So, indeed, she had; and she and I talked a great
deal, and very animated she was; and the remainder
of that evening passed without any recurrence of what
I called her infatuations. I mean her crazy talk
and looks, which embarrassed, and even frightened
me.
But there occurred that night an event which gave
my thoughts quite a new turn, and seemed to startle
even Carmilla’s languid nature into momentary
energy.
A Very Strange Agony
When we got into the drawing room, and had sat down
to our coffee and chocolate, although Carmilla did
not take any, she seemed quite herself again, and
Madame, and Mademoiselle De Lafontaine, joined us,
and made a little card party, in the course of which
papa came in for what he called his “dish of
tea.”
When the game was over he sat down beside Carmilla
on the sofa, and asked her, a little anxiously, whether
she had heard from her mother since her arrival.
She answered “No.”
He then asked whether she knew where a letter would
reach her at present.
“I cannot tell,” she answered ambiguously,
“but I have been thinking of leaving you; you
have been already too hospitable and too kind to me.
I have given you an infinity of trouble, and I should
wish to take a carriage tomorrow, and post in pursuit
of her; I know where I shall ultimately find her,
although I dare not yet tell you.”
“But you must not dream of any such thing,”
exclaimed my father, to my great relief. “We
can’t afford to lose you so, and I won’t
consent to your leaving us, except under the care
of your mother, who was so good as to consent to your
remaining with us till she should herself return.
I should be quite happy if I knew that you heard from
her: but this evening the accounts of the progress
of the mysterious disease that has invaded our neighborhood,
grow even more alarming; and my beautiful guest, I
do feel the responsibility, unaided by advice from
your mother, very much. But I shall do my best;
and one thing is certain, that you must not think
of leaving us without her distinct direction to that
effect. We should suffer too much in parting from
you to consent to it easily.”
“Thank you, sir, a thousand times for your hospitality,”
she answered, smiling bashfully. “You have
all been too kind to me; I have seldom been so happy
in all my life before, as in your beautiful chateau,
under your care, and in the society of your dear daughter.”
So he gallantly, in his old-fashioned way, kissed
her hand, smiling and pleased at her little speech.
I accompanied Carmilla as usual to her room, and sat
and chatted with her while she was preparing for bed.
“Do you think,” I said at length, “that
you will ever confide fully in me?”
She turned round smiling, but made no answer, only
continued to smile on me.
“You won’t answer that?” I said.
“You can’t answer pleasantly; I ought
not to have asked you.”
