Поворот гвинта
Chapter 1
IhadreceivedinHarleyStreetanarrowernotionoftheplace,andthat,asIrecalledit,mademethinktheproprietorstillmoreofagentleman,suggestedthatwhatIwastoenjoymightbesomethingbeyondhispromise.
Ihadnodropagaintillthenextday,forIwascarriedtriumphantlythroughthefollowinghoursbymyintroductiontotheyoungerofmypupils.ThelittlegirlwhoaccompaniedMrs.Groseappearedtomeonthespotacreaturesocharmingastomakeitagreatfortunetohavetodowithher.ShewasthemostbeautifulchildIhadeverseen,andIafterwardwonderedthatmyemployerhadnottoldmemoreofher.Isleptlittlethatnight—Iwastoomuchexcited;andthisastonishedme,too,Irecollect,remainedwithme,addingtomysenseoftheliberalitywithwhichIwastreated.Thelarge,impressiveroom,oneofthebestinthehouse,thegreatstatebed,asIalmostfeltit,thefull,figureddraperies,thelongglassesinwhich,forthefirsttime,Icouldseemyselffromheadtofoot,allstruckme—liketheextraordinarycharmofmysmallcharge—assomanythingsthrownin.Itwasthrowninaswell,fromthefirstmoment,thatIshouldgetonwithMrs.Groseinarelationoverwhich,onmyway,inthecoach,IfearIhadratherbrooded.Theonlythingindeedthatinthisearlyoutlookmighthavemademeshrinkagainwastheclearcircumstanceofherbeingsogladtoseeme.Iperceivedwithinhalfanhourthatshewassoglad—stout,simple,plain,clean,wholesomewoman—astobepositivelyonherguardagainstshowingittoomuch.