The Turn of the Screw

XI

XIIt was not till late next day that I spoke to Mrs.Grose; therigor with which I kept my pupils in sight making it oftendifficult to meet her privately, and the more as we each felt theimportance of not provoking—on the part of the servants quiteas much as on that of the children—any suspicion of a secretflurry or that of a discussion of mysteries. I drew a greatsecurity in this particular from her mere smooth aspect. There wasnothing in her fresh face to pass on to others my horribleconfidences. She believed me, I was sure, absolutely: if shehadn’tI don’t know what would have become of me, for Icouldn’t have borne the business alone. But she was amagnificent monument to the blessing of a want of imagination, andif she could see in our little charges nothing but their beauty andamiability,