Verbal Irony: Neighbors
One of the most salient characteristics of Laura is her loneliness, as she lives in a large schloss in the middle of a deep forest with no one but her father, governesses, and servants. She has occasional visitors, yes, but in her narrative to the Doctor she makes sure to use a wry tone to express just how far away she is from civilization: "...of course there were chance visits from 'neighbors' of only five or six leagues distance" (2). Laura is not bitter and certainly loves where she lives, but her ironic tone reinforces just how much she craves the visits from her peers—and why she might be so thrilled to welcome Carmilla into her home.
Dramatic Irony: Carmilla a "Coward"
When the governess shares that a groundskeeper saw a mysterious woman walking along the lime tree avenue and thus thinks the place is haunted, Laura remarks that they ought not to share this information with Carmilla because she will be too scared. The irony here is that it is Carmilla walking that avenue though the others don't know it yet. Carmilla is not at all afraid because she is the menace, not some spectral girl.
Dramatic Irony: Carmilla as Millarca
The reader is no doubt aware that the young woman from Bertha's story, Millarca, is actually Carmilla; nevertheless, Laura and her father do not quite see this. Laura in particular continues to blithely hope to see Carmilla soon, and cannot understand why the General attacks her.
Dramatic Irony: Carmilla as a Vampire
The reader probably understands right away why Carmilla is antipathetic to Christian hymns and never says her prayers, why she speaks fondly of death, why she has a sharp tooth that she does not want the hunchback to file for her, and many more examples that bespeak her identity as a vampire. Laura, though, does not see these as anything other than oddities, letting her attraction to Carmilla and Carmilla's influence over her cloud the reality of her new friend's identity.
