Кармілла
A Very Strange Agony
"Now,Carmilla,youaregoingtotalkyourwildnonsenseagain,"Isaidhastily.
"NotI,sillylittlefoolasIam,andfullofwhimsandfancies;foryoursakeI’lltalklikeasage.Wereyoueverataball?"
"No;howyoudorunon.Whatisitlike?Howcharmingitmustbe."
"Ialmostforget,itisyearsago."
Ilaughed.
"Youarenotsoold.Yourfirstballcanhardlybeforgottenyet."
"Iremembereverythingit—withaneffort.Iseeitall,asdiversseewhatisgoingonabovethem,throughamedium,dense,rippling,buttransparent.Thereoccurredthatnightwhathasconfusedthepicture,andmadeitscoloursfaint.Iwasallbutassassinatedinmybed,woundedhere,"shetouchedherbreast,"andneverwasthesamesince."
"Wereyouneardying?"
"Yes,very—acruellove—strangelove,thatwouldhavetakenmylife.Lovewillhaveitssacrifices.Nosacrificewithoutblood.Letusgotosleepnow;Ifeelsolazy.HowcanIgetupjustnowandlockmydoor?"
Shewaslyingwithhertinyhandsburiedinherrichwavyhair,underhercheek,herlittleheaduponthepillow,andherglitteringeyesfollowedmewhereverImoved,withakindofshysmilethatIcouldnotdecipher.
Ibidhergoodnight,andcreptfromtheroomwithanuncomfortablesensation.
Ioftenwonderedwhetherourprettyguesteversaidherprayers.Icertainlyhadneverseenheruponherknees.
