Эпоха невинности

           Afteramomenthesatdownbesideher,and,takingherhand,softlyunclaspedit,sothattheglovesandfanfellonthesofabetweenthem.Shestartedup,andfreeingherselffromhimmovedawaytotheothersideofthehearth."Ah,don’tmakelovetome!Toomanypeoplehavedonethat,"shesaid,frowning.Archer,changingcolour,stoodupalso:itwasthebitterestrebukeshecouldhavegivenhim."Ihavenevermadelovetoyou,"hesaid,"andInevershall.ButyouarethewomanIwouldhavemarriedifithadbeenpossibleforeitherofus.""Possibleforeitherofus?"Shelookedathimwithunfeignedastonishment."Andyousaythat—whenit’syouwho’vemadeitimpossible?"Hestaredather,gropinginablacknessthroughwhichasinglearrowoflighttoreitsblindingway."I’VEmadeitimpossible—?""You,you,YOU!"shecried,herliptremblinglikeachild’sonthevergeoftears."Isn’tityouwhomademegiveupdivorcing—giveitupbecauseyoushowedmehowselfishandwickeditwas,howonemustsacrificeone’sselftopreservethedignityofmarriage...andtospareone’sfamilythepublicity,thescandal?Andbecausemyfamilywasgoingtobeyourfamily—forMay’ssakeandforyours—Ididwhatyoutoldme,whatyouprovedtomethatIoughttodo.Ah,"shebrokeoutwithasuddenlaugh,"I’vemadenosecretofhavingdoneitforyou!"Shesankdownonthesofaagain,crouchingamongthefestiveripplesofherdresslikeastrickenmasquerader;andtheyoungmanstoodbythefireplaceandcontinuedtogazeatherwithoutmoving."GoodGod,"hegroaned.