Carmilla

"None at all," I answered.

"Can you indicate with your finger about the point at which you think

this occurred?"

"Very little below my throat--here," I answered.

I wore a morning dress, which covered the place I pointed to.

"Now you can satisfy yourself," said the doctor. "You won't mind your

papa's lowering your dress a very little. It is necessary, to detect a

symptom of the complaint under which you have been suffering."

I acquiesced. It was only an inch or two below the edge of my collar.

"God bless me!--so it is," exclaimed my father, growing pale.

"You see it now with your own eyes," said the doctor, with a gloomy

triumph.

"What is it?" I exclaimed, beginning to be frightened.

"Nothing, my dear young lady, but a small blue spot, about the size of

the tip of your little finger; and now," he continued, turning to papa,

"the question is what is best to be done?"

"Is there any danger?" I urged, in great trepidation.

"I trust not, my dear," answered the doctor. "I don't see why you should

not recover. I don't see why you should not begin immediately to get

better. That is the point at which the sense of strangulation begins?"

"Yes," I answered.

"And--recollect as well as you can--the same point was a kind of center

of that thrill which you described just now, like the current of a cold

stream running against you?"

"It may have been; I think it was."

"Ay, you see?" he added, turning to my father. "Shall I say a word to

Madame?"

"Certainly," said my father.

He called Madame to him, and said: "I find my young friend here far from well. It won't be of any great

consequence, I hope; but it will be necessary that some steps be taken,

which I will explain by-and-by; but in the meantime, Madame, you will

be so good as not to let Miss Laura be alone for one moment. That is the

only direction I need give for the present. It is indispensable."

"We may rely upon your kindness, Madame, I know," added my father.

Madame satisfied him eagerly.

"And you, dear Laura, I know you will observe the doctor's direction."

"I shall have to ask your opinion upon another patient, whose symptoms

slightly resemble those of my daughter, that have just been detailed to

you--very much milder in degree, but I believe quite of the same sort.

She is a young lady--our guest; but as you say you will be passing this

way again this evening, you can't do better than take your supper here,

and you can then see her. She does not come down till the afternoon."

"I thank you," said the doctor. "I shall be with you, then, at about

seven this evening."