Поворот гвинта

           Ispentthedaywithherout-of-doors;Iarrangedwithher,tohergreatsatisfaction,thatitshouldbeshe,sheonly,whomightshowmetheplace.Sheshoweditstepbystepandroombyroomandsecretbysecret,withdroll,delightful,childishtalkaboutitandwiththeresult,inhalfanhour,ofourbecomingimmensefriends.Youngasshewas,Iwasstruck,throughoutourlittletour,withherconfidenceandcouragewiththeway,inemptychambersanddullcorridors,oncrookedstaircasesthatmademepauseandevenonthesummitofanoldmachicolatedsquaretowerthatmademedizzy,hermorningmusic,herdispositiontotellmesomanymorethingsthansheasked,rangoutandledmeon.IhavenotseenBlysincethedayIleftit,andIdaresaythattomyolderandmoreinformedeyesitwouldnowappearsufficientlycontracted.Butasmylittleconductress,withherhairofgoldandherfrockofblue,dancedbeforemeroundcornersandpattereddownpassages,Ihadtheviewofacastleofromanceinhabitedbyarosysprite,suchaplaceaswouldsomehow,fordiversionoftheyoungidea,takeallcoloroutofstorybooksandfairytales.Wasn’titjustastorybookoverwhichIhadfallenadozeandadream?No;itwasabig,ugly,antique,butconvenienthouse,embodyingafewfeaturesofabuildingstillolder,half-replacedandhalf-utilized,inwhichIhadthefancyofourbeingalmostaslostasahandfulofpassengersinagreatdriftingship.Well,Iwas,strangely,atthehelm!