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V
Oh, she told me right away, when she came. Whats wrong? She was out of breath.
I didnt say anything until she came closer. With me? I must have made a strange face. Do I show it?
Youre as white as a sheet. You look terrible.
I thought about it; I could tell her the truth. I held her hand tightly for a moment, enjoying the feeling of her being close to me. There was comfort in the surprise on her shy face. You came to get me for church, of course, but I cant go.
Did something happen?
Yes. You need to know now. Did I look very strange?
Through this window? Terrible!
Well, I said, Ive been scared. What you saw from the dining room a minute ago was similar to what I saw. But what I saw was much worse.
Her hand tightened. What was it?
A strange man. Looking in.
What strange man?
I dont know at all.
Mrs. Grose looked around but couldnt find him. Then where did he go?
I have no idea.
Have you seen him before?
Yes, once. On the old tower.
Do you mean hes a stranger?
Oh, very much!
Yet you didnt tell me?
No, for reasons. But now that youve guessed
Ah, I didnt guess! she said simply. Youve only seen him on the tower?
And on this spot just now.
Mrs. Grose looked around again. What was he doing on the tower?
Just standing there and looking down at me.
She thought for a moment. Was he a gentleman?
I realized I didnt need to think. No. She looked in deeper wonder.
No.
Then nobody around? Nobody from the village?
Nobodynobody. I didnt tell you, but I was sure.
But if hes not a gentleman
What is he? Hes a horror.
A horror?
HesGod help me, I have no idea!
Mrs. Grose looked around again, then she turned to me and suddenly said, Its time for us to go to church.
Oh, I cant go to church!
Wont it be good for you?
It wont be good for them! I nodded[25] toward the house.
The children?
I cant leave them now.
Youre afraid?
Im afraid of him.
When was iton the tower?
About in the middle of the month. Around this time.
Almost in the dark? asked Mrs. Grose.
Oh, no, not nearly. I saw him as clearly as I see you.
So how did he get in?
And how did he get out? I laughed. I didnt have a chance to ask him! Tonight, you see, I continued, he hasnt been able to get in.
He only peeps[26]?
I hope thats all it will be! She let go of my hand and turned away. I waited for a moment, then I said, Go to church. Goodbye. I have to watch.
Slowly, she turned to me again. Are you worried about them?
We looked at each other for a while. Arent you? Instead of answering, she moved closer to the window and pressed her face against the glass for a minute. You see how he could see, I continued talking.
She stayed still. How long was he here?
Until I came out. I came to meet him.
Finally, Mrs. Grose turned around, and said, I couldnt have come out.
Neither could I! I laughed again. But I did come. I have my duty.
I have mine too, she replied. Then she asked, What does he look like?
Ive been dying to tell you. But hes like nobody.
Nobody? she echoed.
He has no hat. Then I noticed the look on her face and realized she had already begun to imagine a picture, which made her even more confused. So I quickly described him. He has very red curly hair, and a long pale face. He has small, strange-looking eyes. His mouth is wide, with thin lips, and he only has little, strange red whiskers[27]. His eyebrows are darker and look like they might move a lot. He looks like an actor.
An actor!
Ive never seen one, but thats what I think they look like. Hes tall, active, and stands up straight, but hes definitely not a gentleman.
As I continued, my friends face became pale, Not a gentleman? He?
So you know him then?
But is he handsome?
Very much so!
And how is he dressed?
He is wearing someone elses clothes. They are stylish, but they dont belong to him.
She cried, They belong to the master!
So you do know him?
Quint! she cried.
Quint?
Peter Quinthis valet[28], when he was here!
When the master was here?
He never wore his hat. They were both herelast year. Then the master left, and Quint was alone.
I followed, but stopped a bit. Alone?
Alone with us, she added, In charge.
And what happened to him?
She took so long to answer that I became even more confused. He went, too, she finally said.
Went where?
God knows where! He died.
Died? I almost shouted.
Yes. Mr. Quint is dead.
VI
That night, we agreed that we would face things together. I wasnt even sure if she had a harder time than me. I knew, even at that moment, what I could do to protect my pupils.
He was looking for someone else, you say someone who was not you?
He was looking for little Miles. I knew this very clearly. Thats who he was looking for.
But how do you know?
I know, I know, I know! After a moment, she continued: What if he sees him?
Little Miles? Thats what he wants!
She looked very scared again. The child?
Heaven forbid[29]! The man. He wants to appear to them. The idea was awful, but somehow, I couldnt keep it away. As we stayed there, I had a strong feeling that I would see what I had already seen. However, something in me told me that I could serve as a sacrifice[30] to protect the calmness of my companions. Especially the children, I would surround them and save them completely. I remember one of the last things I said to Mrs. Grose that night.
It seems like my students have never told me
She looked at me as I paused in thought, About his time here and the time they spent with him?
The time they spent with him, his name, his presence, his history, anything.
Oh, the little girl doesnt remember. She never heard or knew.
About his death? I thought deeply. Maybe not. But Miles would rememberMiles would know.
Ah, dont ask him! Mrs. Grose cried.
I gave her the same look she had given me. Dont be afraid. I continued to think. Its rather strange.
That he has never talked about him?
Never even asked about him. And you say they were great friends?
Oh, it wasnt him! It was Quints own imagination. To play with him, I meanto spoil him. She paused for a moment, then added: Quint was much too free.
This made me feel a sudden disgust[31]. Too free with my boy?
Too free with everyone!
Just to be sure, I asked her one last question. So youre saying that he was definitely and admittedly[32] bad?
Oh, not admittedly. I knew itbut the master didnt.
And you never told him?
Well, he didnt like people talking about others faults. He didnt want to hear complaints. If people were fine with him
He didnt want to hear more? This matched my impression of him. Still, I continued. I promise you, I would have told him!
She understood my point. Maybe I was wrong. But, honestly, I was afraid.
Afraid of what?
Of the things that man could do. Quint was so clever.
I understood even more than I showed. Werent you afraid of anything else? Not of his infulence[33]?
His influence? She repeated with a painful look, waiting for me to continue.
On innocent little lives. They were under your care.
No, they werent under mine! She replied firmly. The master trusted him and put him here because he was supposed to be unwell, and the country air would be good for him. So he had all the authority. Yes,she told me sternly[34]even over them.
Over those children? I had to hold back a cry. And you could stand it!
No, I couldntand I cant now! And the poor woman started crying.
From the next day, there would be strict control over the children, as I said before. However, we couldnt stop talking about the subject passionately for a whole week! We had discussed it on Sunday night, but I couldnt help but feel that there was something she hadnt told me. I had been completely open, but Mrs. Grose had kept a secret. I was sure that she didnt do that because she wasnt honest. She was afraid and thats it. Looking back now, it seems that I had already interpreted[35] most of the meaning behind the situation, thanks to following more terrible events. What those events showed to me was the presence of a mysterious man who was still alive, while the dead one would stay a mystery for a while. This man had spent several months at Bly, which was quite a long time. The end of this terrible period only came when, on a winter morning, Peter Quints body was found on the road. The cause of his death was a head wound[36], which have been caused by a slip on an icy slope[37]. It was a wrong path to take, especially in the dark and after having drinks at the pub.