Descending

           Itwouldbevainmyattemptingtotellyouthehorrorwithwhich,evennow,Irecalltheoccurrenceofthatnight.Itwasnosuchtransitoryterrorasadreamleavesbehindit.Itseemedtodeepenbytime,andcommunicateditselftotheroomandtheveryfurniturethathadencompasstheapparition.

           Icouldnotbearnextdaytobealoneforamoment.Ishouldhavetoldpapa,butfortwooppositereasons.AtonetimeIthoughthewouldlaughatmystory,andIcouldnotbearitsbeingtreatedasajest;andatanotherIthoughthemightfancythatIhadbeenattackedbythemysteriouscomplaintwhichhadinvadedourneighborhood.Ihadmyselfnomisgivingofthekind,andashehadbeenratheraninvalidforsometime,Iwasafraidofalarminghim.

           Iwascomfortableenoughwithmygood-naturedcompanions,MadamePerrodon,andthevivaciousMademoiselleLafontaine.TheybothperceivedthatIwasoutofspiritsandnervous,andatlengthItoldthemwhatlaysoheavyatmyheart.

           Mademoisellelaughed,butIfanciedthatMadamePerrodonlookedanxious.

           "By-the-by,"saidMademoiselle,laughing,"thelonglimetreewalk,behindCarmilla’sbedroomwindow,ishaunted!"

           "Nonsense!"exclaimedMadame,whoprobablythoughtthethemeratherinopportune,"andwhotellsthatstory,mydear?"

           "Martinsaysthathecameuptwice,whentheoldyardgatewasbeingrepaired,beforesunrise,andtwicesawthesamefemalefigurewalkingdownthelimetreeavenue."

           "Sohewellmight,aslongastherearecowstomilkintheriverfields,"saidMadame.