Кармілла
We Compare Notes
Wewerescarcelyalone,whenIentreatedhimtotellme.Hedidnotneedmuchpressing.
"ThereisnoparticularreasonwhyIshouldnottellyou.Sheexpressedareluctancetotroubleuswiththecareofherdaughter,sayingshewasindelicatehealth,andnervous,butnotsubjecttoanykindofseizure—shevolunteeredthat—nortoanyillusion;being,infact,perfectlysane."
"Howveryoddtosayallthat!"Iinterpolated."Itwassounnecessary."
"Atalleventsitwassaid,"helaughed,"andasyouwishtoknowallthatpassed,whichwasindeedverylittle,Itellyou.Shethensaid,‘Iammakingalongjourneyofvitalimportance—sheemphasizedtheword—rapidandsecret;Ishallreturnformychildinthreemonths;inthemeantime,shewillbesilentastowhoweare,whencewecome,andwhitherwearetraveling.’Thatisallshesaid.ShespokeverypureFrench.Whenshesaidtheword‘secret,’shepausedforafewseconds,lookingsternly,hereyesfixedonmine.Ifancyshemakesagreatpointofthat.Yousawhowquicklyshewasgone.IhopeIhavenotdoneaveryfoolishthing,intakingchargeoftheyounglady."
Formypart,Iwasdelighted.Iwaslongingtoseeandtalktoher;andonlywaitingtillthedoctorshouldgivemeleave.You,wholiveintowns,canhavenoideahowgreataneventtheintroductionofanewfriendis,insuchasolitudeassurroundedus.
