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and room by room and secret by secret； with droll； delightful；
childish talk about it and with the result； in half an hour；
of our becoming immense friends。 Young as she was； I was struck；
throughout our little tour； with her confidence and courage
with the way； in empty chambers and dull corridors； on crooked
staircases that made me pause and even on the summit of an old
machicolated square tower that made me dizzy； her morning music；
her disposition to tell me so many more things than she asked；
rang out and led me on。 I have not seen Bly since the day
I left it； and I daresay that to my older and more informed
eyes it would now appear sufficiently contracted。 But as my
little conductress； with her hair of gold and her frock of blue；
danced before me round corners and pattered down passages；
I had the view of a castle of romance inhabited by a rosy sprite；
such a place as would somehow； for diversion of the young idea；
take all color out of storybooks and fairytales。
Wasn't it just a storybook over which I had fallen adoze
and adream？ No； it was a big； ugly； antique； but convenient house；
embodying a few features of a building still older； half…replaced and
half…utilized； in which I had the fancy of our being almost
as lost as a handful of passengers in a great drifting ship。
Well； I was； strangely； at the helm！
II
This came home to me when； two days later； I drove over
with Flora to meet； as Mrs。 Grose said； the little gentleman；
and all the more for an incident that； presenting itself
the second evening； had deeply disconcerted me。
The first day had been； on the whole； as I have expressed；
reassuring； but I was to see it wind up in keen apprehension。
The postbag； that eveningit came latecontained a letter
for me； which； however； in the hand of my employer；
I found to be composed but of a few words enclosing another；
addressed to himself； with a seal still unbroken。 〃This； I recognize；
is from the headmaster； and the headmaster's an awful bore。
Read him； please； deal with him； but mind you don't report。
Not a word。 I'm off！〃 I broke the seal with a great effort
so great a one that I was a long time coming to it；
took the unopened missive at last up to my room and only
attacked it just before going to bed。 I had better have let it
wait till morning； for it gave me a second sleepless night。
With no counsel to take； the next day； I was full of distress；
and it finally got so the better of me that I determined
to open myself at least to Mrs。 Grose。
〃What does it mean？ The child's dismissed his school。〃
She gave me a look that I remarked at the moment； then； visibly；
with a quick blankness； seemed to try to take it back。
〃But aren't they all？〃
〃Sent homeyes。 But only for the holidays。 Miles may never go
back at all。〃
Consciously； under my attention； she reddened。 〃They won't take him？〃
〃They absolutely decline。〃
At this she raised her eyes； which she had turned from me；
I saw them fill with good tears。 〃What has he done？〃
I hesitated； then I judged best simply to hand her my letter
which； however； had the effect of making her； without taking it；
simply put her hands behind her。 She shook her head sadly。
〃Such things are not for me； miss。〃
My counselor couldn't read！ I winced at my mistake； which I
attenuated as I could； and opened my letter again to repeat it
to her； then； faltering in the act and folding it up once more；
I put it back in my pocket。 〃Is he really BAD？〃
The tears were still in her eyes。 〃Do the gentlemen say so？〃
〃They go into no particulars。 They simply express their regret that it
should be impossible to keep him。 That can have only one meaning。〃
Mrs。 Grose listened with dumb emotion； she forbore to ask me what this
meaning might be； so that； presently； to put the thing with some coherence
and with the mere aid of her presence to my own mind； I went on：
〃That he's an injury to the others。〃
At this； with one of the quick turns of simple folk； she suddenly flamed up。
〃Master Miles！ HIM an injury？〃
There was such a flood of good faith in it that； though I had not yet
seen the child； my very fears made me jump to the absurdity of the idea。
I found myself； to meet my friend the better； offering it；
on the spot； sarcastically。 〃To his poor little innocent mates！〃
〃It's too dreadful；〃 cried Mrs。 Grose； 〃to say such cruel things！
Why； he's scarce ten years old。〃
〃Yes； yes； it would be incredible。〃
She was evidently grateful for such a profession。 〃See him； miss； first。
THEN believe it！〃 I felt forthwith a new impatience to see him；
it was the beginning of a curiosity that； for all the next hours；
was to deepen almost to pain。 Mrs。 Grose was aware； I could judge；
of what she had produced in me； and she followed it up with assurance。
〃You might as well believe it of the little lady。 Bless her；〃
she added the next moment〃LOOK at her！〃
I turned and saw that Flora； whom； ten minutes before； I had established
in the schoolroom with a sheet of white paper； a pencil； and a copy
of nice 〃round o's；〃 now presented herself to view at the open door。
She expressed in her little way an extraordinary detachment from
disagreeable duties； looking to me； however； with a great childish light
that seemed to offer it as a mere result of the affection she had conceived
for my person； which had rendered necessary that she should follow me。
I needed nothing more than this to feel the full force of Mrs。 Grose's
comparison； and； catching my pupil in my arms； covered her with kisses
in which there was a sob of atonement。
Nonetheless； the rest of the day I watched for further occasion
to approach my colleague； especially as； toward evening；
I began to fancy she rather sought to avoid me。 I overtook her；
I remember； on the staircase； we went down together； and at the
bottom I detained her； holding her there with a hand on her arm。
〃I take what you said to me at noon as a declaration that
YOU'VE never known him to be bad。〃
She threw back her head； she had clearly； by this time；
and very honestly； adopted an attitude。 〃Oh； never known him
I don't pretend THAT！〃
I was upset again。 〃Then you HAVE known him？〃
〃Yes indeed； miss； thank God！〃
On reflection I accepted this。 〃You mean that a boy who never is？〃
〃Is no boy for ME！〃
I held her tighter。 〃You like them with the spirit to be naughty？〃
Then； keeping pace with her answer； 〃So do I！〃 I eagerly brought out。
〃But not to the degree to contaminate〃
〃To contaminate？〃my big word left her at a loss。
I explained it。 〃To corrupt。〃
She stared； taking my meaning in； but it produced in her an odd laugh。
〃Are you afraid he'll corrupt YOU？〃 She put the question with such a fine
bold humor that； with a laugh； a little silly doubtless； to match her own；
I gave way for the time to the apprehension of ridicule。
But the next day； as the hour for my drive approached； I cropped
up in another place。 〃What was the lady who was here before？〃
〃The last governess？ She was also young and pretty
almost as young and almost as pretty； miss； even as you。〃
〃Ah； then； I hope her youth and her beauty helped her！〃
I recollect throwing off。 〃He seems to like us young and pretty！〃
〃Oh； he DID；〃 Mrs。 Grose assented： 〃it was the way he liked everyone！〃
She had no sooner spoken indeed than she caught herself up。
〃I mean that's HIS waythe master's。〃
I was struck。 〃But of whom did you speak first？〃
She looked blank； but she colored。 〃Why； of HIM。〃
〃Of the master？〃
〃Of who else？〃
There was so obviously no one else that the next moment I
had lost my impression of her having accidentally said more
than she meant； and I merely asked what I wanted to know。
〃Did SHE see anything in the boy？〃
〃That wasn't right？ She never told me。〃