Дракула

           Hewasstoopingtokissher,whenVanHelsingmotionedhimback. "No,"hewhispered,"notyet!Holdherhand,itwillcomforthermore." 

           SoArthurtookherhandandkneltbesideher,andshelookedherbest,withallthesoftlinesmatchingtheangelicbeautyofhereyes. Thengraduallyhereyesclosed,andshesanktosleep. Foralittlebitherbreastheavedsoftly,andherbreathcameandwentlikeatiredchild’s. 

           AndtheninsensiblytherecamethestrangechangewhichIhadnoticedinthenight. Herbreathinggrewstertorous,themouthopened,andthepalegums,drawnback,madetheteethlooklongerandsharperthanever. Inasortofsleep-waking,vague,unconsciouswaysheopenedhereyes,whichwerenowdullandhardatonce,andsaidinasoft,voluptuousvoice,suchasIhadneverheardfromherlips, "Arthur!Oh,mylove,Iamsogladyouhavecome!Kissme!" 

           Arthurbenteagerlyovertokissher,butatthatinstantVanHelsing,who,likeme,hadbeenstartledbyhervoice,swoopeduponhim,andcatchinghimbytheneckwithbothhands,draggedhimbackwithafuryofstrengthwhichIneverthoughthecouldhavepossessed,andactuallyhurledhimalmostacrosstheroom. 

           "Notonyourlife!"hesaid,"notforyourlivingsoulandhers!" Andhestoodbetweenthemlikealionatbay. 

           Arthurwassotakenabackthathedidnotforamomentknowwhattodoorsay,andbeforeanyimpulseofviolencecouldseizehimherealizedtheplaceandtheoccasion,andstoodsilent,waiting. 

           IkeptmyeyesfixedonLucy,asdidVanHelsing,andwesawaspasmasofrageflitlikeashadowoverherface. Thesharpteethclampedtogether. Thenhereyesclosed,andshebreathedheavily.