Кармилла
An Early Fright
ButIwasnotcomforted,forIknewthevisitofthestrangewomanwasnotadream;andIwasawfullyfrightened.
Iwasalittleconsoledbythenurserymaid’sassuringmethatitwasshewhohadcomeandlookedatme,andlaindownbesidemeinthebed,andthatImusthavebeenhalf-dreamingnottohaveknownherface.Butthis,thoughsupportedbythenurse,didnotquitesatisfyme.
Iremembered,inthecourseofthatday,avenerableoldman,inablackcassock,comingintotheroomwiththenurseandhousekeeper,andtalkingalittletothem,andverykindlytome;hisfacewasverysweetandgentle,andhetoldmetheyweregoingtopray,andjoinedmyhandstogether,anddesiredmetosay,softly,whiletheywerepraying,"Lordhearallgoodprayersforus,forJesus’sake."Ithinktheseweretheverywords,forIoftenrepeatedthemtomyself,andmynurseusedforyearstomakemesaytheminmyprayers.
Irememberedsowellthethoughtfulsweetfaceofthatwhite-hairedoldman,inhisblackcassock,ashestoodinthatrude,lofty,brownroom,withtheclumsyfurnitureofafashionthreehundredyearsoldabouthim,andthescantylightenteringitsshadowyatmospherethroughthesmalllattice.Hekneeled,andthethreewomenwithhim,andheprayedaloudwithanearnestquaveringvoicefor,whatappearedtome,alongtime.Iforgetallmylifeprecedingthatevent,andforsometimeafteritisallobscurealso,butthescenesIhavejustdescribedstandoutvividastheisolatedpicturesofthephantasmagoriasurroundedbydarkness.
