Carmilla

mpare

y lost to sight in the misty wood; and the very sound of

who just at that moment opened her eyes. I could not see, for her face was turned from me, but she raised

swered tenderly, and added

heard h

after that she said, "I don't see th

d how the misadventure came about, and was glad to hear that no one in, or in attendance on, the carriage

of Madame Perrodon when Mademoiselle De La

he can at present converse with; a very little

in bed, I thought, I will ru

for the physician, who lived about two leagues away; and a

Madame's arm, walked slowly over the

room. The room we usually sat in as our drawing room is long, having four windows, t

frames, the figures being as large as life, in ancient and very curious costume, and the subjects represented are hunting, hawking, and generally festive. It is not too stately to be extr

candles lighted, were talking o

The young stranger had hardly lain down in her bed when she sank into

I asked, as soon as Madame en

s, I almost think, the prettiest creature I eve

w in Mademoiselle, who had peeped f

t voice!" added

was set up again, who did not get out," inquired

had not

ho was gazing all the time from the carriage window, nodding and grinning derisively towar

-looking pack of men the se

s ever I beheld in my life. I hope they mayn't rob the poor lady in the forest

orn out with too long

and sullen. I am very curious, I own; but I dare say the young lady w

ysterious smile, and a little nod of his head, as

etween him and the lady in the black velvet, in the brief but

I entreated him to tell me. H

s with the care of her daughter, saying she was in delicate health, and nervous, but not subject

that!" I interpolated.

t; I shall return for my child in three months; in the meantime, she will be silent as to who we are, whence we come, and whither we are traveling.' That is all she said. She spoke very pure French. When she said the word 'secret

till the doctor should give me leave. You, who live in towns, can have no idea how gr

e have gone to my bed and slept, than I could have overtaken, on foot

tly perfectly well. She had sustained no injury, and the little shock to her nerves had passed away quite harmlessly. There could be no harm certainly in my

mediately to say that s

ot long in availing mys

ot of the bed, representing Cleopatra with the asps to her bosom; and other solemn classic scenes were displayed, a little faded, upon the other walls

eloped in the soft silk dressing gown, embroidered with flowers, and lined with thic

gun my little greeting, struck me dumb in a moment, and ma

remained so fixed in my memory, and on which I had for so many years so o

and when I first beheld it, wor

lighted into a strange f

y a minute, and then at len

ve years ago, I saw your face in a dr

time suspended my utterances. "Twelve years ago, in vision or reality, I certainly

range in it, was gone, and it and her dimpling ch

ated, to bid her welcome, and to tell her how much pleasure her accident

ation made me eloquent, and even bold. She pressed my hand, she laid hers upon it,

rettily. I sat down beside her

a room, unlike my nursery, wainscoted clumsily in some dark wood, and with cupboards and bedsteads, and chairs, and benches placed about it. The beds were, I thought, all empty, and the room itself without anyone but myself in it; and I, after looking about me for some time, and admiring especially an iron candlestick with two branches, wh

screaming. I was frightened, and slipped down upon the ground, and, it seemed to me, lost consciousness for a moment; and when I came to myself, I w

ponding vision, which I did, to the un

young, I feel only that I have made your acquaintance twelve years ago, and have already a right to your intimacy; at all events it does seem as if we were destined, from our earliest childhood, t

n towards her," but there was also something of repulsion. In this ambiguous feeling, however, the sense of

r and exhaustion stealing over her,

maid to sit up with you tonight; one of ours is waiting,

all I confess my weakness, I am haunted with a terror of robbers. Our house was robbed once, and two servants murdered, so I a

n my ear, "Good night, darling, it is very hard to part with you,

ne eyes followed me with a fond and melancholy gaze

ough as yet undeserved, fondness she showed me. I liked the confidence with whic

was delighted with my companion;

eature I had ever seen, and the unpleasant remembrance of the face presente

, and precisely the same faint antipathy that had mingled with my a