When the others return from church, they make no mention of the governess’ absence. At teatime, the governess questions Mrs. Grose and discovers it was little Miles’ idea that nothing be said. The governess tells how she returned to meet “a friend” (Miss Jessel) and to talk with her. She informs Mrs. Grose that Miss Jessel “suffers the torments . . . of the lost. Of the damned.” The governess claims that her predecessor confessed this and also stated that she wants little Flora to share the torments with her.
After this discovery, the governess decides that she must write to the uncle and insist he come down and assume responsibility for the entire predicament. In addition, she now concludes that little Miles must have been expelled from his school for wickedness.
That night, the governess begins the letter to her employer. Leaving her room for a moment, she walks to little Miles’ door. Even though it is late in the night, he calls for her to come in. She discovers that he is lying awake worrying about “this queer business” of theirs. The governess thinks he means the business about the ghosts, but little Miles quickly adds that he means this business about how he is being brought up. He emphasizes again his desire to return to a normal school, and the governess tells him that she has already written his uncle. She then implores him to let her help him. In answer to her plea, there comes a big gush of wind through the window. Little Miles shrieks and when the governess recovers her composure, she notices that the candle is out. Little Miles confesses that he blew it out.
