Кармілла
Descending
Ifellasleepalmostimmediately,andsleptevenmoresoundlythanusualallnight.
NextnightIpassedaswell.Mysleepwasdelightfullydeepanddreamless.
ButIwakenedwithasenseoflassitudeandmelancholy,which,however,didnotexceedadegreethatwasalmostluxurious.
"Well,Itoldyouso,"saidCarmilla,whenIdescribedmyquietsleep,"Ihadsuchdelightfulsleepmyselflastnight;Ipinnedthecharmtothebreastofmynightdress.Itwastoofarawaythenightbefore.Iamquitesureitwasallfancy,exceptthedreams.Iusedtothinkthatevilspiritsmadedreams,butourdoctortoldmeitisnosuchthing.Onlyafeverpassingby,orsomeothermalady,astheyoftendo,hesaid,knocksatthedoor,andnotbeingabletogetin,passeson,withthatalarm."
"Andwhatdoyouthinkthecharmis?"saidI.
"Ithasbeenfumigatedorimmersedinsomedrug,andisanantidoteagainstthemalaria,"sheanswered.
"Thenitactsonlyonthebody?"
"Certainly;youdon’tsupposethatevilspiritsarefrightenedbybitsofribbon,ortheperfumesofadruggist’sshop?No,thesecomplaints,wanderingintheair,beginbytryingthenerves,andsoinfectthebrain,butbeforetheycanseizeuponyou,theantidoterepelsthem.ThatIamsureiswhatthecharmhasdoneforus.Itisnothingmagical,itissimplynatural."
IshouldhavebeenhappierifIcouldhavequiteagreedwithCarmilla,butIdidmybest,andtheimpressionwasalittlelosingitsforce.
