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           Imightwellhaveneededthat,forwiththishardblowoftheproofthathereyeswerehopelesslysealedIfeltmyownsituationhorriblycrumble,Ifelt—Isaw—mylividpredecessorpress,fromherposition,onmydefeat,andIwasconscious,morethanall,ofwhatIshouldhavefromthisinstanttodealwithintheastoundinglittleattitudeofFlora.IntothisattitudeMrs.Groseimmediatelyandviolentlyentered,breaking,evenwhiletherepiercedthroughmysenseofruinaprodigiousprivatetriumph,intobreathlessreassurance.

           “Sheisn’tthere,littlelady,andnobody’sthere—andyouneverseenothing,mysweet!HowcanpoorMissJessel—whenpoorMissJessel’sdeadandburied?Weknow,don’twe,love?”—andsheappealed,blunderingin,tothechild.“It’sallameremistakeandaworryandajoke—andwe’llgohomeasfastaswecan!”

           Ourcompanion,onthis,hadrespondedwithastrange,quickprimnessofpropriety,andtheywereagain,withMrs.Groseonherfeet,united,asitwere,inpainedoppositiontome.Floracontinuedtofixmewithhersmallmaskofreprobation,andevenatthatminuteIprayedGodtoforgivemeforseemingtoseethat,asshestoodthereholdingtighttoourfriend’sdress,herincomparablechildishbeautyhadsuddenlyfailed,hadquitevanished.I’vesaiditalready—shewasliterally,shewashideously,hard;shehadturnedcommonandalmostugly.“Idon’tknowwhatyoumean.Iseenobody.Iseenothing.Ineverhave.Ithinkyou’recruel.