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“That’s right! And the problem was his answer, first of all.”
“And what else?” I waited for her to continue. “Did he tell Quint what you said?”
“No, not that. He definitely wouldn’t!” she said. “I was sure, at least,” she added, “that he didn’t. But he denied[49] some situations.”
“What situations?”
“When they were together as if Quint was his teacher—a very important one—and Miss Jessel was just there for the little lady. He spent hours with him, I mean, going off together.”
“He then lied about it? He said he didn’t?” She nodded. So I said, “I understand. He lied.”
“Oh!” Mrs. Grose murmured[50], “You see, Miss Jessel didn’t mind. She didn’t forbid[51] him.”
I thought about it.
“Did he give you this as an excuse?”
She dropped her head again. “No, he never talked about it.”
“He never talked about her and Quint being together?”
She understood where I was going and blushed, “No, never. He denied,” she repeated, “he denied.”
“So you guessed that he knew what was happening between the two terrible people?”
“I don’t know—I don’t know!” the poor woman cried.
“You do know, my dear,” I replied; “but you’re not as brave as I am, and you hold back because you’re shy. You even hide the impression that caused you the most pain in the past when you had to get out without my help. But I’ll find out!” I continued, “There was something in the boy that made you think he was hiding their relationship.”
“Oh, he couldn’t stop—”
“You from finding out the truth? I suppose so! But it’s shocking to think what they must have done to him to make him keep it a secret!”
“Don’t think anything bad now!” Mrs. Grose sadly pleaded[52].
“I understand why you looked surprised,” I said, “when I said about the letter from his school!”
“I don’t think I looked as surprised as you did!” she replied. “And if he was so bad back then, how is he such an angel now?”
“Yes, he was very bad at school! How, how, how? Well,” I said, “you must ask me again, but I won’t be able to tell you for a few days. Just ask me again!” I cried in a way that made my friend stare. “There are things I can’t talk about right now.” I made a pause. I wanted to think. “If Quint, as you said, was a simple servant, then I guess, Miles could tell you that you are also a servant?” Her answer was enough for me to continue: “And you forgave him for that?”
“Wouldn’t you?”
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49
to deny – отрицать
50
to murmur – бормотать
51
to forbid – запрещать
52
to plead – умолять