Кармилла

           Notraceofthemissingladycouldbediscovered.Thestreamwasabouttobedragged;myfatherwasindistraction;whatataletohavetotellthepoorgirl’smotheronherreturn.I,too,wasalmostbesidemyself,thoughmygriefwasquiteofadifferentkind.

           Themorningwaspassedinalarmandexcitement.Itwasnowoneo’clock,andstillnotidings.IranuptoCarmilla’sroom,andfoundherstandingatherdressingtable.Iwasastounded.Icouldnotbelievemyeyes.Shebeckonedmetoherwithherprettyfinger,insilence.Herfaceexpressedextremefear.

           Irantoherinanecstasyofjoy;Ikissedandembracedheragainandagain.Irantothebellandrangitvehemently,tobringotherstothespotwhomightatoncerelievemyfather’sanxiety.

           "DearCarmilla,whathasbecomeofyouallthistime?Wehavebeeninagoniesofanxietyaboutyou,"Iexclaimed."Wherehaveyoubeen?Howdidyoucomeback?"

           "Lastnighthasbeenanightofwonders,"shesaid.

           "Formercy’ssake,explainallyoucan."

           "Itwaspasttwolastnight,"shesaid,"whenIwenttosleepasusualinmybed,withmydoorslocked,thatofthedressingroom,andthatopeninguponthegallery.Mysleepwasuninterrupted,and,sofarasIknow,dreamless;butIwokejustnowonthesofainthedressingroomthere,andIfoundthedoorbetweentheroomsopen,andtheotherdoorforced.