Кармілла
A Petition
"Shewentontomakeherpetition,anditwasinthetoneofapersonfromwhomsucharequestamountedtoconferring,ratherthanseekingafavor.
"Thiswasonlyinmanner,and,asitseemed,quiteunconsciously.Thanthetermsinwhichitwasexpressed,nothingcouldbemoredeprecatory.ItwassimplythatIwouldconsenttotakechargeofherdaughterduringherabsence.
"Thiswas,allthingsconsidered,astrange,nottosay,anaudaciousrequest.Sheinsomesortdisarmedme,bystatingandadmittingeverythingthatcouldbeurgedagainstit,andthrowingherselfentirelyuponmychivalry.Atthesamemoment,byafatalitythatseemstohavepredeterminedallthathappened,mypoorchildcametomyside,and,inanundertone,besoughtmetoinvitehernewfriend,Millarca,topayusavisit.Shehadjustbeensoundingher,andthought,ifhermammawouldallowher,shewouldlikeitextremely.
"AtanothertimeIshouldhavetoldhertowaitalittle,until,atleast,weknewwhotheywere.ButIhadnotamomenttothinkin.Thetwoladiesassailedmetogether,andImustconfesstherefinedandbeautifulfaceoftheyounglady,aboutwhichtherewassomethingextremelyengaging,aswellastheeleganceandfireofhighbirth,determinedme;and,quiteoverpowered,Isubmitted,andundertook,tooeasily,thecareoftheyounglady,whomhermothercalledMillarca.
