Эпоха невинности

           "WhenIthought—""Youthought?""Ah,don’taskmewhatIthought!"Stilllookingather,hesawthesameburningflushcreepuphernecktoherface.Shesatupright,facinghimwitharigiddignity."Idoaskyou.""Well,then:therewerethingsinthatletteryouaskedmetoread—""Myhusband’sletter?""Yes.""Ihadnothingtofearfromthatletter:absolutelynothing!AllIfearedwastobringnotoriety,scandal,onthefamily—onyouandMay.""GoodGod,"hegroanedagain,bowinghisfaceinhishands.Thesilencethatfollowedlayonthemwiththeweightofthingsfinalandirrevocable.ItseemedtoArchertobecrushinghimdownlikehisowngrave-stone;inallthewidefuturehesawnothingthatwouldeverliftthatloadfromhisheart.Hedidnotmovefromhisplace,orraisehisheadfromhishands;hishiddeneyeballswentonstaringintoutterdarkness."AtleastIlovedyou—"hebroughtout.Ontheothersideofthehearth,fromthesofa-cornerwherehesupposedthatshestillcrouched,heheardafaintstifledcryinglikeachild’s.Hestartedupandcametoherside."Ellen!Whatmadness!Whyareyoucrying?Nothing’sdonethatcan’tbeundone.I’mstillfree,andyou’regoingtobe."Hehadherinhisarms,herfacelikeawetflowerathislips,andalltheirvainterrorsshrivellinguplikeghostsatsunrise.Theonethingthatastonishedhimnowwasthatheshouldhavestoodforfiveminutesarguingwithheracrossthewidthoftheroom,whenjusttouchinghermadeeverythingsosimple.