Chapter 12

           TheparticularimpressionIhadreceivedprovedinthemorninglight,Irepeat,notquitesuccessfullypresentabletoMrs.Grose,thoughIreinforceditwiththementionofstillanotherremarkthathehadmadebeforeweseparated.“Itallliesinhalfadozenwords,”Isaidtoher,“wordsthatreallysettlethematter.‘Think,youknow,whatImightdo!’Hethrewthatofftoshowmehowgoodheis.Heknowsdowntothegroundwhathe‘might’do.That’swhathegavethematasteofatschool.”

           “Lord,youdochange!”criedmyfriend.

           “Idon’tchange—Isimplymakeitout.Thefour,dependuponit,perpetuallymeet.Ifoneitheroftheselastnightsyouhadbeenwitheitherchild,youwouldclearlyhaveunderstood.ThemoreI’vewatchedandwaitedthemoreI’vefeltthatiftherewerenothingelsetomakeitsureitwouldbemadesobythesystematicsilenceofeach.Never,byaslipofthetongue,havetheysomuchasalludedtoeitheroftheiroldfriends,anymorethanMileshasalludedtohisexpulsion.Oh,yes,wemaysithereandlookatthem,andtheymayshowofftoustheretotheirfill;butevenwhiletheypretendtobelostintheirfairytalethey’resteepedintheirvisionofthedeadrestored.He’snotreadingtoher,”Ideclared;“they’retalkingofthem—they’retalkinghorrors!Igoon,Iknow,asifIwerecrazy;andit’sawonderI’mnot.WhatI’veseenwouldhavemadeyouso;butithasonlymadememorelucid,mademegetholdofstillotherthings.