Кармілла

           Shepressedmyhand,shelaidhersuponit,andhereyesglowed,as,lookinghastilyintomine,shesmiledagain,andblushed.

           Sheansweredmywelcomeveryprettily.Isatdownbesideher,stillwondering;andshesaid:

           "Imusttellyoumyvisionaboutyou;itissoverystrangethatyouandIshouldhavehad,eachoftheothersovividadream,thateachshouldhaveseen,Iyouandyoume,lookingaswedonow,whenofcoursewebothweremerechildren.Iwasachild,aboutsixyearsold,andIawokefromaconfusedandtroubleddream,andfoundmyselfinaroom,unlikemynursery,wainscotedclumsilyinsomedarkwood,andwithcupboardsandbedsteads,andchairs,andbenchesplacedaboutit.Thebedswere,Ithought,allempty,andtheroomitselfwithoutanyonebutmyselfinit;andI,afterlookingaboutmeforsometime,andadmiringespeciallyanironcandlestickwithtwobranches,whichIshouldcertainlyknowagain,creptunderoneofthebedstoreachthewindow;butasIgotfromunderthebed,Iheardsomeonecrying;andlookingup,whileIwasstilluponmyknees,Isawyou—mostassuredlyyou—asIseeyounow;abeautifulyounglady,withgoldenhairandlargeblueeyes,andlips—yourlips—youasyouarehere.

           "Yourlookswonme;Iclimbedonthebedandputmyarmsaboutyou,andIthinkwebothfellasleep.Iwasarousedbyascream;youweresittingupscreaming.Iwasfrightened,andslippeddownupontheground,and,itseemedtome,lostconsciousnessforamoment;andwhenIcametomyself,Iwasagaininmynurseryathome.