Кармілла

           Howcouldallthishavehappenedwithoutmybeingwakened?Itmusthavebeenaccompaniedwithagreatdealofnoise,andIamparticularlyeasilywakened;andhowcouldIhavebeencarriedoutofmybedwithoutmysleephavingbeeninterrupted,Iwhomtheslighteststirstartles?"

           Bythistime,Madame,Mademoiselle,myfather,andanumberoftheservantswereintheroom.Carmillawas,ofcourse,overwhelmedwithinquiries,congratulations,andwelcomes.Shehadbutonestorytotell,andseemedtheleastableofallthepartytosuggestanywayofaccountingforwhathadhappened.

           Myfathertookaturnupanddowntheroom,thinking.IsawCarmilla’seyefollowhimforamomentwithasly,darkglance.

           Whenmyfatherhadsenttheservantsaway,Mademoisellehavinggoneinsearchofalittlebottleofvalerianandsalvolatile,andtherebeingnoonenowintheroomwithCarmilla,exceptmyfather,Madame,andmyself,hecametoherthoughtfully,tookherhandverykindly,ledhertothesofa,andsatdownbesideher.

           "Willyouforgiveme,mydear,ifIriskaconjecture,andaskaquestion?"

           "Whocanhaveabetterright?"shesaid."Askwhatyouplease,andIwilltellyoueverything.Butmystoryissimplyoneofbewildermentanddarkness.Iknowabsolutelynothing.Putanyquestionyouplease,butyouknow,ofcourse,thelimitationsmammahasplacedmeunder."

           "Perfectly,mydearchild.Ineednotapproachthetopicsonwhichshedesiresoursilence.