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Chapter 6
IhadanabsolutecertaintythatIshouldseeagainwhatIhadalreadyseen,butsomethingwithinmesaidthatbyofferingmyselfbravelyasthesolesubjectofsuchexperience,byaccepting,byinviting,bysurmountingitall,Ishouldserveasanexpiatoryvictimandguardthetranquilityofmycompanions.Thechildren,inespecial,Ishouldthusfenceaboutandabsolutelysave.IrecalloneofthelastthingsIsaidthatnighttoMrs.Grose.
“Itdoesstrikemethatmypupilshavenevermentioned—”
ShelookedatmehardasImusinglypulledup.“Hishavingbeenhereandthetimetheywerewithhim?”
“Thetimetheywerewithhim,andhisname,hispresence,hishistory,inanyway.”
“Oh,thelittleladydoesn’tremember.Sheneverheardorknew.”
“Thecircumstancesofhisdeath?”Ithoughtwithsomeintensity.“Perhapsnot.ButMileswouldremember—Mileswouldknow.”
“Ah,don’ttryhim!”brokefromMrs.Grose.
Ireturnedherthelookshehadgivenme.“Don’tbeafraid.”Icontinuedtothink.“Itisratherodd.”
“Thathehasneverspokenofhim?”
“Neverbytheleastallusion.Andyoutellmetheywere‘greatfriends’?”
“Oh,itwasn’thim!”Mrs.Grosewithemphasisdeclared.“ItwasQuint’sownfancy.Toplaywithhim,Imean—tospoilhim.”Shepausedamoment;thensheadded:“Quintwasmuchtoofree.”
Thisgaveme,straightfrommyvisionofhisface—suchaface!—asuddensicknessofdisgust.
