Кармілла
An Early Fright
Ican’thavebeenmorethansixyearsold,whenonenightIawoke,andlookingroundtheroomfrommybed,failedtoseethenurserymaid.Neitherwasmynursethere;andIthoughtmyselfalone.Iwasnotfrightened,forIwasoneofthosehappychildrenwhoarestudiouslykeptinignoranceofghoststories,offairytales,andofallsuchloreasmakesuscoverupourheadswhenthedoorcrackssuddenly,ortheflickerofanexpiringcandlemakestheshadowofabedpostdanceuponthewall,nearertoourfaces.Iwasvexedandinsultedatfindingmyself,asIconceived,neglected,andIbegantowhimper,preparatorytoaheartyboutofroaring;whentomysurprise,Isawasolemn,butveryprettyfacelookingatmefromthesideofthebed.Itwasthatofayoungladywhowaskneeling,withherhandsunderthecoverlet.Ilookedatherwithakindofpleasedwonder,andceasedwhimpering.Shecaressedmewithherhands,andlaydownbesidemeonthebed,anddrewmetowardsher,smiling;Ifeltimmediatelydelightfullysoothed,andfellasleepagain.Iwaswakenedbyasensationasiftwoneedlesranintomybreastverydeepatthesamemoment,andIcriedloudly.Theladystartedback,withhereyesfixedonme,andthenslippeddownuponthefloor,and,asIthought,hidherselfunderthebed.
Iwasnowforthefirsttimefrightened,andIyelledwithallmymightandmain.Nurse,nurserymaid,housekeeper,allcamerunningin,andhearingmystory,theymadelightofit,soothingmealltheycouldmeanwhile.
