Кармілла
The Story
"Availingherselfoftheprivilegeofhermask,sheturnedtome,andinthetoneofanoldfriend,andcallingmebymyname,openedaconversationwithme,whichpiquedmycuriosityagooddeal.Shereferredtomanysceneswhereshehadmetme—atCourt,andatdistinguishedhouses.ShealludedtolittleincidentswhichIhadlongceasedtothinkof,butwhich,Ifound,hadonlylaininabeyanceinmymemory,fortheyinstantlystartedintolifeathertouch.
"Ibecamemoreandmorecurioustoascertainwhoshewas,everymoment.Sheparriedmyattemptstodiscoververyadroitlyandpleasantly.Theknowledgesheshowedofmanypassagesinmylifeseemedtomeallbutunaccountable;andsheappearedtotakeanotunnaturalpleasureinfoilingmycuriosity,andinseeingmeflounderinmyeagerperplexity,fromoneconjecturetoanother.
"Inthemeantimetheyounglady,whomhermothercalledbytheoddnameofMillarca,whensheonceortwiceaddressedher,had,withthesameeaseandgrace,gotintoconversationwithmyward.
"Sheintroducedherselfbysayingthathermotherwasaveryoldacquaintanceofmine.Shespokeoftheagreeableaudacitywhichamaskrenderedpracticable;shetalkedlikeafriend;sheadmiredherdress,andinsinuatedveryprettilyheradmirationofherbeauty.Sheamusedherwithlaughingcriticismsuponthepeoplewhocrowdedtheballroom,andlaughedatmypoorchild’sfun.
