Поворот гвинта

           So,forthebenefitofwhomitmightconcern,Iparadedwithasickheart.

           Thepersonitappearedleasttoconcernprovedtobe,tilldinner,littleMileshimself.Myperambulationshadgivenme,meanwhile,noglimpseofhim,buttheyhadtendedtomakemorepublicthechangetakingplaceinourrelationasaconsequenceofhishavingatthepiano,thedaybefore,keptme,inFlora’sinterest,sobeguiledandbefooled.Thestampofpublicityhadofcoursebeenfullygivenbyherconfinementanddeparture,andthechangeitselfwasnowusheredinbyournonobservanceoftheregularcustomoftheschoolroom.Hehadalreadydisappearedwhen,onmywaydown,Ipushedopenhisdoor,andIlearnedbelowthathehadbreakfasted—inthepresenceofacoupleofthemaids—withMrs.Groseandhissister.Hehadthengoneout,ashesaid,forastroll;thanwhichnothing,Ireflected,couldbetterhaveexpressedhisfrankviewoftheabrupttransformationofmyoffice.Whathewouldnotpermitthisofficetoconsistofwasyettobesettled:therewasaqueerrelief,atallevents—Imeanformyselfinespecial—intherenouncementofonepretension.Ifsomuchhadsprungtothesurface,IscarceputittoostronglyinsayingthatwhathadperhapssprunghighestwastheabsurdityofourprolongingthefictionthatIhadanythingmoretoteachhim.Itsufficientlystuckoutthat,bytacitlittletricksinwhichevenmorethanmyselfhecarriedoutthecareformydignity,Ihadhadtoappealtohimtoletmeoffstrainingtomeethimonthegroundofhistruecapacity.