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Chapter 16
“No,Ilikeitworse!”ButafteraninstantIadded:“DidtheysaywhyIshouldlikeitbetter?”
“No;MasterMilesonlysaid,‘Wemustdonothingbutwhatshelikes!’”
“Iwishindeedhewould.AndwhatdidFlorasay?”
“MissFlorawastoosweet.Shesaid,‘Oh,ofcourse,ofcourse!’—andIsaidthesame.”
Ithoughtamoment.“Youweretoosweet,too—Icanhearyouall.Butnonetheless,betweenMilesandme,it’snowallout.”
“Allout?”Mycompanionstared.“Butwhat,miss?”
“Everything.Itdoesn’tmatter.I’vemadeupmymind.Icamehome,mydear,”Iwenton,“foratalkwithMissJessel.”
IhadbythistimeformedthehabitofhavingMrs.Groseliterallywellinhandinadvanceofmysoundingthatnote;sothatevennow,asshebravelyblinkedunderthesignalofmyword,Icouldkeephercomparativelyfirm.“Atalk!Doyoumeanshespoke?”
“Itcametothat.Ifoundher,onmyreturn,intheschoolroom.”
“Andwhatdidshesay?”Icanhearthegoodwomanstill,andthecandorofherstupefaction.
“Thatshesuffersthetorments—!”
Itwasthis,ofatruth,thatmadeher,asshefilledoutmypicture,gape.“Doyoumean,”shefaltered,“—ofthelost?”
“Ofthelost.Ofthedamned.Andthat’swhy,tosharethem—”Ifalteredmyselfwiththehorrorofit.
Butmycompanion,withlessimagination,keptmeup.“Tosharethem—?”
“ShewantsFlora.”Mrs.Grosemight,asIgaveittoher,fairlyhavefallenawayfrommehadInotbeenprepared.Istillheldherthere,toshowIwas.
