Sheridan Le Fanu

“ Una looked on her curiously, and half frightened, and then the odd smile stole over her face like a gleam of moonlight.
"My poor Alice, what have you to do with it?" she whispered.
"And why do you talk of sleeping no more with me?" said Alice.
"Why? Alice dear—no why—no reason—only a knowledge that it must be so, or Una will die."
"Die, Una darling!—what can you mean?"
"Yes, sweet Alice, die, indeed. We must all die some time, you know, or—or undergo a change; and my time is near—very near—unless I sleep apart from you." ”

“ With a strange wild feeling of suspicion and terror, Alice glided to the window. The moon who sees so many things, and keeps all secrets, with her cold impenetrable smile, was high in the sky. But Alice saw the red flicker of a candle from Una's window, and, she thought, the shadow of her head against the deep side wall of its recess. ”

“ Her fun and frolic were quite gone! Even her songs ceased. She was silent with her sister, and loved solitude better. She said she was well, and quite happy, and could in no wise be got to account for the lamentable change that had stolen over her. She had grown odd too, and obstinate in trifles; and strangely reserved and cold.
Alice was very unhappy in consequence. What was the cause of this estrangement—had she offended her, and how? But Una had never before borne resentment for an hour. What could have altered her entire nature so? Could it be the shadow and chill of coming insanity? ”