Adeline the Strange Princess

Adeline was not sleeping. She had her eyes closed and she was
thinking about the following day. How boring, how tiring this party
would be, she contemplated. Suddenly, she heard the bedroom door
opening slowly. She opened her eyes wondering whether Annette,
her maid, forgot something. But no, it wasn't her. A weird old lady
with a big hunch on her back was standing in front of her. She was
staring at her with her dark, ratty eyes. Come with me, she told her
with a deep, decisive voice. She looked at her for a few minutes and
then turned her back, asking her once again to follow her. Without a
second thought, Adeline got up and followed the old woman barefoot,
as if she was hypnotised.