Кармілла

           ButImustaddthis,thatherevasionwasconductedwithsoprettyamelancholyanddeprecation,withsomany,andevenpassionatedeclarationsofherlikingforme,andtrustinmyhonor,andwithsomanypromisesthatIshouldatlastknowall,thatIcouldnotfinditinmyheartlongtobeoffendedwithher.

           Sheusedtoplaceherprettyarmsaboutmyneck,drawmetoher,andlayinghercheektomine,murmurwithherlipsnearmyear,"Dearest,yourlittleheartiswounded;thinkmenotcruelbecauseIobeytheirresistiblelawofmystrengthandweakness;ifyourdearheartiswounded,mywildheartbleedswithyours.IntheraptureofmyenormoushumiliationIliveinyourwarmlife,andyoushalldie—die,sweetlydie—intomine.Icannothelpit;asIdrawneartoyou,you,inyourturn,willdrawneartoothers,andlearntheraptureofthatcruelty,whichyetislove;so,forawhile,seektoknownomoreofmeandmine,buttrustmewithallyourlovingspirit."

           Andwhenshehadspokensucharhapsody,shewouldpressmemorecloselyinhertremblingembrace,andherlipsinsoftkissesgentlyglowuponmycheek.

           Heragitationsandherlanguagewereunintelligibletome.

           Fromthesefoolishembraces,whichwerenotofveryfrequentoccurrence,Imustallow,Iusedtowishtoextricatemyself;butmyenergiesseemedtofailme.Hermurmuredwordssoundedlikealullabyinmyear,andsoothedmyresistanceintoatrance,fromwhichIonlyseemedtorecovermyselfwhenshewithdrewherarms.

           InthesemysteriousmoodsIdidnotlikeher.