor,whichstoodalittleopen."Supposeyoutakealittlerambleroundthecourt,andlookdownattheroadandriver."

           "Itissolikethenightyoucametous,"Isaid.

           Shesighed;smiling.

           Sherose,andeachwithherarmabouttheother’swaist,wewalkedoutuponthepavement.

           Insilence,slowlywewalkeddowntothedrawbridge,wherethebeautifullandscapeopenedbeforeus.

           "AndsoyouwerethinkingofthenightIcamehere?"shealmostwhispered.

           "AreyougladIcame?"

           "Delighted,dearCarmilla,"Ianswered.

           "Andyouaskedforthepictureyouthinklikeme,tohanginyourroom,"shemurmuredwithasigh,asshedrewherarmcloseraboutmywaist,andletherprettyheadsinkuponmyshoulder."Howromanticyouare,Carmilla,"Isaid."Wheneveryoutellmeyourstory,itwillbemadeupchieflyofsomeonegreatromance."

           Shekissedmesilently.