Summary: Chapter XVIII
The next day Mrs. Grose asks the governess if she has
written the letter. The governess affirms this but does not mention
that the letter has not yet been sent. That morning her pupils perform
brilliantly at their tasks. After dinner, Miles approaches the governess
to ask if she would like him to play the piano for her. She is delighted,
and he plays remarkably for some time, until the governess realizes
the length of time that has passed and realizes that Flora is nowhere
to be seen. She asks Miles where his sister is. He asks how he should know
and laughs.
To no avail, the governess searches for Flora in her bedroom
upstairs and in other rooms downstairs. She then looks for Mrs.
Grose, but Flora is not with her, nor is she with the maids. The
governess has a feeling that Flora is “at a distance” and insinuates
the she must be with Miss Jessel. Horrified, Mrs. Grose asks where Miles
is. The governess deduces he is with Quint in the schoolroom. She
then declares that “the trick’s played” and informs Mrs. Grose that
Miles had distracted her. Mrs. Grose asks about the letter, and
the governess draws it from her pocket and leaves it on the table
for a servant named Luke to take. Although Mrs. Grose is loathe
to leave Miles, the governess persuades her to accompany her outside
to search for Flora.
Summary: Chapter XIX
The governess and Mrs. Grose head to the lake, the governess
convinced that Flora has fled to where she had seen the image of
Miss Jessel. Flora is neither there nor seen on the opposite bank.
The governess determines that Flora must have taken the boat, which
is missing from its usual resting place. She leads Mrs. Grose to
the other side of the lake. Soon they find the boat and shortly
thereafter come upon Flora, who is smiling.
Flora plucks a spray of fern and waits for the governess
and Mrs. Grose to approach. As Mrs. Grose embraces Flora passionately,
Flora glances at the governess from over Mrs. Grose’s shoulder with
a grave expression. Mrs. Grose lets the child go. Flora speaks first,
asking where their “things” are, as they are all without hats. She
then asks where Miles is. The governess says she will tell her if
Flora will tell the governess where Miss Jessel is.
Summary: Chapter XX
Flora glares at the governess, and Mrs. Grose cries out.
The governess grasps Mrs. Grose’s arm and points out Miss Jessel
on the opposite bank, delighted at having “brought on a proof.”
The governess is surprised by Flora’s reaction, for she looks not
in the direction of Miss Jessel but at the governess, glaring accusingly.
Mrs. Grose protests, asking what the governess sees. Astonished,
the governess points out Miss Jessel again, and Mrs. Grose, seeing
nothing, pleads with the governess to return to the house.
Flora, who has turned “almost ugly,” exclaims she has
never seen anything and demands that Mrs. Grose take her away from
the governess. Convinced that Miss Jessel is speaking through Flora,
the governess declares Flora “lost” and tells Mrs. Grose to go.
The governess gives in to long moments of grief before returning
home, noting that the boat is in its usual position. At the house,
she finds Flora her usual self and is joined by Miles in silence.
