Carmilla | Page 9

I, after looking about me for some time, and admiring
especially an iron candlestick with two branches, which I should
certainly know again, crept under one of the beds to reach the window;
but as I got from under the bed, I heard someone crying; and looking
up, while I was still upon my knees, I saw you--most assuredly you--as
I see you now; a beautiful young lady, with golden hair and large blue
eyes, and lips--your lips--you as you are here.
"Your looks won me; I climbed on the bed and put my arms about you,
and I think we both fell asleep. I was aroused by a scream; you were
sitting up 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 was again in my nursery at home. Your face I
have never forgotten since. I could not be misled by mere resemblance.
You are the lady whom I saw then."
It was now my turn to relate my corresponding vision, which I did, to
the undisguised wonder of my new acquaintance.

"I don't know which should be most afraid of the other," she said, again
smiling--"If you were less pretty I think I should be very much afraid of
you, but being as you are, and you and I both so 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, to be friends. I wonder whether you feel as
strangely drawn towards me as I do to you; I have never had a
friend--shall I find one now?" She sighed, and her fine dark eyes gazed
passionately on me.
Now the truth is, I felt rather unaccountably towards the beautiful
stranger. I did feel, as she said, "drawn towards her," but there was also
something of repulsion. In this ambiguous feeling, however, the sense
of attraction immensely prevailed. She interested and won me; she was
so beautiful and so indescribably engaging.
I perceived now something of languor and exhaustion stealing over her,
and hastened to bid her good night.
"The doctor thinks," I added, "that you ought to have a maid to sit up
with you tonight; one of ours is waiting, and you will find her a very
useful and quiet creature."
"How kind of you, but I could not sleep, I never could with an attendant
in the room. I shan't require any assistance--and, shall I confess my
weakness, I am haunted with a terror of robbers. Our house was robbed
once, and two servants murdered, so I always lock my door. It has
become a habit--and you look so kind I know you will forgive me. I see
there is a key in the lock."
She held me close in her pretty arms for a moment and whispered in
my ear, "Good night, darling, it is very hard to part with you, but good
night; tomorrow, but not early, I shall see you again."
She sank back on the pillow with a sigh, and her fine eyes followed me
with a fond and melancholy gaze, and she murmured again "Good night,
dear friend."

Young people like, and even love, on impulse. I was flattered by the
evident, though as yet undeserved, fondness she showed me. I liked the
confidence with which she at once received me. She was determined
that we should be very near friends.
Next day came and we met again. I was delighted with my companion;
that is to say, in many respects.
Her looks lost nothing in daylight--she was certainly the most beautiful
creature I had ever seen, and the unpleasant remembrance of the face
presented in my early dream, had lost the effect of the first unexpected
recognition.
She confessed that she had experienced a similar shock on seeing me,
and precisely the same faint antipathy that had mingled with my
admiration of her. We now laughed together over our momentary
horrors.

IV
Her Habits--A Saunter
I told you that I was charmed with her in most particulars.
There were some that did not please me so well.
She was above the middle height of women. I shall begin by describing
her.
She was slender, and wonderfully graceful. Except that her movements
were languid--very languid--indeed, there was nothing in her
appearance to indicate an invalid. Her complexion was rich and
brilliant; her features were small and beautifully formed; her eyes large,
dark, and lustrous; her hair was quite wonderful, I never saw hair so
magnificently thick and long when it was down about her shoulders; I
have often placed my hands under it, and laughed