It was confusedly present
to me that I ought to place myself where he had stood.
I did so; I applied my face to the pane and looked,
as he had looked, into the room. As if, at this moment,
to show me exactly what his range had been, Mrs. Grose,
as I had done for himself just before, came in from the hall.
With this I had the full image of a repetition of what had
already occurred. She saw me as I had seen my own visitant;
she pulled up short as I had done; I gave her something
of the shock that I had received. She turned white,
and this made me ask myself if I had blanched as much.
She stared, in short, and retreated on just MY lines,
and I knew she had then passed out and come round to me
and that I should presently meet her. I remained where I was,
and while I waited I thought of more things than one.
But there's only one I take space to mention. I wondered why
SHE should be scared.
V
Oh, she let me know as soon as, round the corner of the house, she loomed
again into view. "What in the name of goodness is the matter--?"
She was now flushed and out of breath.
I said nothing till she came quite near. "With me?"
I must have made a wonderful face. "Do I show it?"
"You're as white as a sheet. You look awful."
I considered; I could meet on this, without scruple, any innocence.
My need to respect the bloom of Mrs.
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