XXIBefore a new day, in my room, had fully broken, my eyes openedto Mrs. Grose, who had come to my bedside with worse news. Florawas so markedly feverish that an illness was perhaps at hand; shehad passed a night of extreme unrest, a night agitated above all byfears that had for their subject not in the least her former, butwholly her present, governess. It was not against the possiblere-entrance of Miss Jessel on the scene that she protested—itwas conspicuously and passionately against mine. I was promptly onmy feet of course, and with an immense deal to ask; the more thatmy friend had discernibly now girded her loins to meet me oncemore. This I felt as soon as I had put to her the question of hersense of the child’s sincerity as against my own. “Shepersists in denying to you that she saw
