Поворот гвинта
Chapter 8
ItwasneithermorenorlessthanthecircumstancethatforaperiodofseveralmonthsQuintandtheboyhadbeenperpetuallytogether.Itwasinfacttheveryappropriatetruththatshehadventuredtocriticizethepropriety,tohintattheincongruity,ofsocloseanalliance,andeventogosofaronthesubjectasafrankoverturetoMissJessel.MissJesselhad,withamoststrangemanner,requestedhertomindherbusiness,andthegoodwomanhad,onthis,directlyapproachedlittleMiles.Whatshehadsaidtohim,sinceIpressed,wasthatshelikedtoseeyounggentlemennotforgettheirstation.
Ipressedagain,ofcourse,atthis.“YouremindedhimthatQuintwasonlyabasemenial?”
“Asyoumightsay!Anditwashisanswer,foronething,thatwasbad.”
“Andforanotherthing?”Iwaited.“HerepeatedyourwordstoQuint?”
“No,notthat.It’sjustwhathewouldn’t!”shecouldstillimpressuponme.“Iwassure,atanyrate,”sheadded,“thathedidn’t.Buthedeniedcertainoccasions.”
“Whatoccasions?”
“WhentheyhadbeenabouttogetherquiteasifQuintwerehistutor—andaverygrandone—andMissJesselonlyforthelittlelady.Whenhehadgoneoffwiththefellow,Imean,andspenthourswithhim.”
“Hethenprevaricatedaboutit—hesaidhehadn’t?”Herassentwasclearenoughtocausemetoaddinamoment:“Isee.Helied.”
“Oh!”Mrs.Grosemumbled.Thiswasasuggestionthatitdidn’tmatter;whichindeedshebackedupbyafurtherremark.“Yousee,afterall,MissJesseldidn’tmind.
