Кармілла
Her Habits — A Saunter
WhatharmcoulditdoanyonetotellmewhatIsoardentlydesiredtoknow?Hadshenotrustinmygoodsenseorhonor?WhywouldshenotbelievemewhenIassuredher,sosolemnly,thatIwouldnotdivulgeonesyllableofwhatshetoldmetoanymortalbreathing.
Therewasacoldness,itseemedtome,beyondheryears,inhersmilingmelancholypersistentrefusaltoaffordmetheleastrayoflight.
Icannotsaywequarreleduponthispoint,forshewouldnotquarreluponany.Itwas,ofcourse,veryunfairofmetopressher,veryill-bred,butIreallycouldnothelpit;andImightjustaswellhaveletitalone.
Whatshedidtellmeamounted,inmyunconscionableestimation—tonothing.
Itwasallsummedupinthreeveryvaguedisclosures:
First—HernamewasCarmilla.
Second—Herfamilywasveryancientandnoble.
Third—Herhomelayinthedirectionofthewest.
Shewouldnottellmethenameofherfamily,northeirarmorialbearings,northenameoftheirestate,noreventhatofthecountrytheylivedin.
YouarenottosupposethatIworriedherincessantlyonthesesubjects.Iwatchedopportunity,andratherinsinuatedthanurgedmyinquiries.Onceortwice,indeed,Ididattackhermoredirectly.Butnomatterwhatmytactics,utterfailurewasinvariablytheresult.Reproachesandcaresseswerealllostuponher.
