Chapter 3

           Herthusturningherbackonmewasfortunatelynot,formyjustpreoccupations,asnubthatcouldcheckthegrowthofourmutualesteem.Wemet,afterIhadbroughthomelittleMiles,moreintimatelythaneveronthegroundofmystupefaction,mygeneralemotion:somonstrouswasIthenreadytopronounceitthatsuchachildashadnowbeenrevealedtomeshouldbeunderaninterdict.Iwasalittlelateonthescene,andIfelt,ashestoodwistfullylookingoutformebeforethedooroftheinnatwhichthecoachhadputhimdown,thatIhadseenhim,ontheinstant,withoutandwithin,inthegreatglowoffreshness,thesamepositivefragranceofpurity,inwhichIhad,fromthefirstmoment,seenhislittlesister.Hewasincrediblybeautiful,andMrs.Grosehadputherfingeronit:everythingbutasortofpassionoftendernessforhimwassweptawaybyhispresence.WhatIthenandtheretookhimtomyheartforwassomethingdivinethatIhaveneverfoundtothesamedegreeinanychild—hisindescribablelittleairofknowingnothingintheworldbutlove.Itwouldhavebeenimpossibletocarryabadnamewithagreatersweetnessofinnocence,andbythetimeIhadgotbacktoBlywithhimIremainedmerelybewildered—sofar,thatis,asIwasnotoutraged—bythesenseofthehorribleletterlockedupinmyroom,inadrawer.AssoonasIcouldcompassaprivatewordwithMrs.GroseIdeclaredtoherthatitwasgrotesque.

           Shepromptlyunderstoodme.“Youmeanthecruelcharge—?”

           “Itdoesn’tliveaninstant.