Mrs. Grose suggests that Quint had a sexual relationship with Miss Jessell , and that they both had sexual relations with the children . Mrs. Grose implies that Quint may have been a pederast who preyed on Miles , and that he had a sexual relationship with Miss Jessel , the young and beautiful previous governess . Mrs. Grose hints that Miss Jessell , too , had a relationship to the children that seemed inappropriately close .