Поворот гвинта
The Turn of the Screw
Shehaddoneforthemquitebeautifully—shewasamostrespectableperson—tillherdeath,thegreatawkwardnessofwhichhad,precisely,leftnoalternativebuttheschoolforlittleMiles.Mrs.Grose,sincethen,inthewayofmannersandthings,haddoneasshecouldforFlora;andtherewere,further,acook,ahousemaid,adairywoman,anoldpony,anoldgroom,andanoldgardener,alllikewisethoroughlyrespectable.
SofarhadDouglaspresentedhispicturewhensomeoneputaquestion.“Andwhatdidtheformergovernessdieof?—ofsomuchrespectability?”
Ourfriend’sanswerwasprompt.“Thatwillcomeout.Idon’tanticipate.”
“Excuseme—Ithoughtthatwasjustwhatyouaredoing.”
“Inhersuccessor’splace,”Isuggested,“Ishouldhavewishedtolearniftheofficebroughtwithit—”
“Necessarydangertolife?”Douglascompletedmythought.“Shedidwishtolearn,andshedidlearn.Youshallheartomorrowwhatshelearned.Meanwhile,ofcourse,theprospectstruckherasslightlygrim.Shewasyoung,untried,nervous:itwasavisionofseriousdutiesandlittlecompany,ofreallygreatloneliness.Shehesitated—tookacoupleofdaystoconsultandconsider.Butthesalaryofferedmuchexceededhermodestmeasure,andonasecondinterviewshefacedthemusic,sheengaged.”AndDouglas,withthis,madeapausethat,forthebenefitofthecompany,movedmetothrowin—
“Themoralofwhichwasofcoursetheseductionexercisedbythesplendidyoungman.Shesuccumbedtoit.
