Chapter 19

           Wewentstraighttothelake,asitwascalledatBly,andIdaresayrightlycalled,thoughIreflectthatitmayinfacthavebeenasheetofwaterlessremarkablethanitappearedtomyuntraveledeyes.Myacquaintancewithsheetsofwaterwassmall,andthepoolofBly,atalleventsonthefewoccasionsofmyconsenting,undertheprotectionofmypupils,toaffrontitssurfaceintheoldflat-bottomedboatmooredthereforouruse,hadimpressedmebothwithitsextentanditsagitation.Theusualplaceofembarkationwashalfamilefromthehouse,butIhadanintimateconvictionthat,whereverFloramightbe,shewasnotnearhome.Shehadnotgivenmetheslipforanysmalladventure,and,sincethedayoftheverygreatonethatIhadsharedwithherbythepond,Ihadbeenaware,inourwalks,ofthequartertowhichshemostinclined.ThiswaswhyIhadnowgiventoMrs.Grose’sstepssomarkedadirection—adirectionthatmadeher,whensheperceivedit,opposearesistancethatshowedmeshewasfreshlymystified.“You’regoingtothewater,Miss?—youthinkshe’sin—?”

           “Shemaybe,thoughthedepthis,Ibelieve,nowhereverygreat.ButwhatIjudgemostlikelyisthatshe’sonthespotfromwhich,theotherday,wesawtogetherwhatItoldyou.”

           “Whenshepretendednottosee—?”

           “Withthatastoundingself-possession?I’vealwaysbeensureshewantedtogobackalone.Andnowherbrotherhasmanageditforher.”

           Mrs.Grosestillstoodwhereshehadstopped.