Кармілла
The Story
Shewasverywittyandlivelywhenshepleased,andafteratimetheyhadgrownverygoodfriends,andtheyoungstrangerloweredhermask,displayingaremarkablybeautifulface.Ihadneverseenitbefore,neitherhadmydearchild.Butthoughitwasnewtous,thefeaturesweresoengaging,aswellaslovely,thatitwasimpossiblenottofeeltheattractionpowerfully.Mypoorgirldidso.Ineversawanyonemoretakenwithanotheratfirstsight,unless,indeed,itwasthestrangerherself,whoseemedquitetohavelostherhearttoher.
"Inthemeantime,availingmyselfofthelicenseofamasquerade,Iputnotafewquestionstotheelderlady.
"‘Youhavepuzzledmeutterly,’Isaid,laughing.‘Isthatnotenough?Won’tyou,now,consenttostandonequalterms,anddomethekindnesstoremoveyourmask?’
"‘Cananyrequestbemoreunreasonable?’shereplied.‘Askaladytoyieldanadvantage!Beside,howdoyouknowyoushouldrecognizeme?Yearsmakechanges.’
"‘Asyousee,’Isaid,withabow,and,Isuppose,arathermelancholylittlelaugh.
"‘Asphilosopherstellus,’shesaid;‘andhowdoyouknowthatasightofmyfacewouldhelpyou?’
"‘Ishouldtakechanceforthat,’Ianswered.‘Itisvaintryingtomakeyourselfoutanoldwoman;yourfigurebetraysyou.’
"‘Years,nevertheless,havepassedsinceIsawyou,rathersinceyousawme,forthatiswhatIamconsidering.
