Chapter 20

           JustasinthechurchyardwithMiles,thewholethingwasuponus.MuchasIhadmadeofthefactthatthisnamehadneveronce,betweenus,beensounded,thequick,smittenglarewithwhichthechild’sfacenowreceiveditfairlylikenedmybreachofthesilencetothesmashofapaneofglass.Itaddedtotheinterposingcry,asiftostaytheblow,thatMrs.Grose,atthesameinstant,utteredovermyviolence—theshriekofacreaturescared,orratherwounded,which,inturn,withinafewseconds,wascompletedbyagaspofmyown.Iseizedmycolleague’sarm.“She’sthere,she’sthere!”

           MissJesselstoodbeforeusontheoppositebankexactlyasshehadstoodtheothertime,andIremember,strangely,asthefirstfeelingnowproducedinme,mythrillofjoyathavingbroughtonaproof.Shewasthere,andIwasjustified;shewasthere,andIwasneithercruelnormad.ShewasthereforpoorscaredMrs.Grose,butshewastheremostforFlora;andnomomentofmymonstroustimewasperhapssoextraordinaryasthatinwhichIconsciouslythrewouttoher—withthesensethat,paleandravenousdemonasshewas,shewouldcatchandunderstandit—aninarticulatemessageofgratitude.SheroseerectonthespotmyfriendandIhadlatelyquitted,andtherewasnot,inallthelongreachofherdesire,aninchofherevilthatfellshort.Thisfirstvividnessofvisionandemotionwerethingsofafewseconds,duringwhichMrs.