Кармилла
The Story
"Whenthefireworkswereended,andtheballbeginning,wereturnedtothenoblesuiteofroomsthatwerethrownopentothedancers.Amaskedball,youknow,isabeautifulsight;butsobrilliantaspectacleofthekindIneversawbefore.
"Itwasaveryaristocraticassembly.Iwasmyselfalmosttheonly‘nobody’present.
"Mydearchildwaslookingquitebeautiful.Sheworenomask.Herexcitementanddelightaddedanunspeakablecharmtoherfeatures,alwayslovely.Iremarkedayounglady,dressedmagnificently,butwearingamask,whoappearedtometobeobservingmywardwithextraordinaryinterest.Ihadseenher,earlierintheevening,inthegreathall,andagain,forafewminutes,walkingnearus,ontheterraceunderthecastlewindows,similarlyemployed.Alady,alsomasked,richlyandgravelydressed,andwithastatelyair,likeapersonofrank,accompaniedherasachaperon.
"Hadtheyoungladynotwornamask,Icould,ofcourse,havebeenmuchmorecertainuponthequestionwhethershewasreallywatchingmypoordarling.
"Iamnowwellassuredthatshewas.
"Wewerenowinoneofthesalons.Mypoordearchildhadbeendancing,andwasrestingalittleinoneofthechairsnearthedoor;Iwasstandingnear.ThetwoladiesIhavementionedhadapproachedandtheyoungertookthechairnextmyward;whilehercompanionstoodbesideme,andforalittletimeaddressedherself,inalowtone,tohercharge.
