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at this juncture to the stitching in which I was engaged；
and I can feel once more the spasm of my effort not to move them
till I should so have steadied myself as to be able to make up
my mind what to do。 There was an alien object in viewa figure
whose right of presence I instantly； passionately questioned。
I recollect counting over perfectly the possibilities；
reminding myself that nothing was more natural； for instance；
then the appearance of one of the men about the place； or even
of a messenger； a postman； or a tradesman's boy； from the village。
That reminder had as little effect on my practical
certitude as I was consciousstill even without looking
of its having upon the character and attitude of our visitor。
Nothing was more natural than that these things should be
the other things that they absolutely were not。
Of the positive identity of the apparition I would assure myself
as soon as the small clock of my courage should have ticked out the
right second； meanwhile； with an effort that was already sharp enough；
I transferred my eyes straight to little Flora； who； at the moment；
was about ten yards away。 My heart had stood still for an instant
with the wonder and terror of the question whether she too would see；
and I held my breath while I waited for what a cry from her； what some
sudden innocent sign either of interest or of alarm； would tell me。
I waited； but nothing came； then； in the first placeand there is
something more dire in this； I feel； than in anything I have to relate
I was determined by a sense that； within a minute； all sounds from her
had previously dropped； and； in the second； by the circumstance that；
also within the minute； she had； in her play； turned her back to the water。
This was her attitude when I at last looked at herlooked with the confirmed
conviction that we were still； together； under direct personal notice。
She had picked up a small flat piece of wood； which happened to have in it
a little hole that had evidently suggested to her the idea of sticking
in another fragment that might figure as a mast and make the thing a boat。
This second morsel； as I watched her； she was very markedly and intently
attempting to tighten in its place。 My apprehension of what she was doing
sustained me so that after some seconds I felt I was ready for more。
Then I again shifted my eyesI faced what I had to face。
VII
I got hold of Mrs。 Grose as soon after this as I could； and I can
give no intelligible account of how I fought out the interval。
Yet I still hear myself cry as I fairly threw myself into her arms：
〃They KNOWit's too monstrous： they know； they know！〃
〃And what on earth？〃 I felt her incredulity as she held me。
〃Why； all that WE knowand heaven knows what else besides！〃
Then； as she released me； I made it out to her； made it out perhaps only
now with full coherency even to myself。 〃Two hours ago； in the garden〃
I could scarce articulate〃Flora SAW！〃
Mrs。 Grose took it as she might have taken a blow in the stomach。
〃She has told you？〃 she panted。
〃Not a wordthat's the horror。 She kept it to herself！
The child of eight； THAT child！〃 Unutterable still；
for me； was the stupefaction of it。
Mrs。 Grose； of course； could only gape the wider。
〃Then how do you know？〃
〃I was thereI saw with my eyes： saw that she was perfectly aware。〃
〃Do you mean aware of HIM？〃
〃Noof HER。〃 I was conscious as I spoke that I looked
prodigious things； for I got the slow reflection of them
in my companion's face。 〃Another personthis time；
but a figure of quite as unmistakable horror and evil：
a woman in black； pale and dreadfulwith such an air also；
and such a face！on the other side of the lake。
I was there with the childquiet for the hour； and in the midst
of it she came。〃
〃Came howfrom where？〃
〃From where they come from！ She just appeared and stood there
but not so near。〃
〃And without coming nearer？〃
〃Oh； for the effect and the feeling； she might have been as close as you！〃
My friend； with an odd impulse； fell back a step。
〃Was she someone you've never seen？〃
〃Yes。 But someone the child has。 Someone YOU have。〃
Then； to show how I had thought it all out： 〃My predecessor
the one who died。〃
〃Miss Jessel？〃
〃Miss Jessel。 You don't believe me？〃 I pressed。
She turned right and left in her distress。 〃How can you be sure？〃
This drew from me； in the state of my nerves； a flash of impatience。
〃Then ask FloraSHE'S sure！〃 But I had no sooner spoken
than I caught myself up。 〃No； for God's sake； DON'T！〃
She'll say she isn'tshe'll lie！〃
Mrs。 Grose was not too bewildered instinctively to protest。
〃Ah； how CAN you？〃
〃Because I'm clear。 Flora doesn't want me to know。〃
〃It's only then to spare you。〃
〃No； nothere are depths； depths！ The more I go over it；
the more I see in it； and the more I see in it； the more I fear。
I don't know what I DON'T seewhat I DON'T fear！〃
Mrs。 Grose tried to keep up with me。 〃You mean you're afraid
of seeing her again？〃
〃Oh； no； that's nothingnow！〃 Then I explained。
〃It's of NOT seeing her。〃
But my companion only looked wan。 〃I don't understand you。〃
〃Why； it's that the child may keep it upand that the child assuredly
WILLwithout my knowing it。〃
At the image of this possibility Mrs。 Grose for a moment collapsed；
yet presently to pull herself together again； as if from the positive
force of the sense of what； should we yield an inch； there would
really be to give way to。 〃Dear； dearwe must keep our heads！
And after all； if she doesn't mind it！〃 She even tried a grim joke。
〃Perhaps she likes it！〃
〃Likes SUCH thingsa scrap of an infant！〃
〃Isn't it just a proof of her blessed innocence？〃 my friend bravely inquired。
She brought me； for the instant； almost round。
〃Oh； we must clutch at THATwe must cling to it！
If it isn't a proof of what you say； it's a proof ofGod knows what！
For the woman's a horror of horrors。〃
Mrs。 Grose； at this； fixed her eyes a minute on the ground；
then at last raising them； 〃Tell me how you know；〃 she said。
〃Then you admit it's what she was？〃 I cried。
〃Tell me how you know；〃 my friend simply repeated。
〃Know？ By seeing her！ By the way she looked。〃
〃At you； do you meanso wickedly？〃
〃Dear me； noI could have borne that。 She gave me never a glance。
She only fixed the child。〃
Mrs。 Grose tried to see it。 〃Fixed her？〃
〃Ah； with such awful eyes！〃
She stared at mine as if they might really have resembled them。
〃Do you mean of dislike？〃
〃God help us； no。 Of something much worse。〃
〃Worse than dislike？this left her indeed at a loss。
〃With a determinationindescribable。 With a kind of fury of intention。〃
I made her turn pale。 〃Intention？〃
〃To get hold of her。〃 Mrs。 Groseher eyes just lingering
on minegav