Кармілла
A Guest
Heavens!whatafoolhaveIbeen!
"IthankGodmychilddiedwithoutasuspicionofthecauseofhersufferings.Sheisgonewithoutsomuchasconjecturingthenatureofherillness,andtheaccursedpassionoftheagentofallthismisery.Idevotemyremainingdaystotrackingandextinguishingamonster.IamtoldImayhopetoaccomplishmyrighteousandmercifulpurpose.Atpresentthereisscarcelyagleamoflighttoguideme.Icursemyconceitedincredulity,mydespicableaffectationofsuperiority,myblindness,myobstinacy—all—toolate.Icannotwriteortalkcollectedlynow.Iamdistracted.SosoonasIshallhavealittlerecovered,Imeantodevotemyselfforatimetoenquiry,whichmaypossiblyleadmeasfarasVienna.Sometimeintheautumn,twomonthshence,orearlierifIlive,Iwillseeyou—thatis,ifyoupermitme;IwillthentellyouallthatIscarcedareputuponpapernow.Farewell.Prayforme,dearfriend."
Inthesetermsendedthisstrangeletter.ThoughIhadneverseenBerthaRheinfeldtmyeyesfilledwithtearsatthesuddenintelligence;Iwasstartled,aswellasprofoundlydisappointed.
Thesunhadnowset,anditwastwilightbythetimeIhadreturnedtheGeneral’slettertomyfather.
Itwasasoftclearevening,andweloitered,speculatinguponthepossiblemeaningsoftheviolentandincoherentsentenceswhichIhadjustbeenreading.Wehadnearlyamiletowalkbeforereachingtheroadthatpassestheschlossinfront,andbythattimethemoonwasshiningbrilliantly.
