I was so determined to have all my proof
that I flashed into ice to challenge him.
(See Important Quotations Explained)
Summary: Chapter XXII
With Mrs. Grose and Flora gone, the governess focuses
on her impending confrontation with Miles. She senses that the maids
and men at Bly are staring at her and reacts by parading around
to appear “remarkably firm.” Her marching around the house doesn’t
seem to affect Miles. From a maid, the governess learns that Miles
had breakfasted with Flora before Flora’s departure. The governess
braces herself for a fight “against nature,” which will require
“only another turn of the screw of ordinary human virtue.”
The governess dines with Miles, who asks about his sister’s
illness. The governess reassures him that Flora will soon get well.
He prods further, asking if Flora’s aversion to Bly occurred all
at once. The conversation continues, with the governess proclaiming
that Flora was not too ill to travel. Their meal is brief. When
it is done and the waiter gone, Miles exclaims that they are alone.
Summary: Chapter XXIII
The governess demurs that they are not totally
alone, and Miles agrees that there are “the others.” Miles turns to
the window. Turning back around, Miles expresses his happiness that
Bly agrees with him. The governess asks if he has enjoyed his day
of freedom. Miles turns the question on her, asking if she has enjoyed
it. He says that, if they stay on at Bly together, she will be more
alone than he. The governess says she misses his company—it is the
only reason she has stayed on.
Miles’s expression turns grave. The two skirt around the
issue of what the governess wants to know. She says now is the time
and place, and she asks if he wants to go out again. He assents,
saying he will tell her everything, but not now. First he needs
to see Luke. The governess consents and requests that before he
goes, Miles tell her whether he took her letter.
Summary: Chapter XXIV
In the middle of this conversation, the governess
is suddenly distracted by Peter Quint looking in through the window.
She springs up and draws Miles close, his back to the window. Miles
confesses that he took the letter. Moaning with joy, the governess
embraces him and notes the quickness of his pulse. Miles says he
wanted to know what the letter said about him but found it said
nothing and burned it. The governess asks if he had stolen letters
at school.
Surprised, Miles asks if she had known that he couldn’t
go back to school. The governess claims to know everything. Denying
the charge, Miles says he “said things” to boys he liked. The governess
presses the issue. Miles shifts, and she springs forward upon him,
pressing him against her. Miles asks if “she” is here. The governess
says the “coward horror” is here. Miles searches in the direction
of the governess’s gaze and names Peter Quint, crying out “[Y]ou
devil!” and asking where. The governess yells at the ghost and points
him out. Miles’s heart stops.
