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〃Did SHE see anything in the boy？〃
〃That wasn't right？ She never told me。〃
I had a scruple； but I overcame it。 〃Was she carefulparticular？〃
Mrs。 Grose appeared to try to be conscientious。
〃About some thingsyes。〃
〃But not about all？〃
Again she considered。 〃Well； missshe's gone。
I won't tell tales。〃
〃I quite understand your feeling；〃 I hastened to reply； but I thought it；
after an instant； not opposed to this concession to pursue：
〃Did she die here？〃
〃Noshe went off。〃
I don't know what there was in this brevity of Mrs。 Grose's that struck
me as ambiguous。 〃Went off to die？〃 Mrs。 Grose looked straight
out of the window； but I felt that； hypothetically； I had a right
to know what young persons engaged for Bly were expected to do。
〃She was taken ill； you mean； and went home？〃
〃She was not taken ill； so far as appeared； in this house。
She left it； at the end of the year； to go home； as she said；
for a short holiday； to which the time she had put in had
certainly given her a right。 We had then a young woman
a nursemaid who had stayed on and who was a good girl and clever；
and SHE took the children altogether for the interval。
But our young lady never came back； and at the very moment I
was expecting her I heard from the master that she was dead。〃
I turned this over。 〃But of what？〃
〃He never told me！ But please； miss；〃 said Mrs。 Grose；
〃I must get to my work。〃
III
Her thus turning her back on me was fortunately not； for my just
preoccupations； a snub that could check the growth of our mutual esteem。
We met； after I had brought home little Miles； more intimately
than ever on the ground of my stupefaction； my general emotion：
so monstrous was I then ready to pronounce it that such a child
as had now been revealed to me should be under an interdict。
I was a little late on the scene； and I felt； as he stood wistfully
looking out for me before the door of the inn at which the coach had
put him down； that I had seen him； on the instant； without and within；
in the great glow of freshness； the same positive fragrance of purity；
in which I had； from the first moment； seen his little sister。
He was incredibly beautiful； and Mrs。 Grose had put her finger on it：
everything but a sort of passion of tenderness for him was swept away
by his presence。 What I then and there took him to my heart for was
something divine that I have never found to the same degree in any child
his indescribable little air of knowing nothing in the world but love。
It would have been impossible to carry a bad name with a greater
sweetness of innocence； and by the time I had got back to Bly with him
I remained merely bewilderedso far； that is； as I was not outraged
by the sense of the horrible letter locked up in my room； in a drawer。
As soon as I could compass a private word with Mrs。 Grose I declared
to her that it was grotesque。
She promptly understood me。 〃You mean the cruel charge？〃
〃It doesn't live an instant。 My dear woman； LOOK at him！〃
She smiled at my pretention to have discovered his charm。
〃I assure you； miss； I do nothing else！ What will you say； then？〃
she immediately added。
〃In answer to the letter？〃 I had made up my mind。 〃Nothing。〃
〃And to his uncle？〃
I was incisive。 〃Nothing。〃
〃And to the boy himself？〃
I was wonderful。 〃Nothing。〃
She gave with her apron a great wipe to her mouth。 〃Then I'll stand by you。
We'll see it out。〃
〃We'll see it out！〃 I ardently echoed； giving her my hand to make
it a vow。
She held me there a moment； then whisked up her apron again with her
detached hand。 〃Would you mind； miss； if I used the freedom〃
〃To kiss me？ No！〃 I took the good creature in my arms and； after we
had embraced like sisters； felt still more fortified and indignant。
This； at all events； was for the time： a time so full that；
as I recall the way it went； it reminds me of all the art
I now need to make it a little distinct。 What I look
back at with amazement is the situation I accepted。
I had undertaken； with my companion； to see it out； and I was
under a charm； apparently； that could smooth away the extent
and the far and difficult connections of such an effort。
I was lifted aloft on a great wave of infatuation and pity。
I found it simple； in my ignorance； my confusion； and perhaps
my conceit； to assume that I could deal with a boy whose
education for the world was all on the point of beginning。
I am unable even to remember at this day what proposal I framed
for the end of his holidays and the resumption of his studies。
Lessons with me； indeed； that charming summer； we all had
a theory that he was to have； but I now feel that； for weeks；
the lessons must have been rather my own。 I learned something
at first； certainlythat had not been one of the teachings of
my small； smothered life； learned to be amused； and even amusing；
and not to think for the morrow。 It was the first time；
in a manner； that I had known space and air and freedom；
all the music of summer and all the mystery of nature。
And then there was considerationand consideration was sweet。
Oh； it was a trapnot designed； but deepto my imagination；
to my delicacy； perhaps to my vanity； to whatever； in me；
was most excitable。 The best way to picture it all is to say
that I was off my guard。 They gave me so little trouble
they were of a gentleness so extraordinary。 I used to speculate
but even this with a dim disconnectednessas to how the rough future
（for all futures are rough！） would handle them and might bruise them。
They had the bloom of health and happiness； and yet；
as if I had been in charge of a pair of little grandees；
of princes of the blood； for whom everything； to be right；
would have to be enclosed and protected； the only form that；
in my fancy； the afteryears could take for them was that of
a romantic； a really royal extension of the garden and the park。
It may be； of course； above all； that what suddenly broke
into this gives the previous time a charm of stillness
that hush in which something gathers or crouches。
The change was actually like the spring of a beast。
In the first weeks the days were long； they often； at their finest；
gave me what I used to call my own hour； the hour when； for my pupils；
teatime and bedtime having come and gone； I had； before my final retirement；
a small interval alone。 Much as I liked my companions； this hour was
the thing in the day I liked most； and I liked it best of all when；
as the light fadedor rather； I should say； the day lingered and the last
calls of the last birds sounded； in a flushed sky； from the old trees
I could take a turn into the grounds and enjoy； almost with a sense
of property that amused and flattered me； the beauty and dignity of
the place。 It was a pleasure at these moments to feel myself tranquil
and justified； doubtless； perhaps； also to reflect that by my discretion；
my quiet good sense and general high propriety； I was giving pleasure
if he ever thought of it！to the person to whose pressure I had responded。
What I was doing was what he had earnestly hoped and directly asked of me；
and that I COULD； after all； do it proved even a greater joy than I
had expected。 I daresay I fancied myself； in short； a remarkable young
woman and took comfort in the faith that this would more publicly appear。
Well； I needed to be remarkable to offer a front to the remarkable things
that presently gave their first sign。
It was plump； one afternoon； in the middle of my very hour：
the children were tucked away； and I had come out for my stroll。
One of the thoughts that； as I don't in the least shrink now
from noting； used to be with me in these wanderings was that it
would be as charming as a charming story suddenly to meet someone。
Someone would appear there at the turn of a path and would stand