Поворот гвинта

           Thatwaswhat,repeatedly,Idippedintomyroomandlockedthedoortosaytomyself.Wehadbeen,collectively,subjecttoanintrusion;someunscrupuloustraveler,curiousinoldhouses,hadmadehiswayinunobserved,enjoyedtheprospectfromthebestpointofview,andthenstolenoutashecame.Ifhehadgivenmesuchaboldhardstare,thatwasbutapartofhisindiscretion.Thegoodthing,afterall,wasthatweshouldsurelyseenomoreofhim.

           Thiswasnotsogoodathing,Iadmit,asnottoleavemetojudgethatwhat,essentially,madenothingelsemuchsignifywassimplymycharmingwork.MycharmingworkwasjustmylifewithMilesandFlora,andthroughnothingcouldIsolikeitasthroughfeelingthatIcouldthrowmyselfintoitintrouble.Theattractionofmysmallchargeswasaconstantjoy,leadingmetowonderafreshatthevanityofmyoriginalfears,thedistasteIhadbegunbyentertainingfortheprobablegrayproseofmyoffice.Therewastobenograyprose,itappeared,andnolonggrind;sohowcouldworknotbecharmingthatpresenteditselfasdailybeauty?Itwasalltheromanceofthenurseryandthepoetryoftheschoolroom.Idon’tmeanbythis,ofcourse,thatwestudiedonlyfictionandverse;ImeanIcanexpressnootherwisethesortofinterestmycompanionsinspired.HowcanIdescribethatexceptbysayingthatinsteadofgrowingusedtothem—andit’samarvelforagoverness:Icallthesisterhoodtowitness!—Imadeconstantfreshdiscoveries.