Кармілла
A Guest
MademoiselleDeLafontaine—inrightofherfatherwhowasaGerman,assumedtobepsychological,metaphysical,andsomethingofamystic—nowdeclaredthatwhenthemoonshonewithalightsointenseitwaswellknownthatitindicatedaspecialspiritualactivity.Theeffectofthefullmooninsuchastateofbrilliancywasmanifold.Itactedondreams,itactedonlunacy,itactedonnervouspeople,ithadmarvelousphysicalinfluencesconnectedwithlife.Mademoisellerelatedthathercousin,whowasmateofamerchantship,havingtakenanapondeckonsuchanight,lyingonhisback,withhisfacefullinthelightonthemoon,hadwakened,afteradreamofanoldwomanclawinghimbythecheek,withhisfeatureshorriblydrawntooneside;andhiscountenancehadneverquiterecovereditsequilibrium.
"Themoon,thisnight,"shesaid,"isfullofidyllicandmagneticinfluence—andsee,whenyoulookbehindyouatthefrontoftheschlosshowallitswindowsflashandtwinklewiththatsilverysplendor,asifunseenhandshadlighteduptheroomstoreceivefairyguests."
Thereareindolentstylesofthespiritsinwhich,indisposedtotalkourselves,thetalkofothersispleasanttoourlistlessears;andIgazedon,pleasedwiththetinkleoftheladies’conversation.
"Ihavegotintooneofmymopingmoodstonight,"saidmyfather,afterasilence,andquotingShakespeare,whom,bywayofkeepingupourEnglish,heusedtoreadaloud,hesaid:
"‘IntruthIknownotwhyIamsosad.
