Carmilla

"Availing herself of the privilege of her mask, she turned to me, and in

the tone of an old friend, and calling me by my name, opened a

conversation with me, which piqued my curiosity a good deal. She

referred to many scenes where she had met me--at Court, and at

distinguished houses. She alluded to little incidents which I had long

ceased to think of, but which, I found, had only lain in abeyance in my

memory, for they instantly started into life at her touch.

"I became more and more curious to ascertain who she was, every moment.

She parried my attempts to discover very adroitly and pleasantly. The

knowledge she showed of many passages in my life seemed to me all but

unaccountable; and she appeared to take a not unnatural pleasure in

foiling my curiosity, and in seeing me flounder in my eager perplexity,

from one conjecture to another.

"In the meantime the young lady, whom her mother called by the odd name

of Millarca, when she once or twice addressed her, had, with the same

ease and grace, got into conversation with my ward.

"She introduced herself by saying that her mother was a very old

acquaintance of mine. She spoke of the agreeable audacity which a mask

rendered practicable; she talked like a friend; she admired her dress,

and insinuated very prettily her admiration of her beauty. She amused

her with laughing criticisms upon the people who crowded the ballroom,

and laughed at my poor child's fun. She was very witty and lively when

she pleased, and after a time they had grown very good friends, and the

young stranger lowered her mask, displaying a remarkably beautiful face.

I had never seen it before, neither had my dear child. But though it was

new to us, the features were so engaging, as well as lovely, that it

was impossible not to feel the attraction powerfully. My poor girl did

so. I never saw anyone more taken with another at first sight, unless,

indeed, it was the stranger herself, who seemed quite to have lost her

heart to her.

"In the meantime, availing myself of the license of a masquerade, I put

not a few questions to the elder lady.

"'You have puzzled me utterly,' I said, laughing. 'Is that not enough?

Won't you, now, consent to stand on equal terms, and do me the kindness

to remove your mask?' "'Can any request be more unreasonable?' she replied. 'Ask a lady to

yield an advantage! Beside, how do you know you should recognize me?

Years make changes.' "'As you see,' I said, with a bow, and, I suppose, a rather melancholy

little laugh.

"'As philosophers tell us,' she said; 'and how do you know that a sight

of my face would help you?' "'I should take chance for that,' I answered. 'It is vain trying to make

yourself out an old woman; your figure betrays you.' "'Years, nevertheless, have passed since I saw you, rather since you saw

me, for that is what I am considering. Millarca, there, is my daughter;

I cannot then be young, even in the opinion of people whom time has

taught to be indulgent, and I may not like to be compared with what you

remember me. You have no mask to remove. You can offer me nothing in

exchange.' "'My petition is to your pity, to remove it.' "'And mine to yours, to let it stay where it is,' she replied.