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Chapter 7
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“Andwithoutcomingnearer?”
“Oh,fortheeffectandthefeeling,shemighthavebeenascloseasyou!”
Myfriend,withanoddimpulse,fellbackastep.“Wasshesomeoneyou’veneverseen?”
“Yes.Butsomeonethechildhas.Someoneyouhave.”Then,toshowhowIhadthoughtitallout:“Mypredecessor—theonewhodied.”
“MissJessel?”
“MissJessel.Youdon’tbelieveme?”Ipressed.
Sheturnedrightandleftinherdistress.“Howcanyoubesure?”
Thisdrewfromme,inthestateofmynerves,aflashofimpatience.“ThenaskFlora—she’ssure!”ButIhadnosoonerspokenthanIcaughtmyselfup.“No,forGod’ssake,don’t!She’llsaysheisn’t—she’lllie!”
Mrs.Grosewasnottoobewilderedinstinctivelytoprotest.“Ah,howcanyou?”
“BecauseI’mclear.Floradoesn’twantmetoknow.”
“It’sonlythentospareyou.”
“No,no—therearedepths,depths!ThemoreIgooverit,themoreIseeinit,andthemoreIseeinit,themoreIfear.Idon’tknowwhatIdon’tsee—whatIdon’tfear!”
Mrs.Grosetriedtokeepupwithme.“Youmeanyou’reafraidofseeingheragain?”
“Oh,no;that’snothing—now!”ThenIexplained.“It’sofnotseeingher.”
Butmycompaniononlylookedwan.“Idon’tunderstandyou.”
“Why,it’sthatthechildmaykeepitup—andthatthechildassuredlywill—withoutmyknowingit.”
AttheimageofthispossibilityMrs.
