Chapter 11

           ItwasnottilllatenextdaythatIspoketoMrs.Grose;therigorwithwhichIkeptmypupilsinsightmakingitoftendifficulttomeetherprivately,andthemoreasweeachfelttheimportanceofnotprovoking—onthepartoftheservantsquiteasmuchasonthatofthechildren—anysuspicionofasecretflurryorthatofadiscussionofmysteries.Idrewagreatsecurityinthisparticularfromhermeresmoothaspect.Therewasnothinginherfreshfacetopassontoothersmyhorribleconfidences.Shebelievedme,Iwassure,absolutely:ifshehadn’tIdon’tknowwhatwouldhavebecomeofme,forIcouldn’thavebornethebusinessalone.Butshewasamagnificentmonumenttotheblessingofawantofimagination,andifshecouldseeinourlittlechargesnothingbuttheirbeautyandamiability,theirhappinessandcleverness,shehadnodirectcommunicationwiththesourcesofmytrouble.Iftheyhadbeenatallvisiblyblightedorbattered,shewoulddoubtlesshavegrown,ontracingitback,haggardenoughtomatchthem;asmattersstood,however,Icouldfeelher,whenshesurveyedthem,withherlargewhitearmsfoldedandthehabitofserenityinallherlook,thanktheLord’smercythatiftheywereruinedthepieceswouldstillserve.