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cottage； prior to the engagement of the new governess； is
necessary to the due appreciation of the serious consequences
that followed Miss Gwilt's appearance on the scene。
On the marriage of the governess who had lived in his service for
many years （a woman of an age and an appearance to set even Mrs。
Milroy's jealousy at defiance）； the major had considered the
question of sending his daughter away from home far more
seriously than his wife supposed。 He was conscious that scenes
took place in the house at which no young girl should be present；
but he felt an invincible reluctance to apply the one efficient
remedythe keeping his daughter away from home in school time
and holiday time alike。 The struggle thus raised in his mind once
set at rest； by the resolution to advertise for a new governess；
Major Milroy's natural tendency to avoid trouble rather than to
meet it had declared itself in its customary manner。 He had
closed his eyes again on his home anxieties as quietly as usual；
and had gone back； as he had gone back on hundreds of previous
occasions； to the consoling society of his old friend the clock。
It was far otherwise with the major's wife。 The chance which her
husband had entirely overlooked； that the new governess who was
to come might be a younger and a more attractive woman than the
old governess who had gone； was the first chance that presented
itself as possible to Mrs。 Milroy's mind。 She had said nothing。
Secretly waiting； and secretly nursing her inveterate distrust；
she had encouraged her husband and her daughter to leave her on
the occasion of the picnic； with the express purpose of making an
opportunity for seeing the new governess alone。 The governess had
shown herself； and the smoldering fire of Mrs。 Milroy's jealousy
had burst into flame in the moment when she and the handsome
stranger first set eyes on each other。
The interview over； Mrs。 Milroy's suspicions fastened at once and
immovably on he r husband's mother。
She was well aware that there was no one else in London on whom
the major could depend to make the necessary inquiries； she was
well aware that Miss Gwilt had applied for the situation； in the
first instance； as a stranger answering an advertisement
published in a newspaper。 Yet knowing this； she had obstinately
closed her eyes； with the blind frenzy of the blindest of all the
passions； to the facts straight before her； and； looking back to
the last of many quarrels between them which had ended in
separating the elder lady and herself； had seized on the
conclusion that Miss Gwilt's engagement was due to her
mother…in…law's vindictive enjoyment of making mischief in her
household。 The inference which the very servants themselves；
witnesses of the family scandal； had correctly drawnthat the
major's mother； in securing the services of a well…recommended
governess for her son； had thought it no part of her duty to
consider that governess's looks in the purely fanciful interests
of the major's wifewas an inference which it was simply
impossible to convey into Mrs。 Milroy's mind。 Miss Gwilt had
barely closed the sick…room door when the whispered words hissed
out of Mrs。 Milroy's lips； 〃Before another week is over your
head； my lady； you go！〃
From that moment； through the wakeful night and the weary day；
the one object of the bedridden woman's life was to procure the
new governess's dismissal from the house。
The assistance of the nurse； in the capacity of spy； was
securedas Mrs。 Milroy had been accustomed to secure other extra
services which her attendant was not bound to render herby a
present of a dress from the mistress's wardrobe。 One after
another articles of wearing apparel which were now useless to
Mrs。 Milroy had ministered in this way to feed the nurse's
greedthe insatiable greed of an ugly woman for fine clothes。
Bribed with the smartest dress she had secured yet； the household
spy took her secret orders； and applied herself with a vile
enjoyment of it to her secret work。
The days passed； the work went on； but nothing had come of it。
Mistress and servant had a woman to deal with who was a match for
both of them。
Repeated intrusions on the major； when the governess happened to
be in the same room with him； failed to discover the slightest
impropriety of word； look； or action； on either side。 Stealthy
watching and listening at the governess's bedroom door detected
that she kept a light in her room at late hours of the night； and
that she groaned and ground her teeth in her sleepand detected
nothing more。 Careful superintendence in the day…time proved that
she regularly posted her own letters； instead of giving them to
the servant； and that on certain occasions； when the occupation
of her hours out of lesson time and walking time was left at her
own disposal； she had been suddenly missed from the garden； and
then caught coming back alone to it from the park。 Once and once
only； the nurse had found an opportunity of following her out of
the garden； had been detected immediately in the park； and had
been asked with the most exasperating politeness if she wished to
join Miss Gwilt in a walk。 Small circumstances of this kind；
which were sufficiently suspicious to the mind of a jealous
woman； were discovered in abundance。 But circumstances； on which
to found a valid ground of complaint that might be laid before
the major； proved to be utterly wanting。 Day followed day； and
Miss Gwilt remained persistently correct in her conduct； and
persistently irreproachable in her relations toward her employer
and her pupil。
Foiled in this direction； Mrs。 Milroy tried next to find an
assailable place in the statement which the governess's reference
had made on the subject of the governess's character。
Obtaining from the major the minutely careful report which his
mother had addressed to him on this topic； Mrs。 Milroy read and
reread it； and failed to find the weak point of which she was in
search in any part of the letter。 All the customary questions on
such occasions had been asked； and all had been scrupulously and
plainly answered。 The one sole opening for an attack which it was
possible to discover was an opening which showed itself； after
more practical matters had been all disposed of； in the closing
sentences of the letter。
〃I was so struck；〃 the passage ran； 〃by the grace and distinction
of Miss Gwilt's manners that I took an opportunity； when she was
out of the room； of asking how she first came to be governess。
'In the usual way；' I was told。 'A sad family misfortune； in
which she behaved nobly。 She is a very sensitive person； and
shrinks from speaking of it among strangersa natural reluctance
which I have always felt it a matter of delicacy to respect。'
Hearing this； of course； I felt the same delicacy on my side。 It
was no part of my duty to intrude on the poor thing's private
sorrows； my only business was to do what I have now done； to make
sure that I was engaging a capable and respectable governess to
instruct my grandchild。〃
After careful consideration of these lines； Mrs。 Milroy； having a
strong desire to find circumstances suspicious； found them
suspicious accordingly。 She determined to sift the mystery of
Miss Gwilt's family misfortunes to the bottom； on the chance of
extracting from it something useful to her purpose。 There were
two ways of doing this。 She might begin by questioning the
governess herself； or she might begin by questioning the
governess's reference。 Experience of Miss Gwilt's quickness of
resource in dealing with awkward questions at their introductory
interview decided her on taking the latter course。 〃I'll get the
particulars from the reference first；〃 thought Mrs。 Milroy； 〃and
then question the creature herself； and see if the two stories
agree。〃
The letter of inquiry was short； and scrupuously to the point。
Mrs。 Milroy began by informing her correspondent that the state
of her health necessitated leaving her daughter entirely under
the governess's influence and control。 On that account she was
more anxious than most mothers to be thoroughly informed in every
respect about the person to whom she confided the entire charge
of an only child； and feeling this anxiety； she might perhaps be
excused for putting what might be thought； after the excellent
character Miss Gwilt had received； a somewhat unnecessary
question。 With that preface； Mrs。 Milroy came to the point； and
requested to be informed of the circumstances which had obliged
Miss Gwilt to go out as a governess。
The letter； expressed in these terms； was posted the same day。 On
the morning when the answer was due； no answer appeared。 The next
morning arrived； and still there was no reply。 When the third
morning came； Mrs。 Milroy's impatience had broken loose from all
restraint。 She had rung for the nurse in the manner which has
been already recorded； and had ordered the woman to be in waiting
to receive the letters of the morning with her own hands。 In this
position matters now stood； and in these domestic circumstances
the new series of events at Thorpe Ambrose took their rise。
Mrs。 Milroy had just looked at her watch； and had just put her
hand once m