Эпоха невинности

           Theafternoonsunlightstilllingereduponthebrightlawnsandshrubberies,andupanddownBellevueAvenuerolledadoublelineofvictorias,dog-carts,landausand"vis-a-vis,"carryingwell-dressedladiesandgentlemenawayfromtheBeaufortgarden-party,orhomewardfromtheirdailyafternoonturnalongtheOceanDrive."ShallwegotoseeGranny?"Maysuddenlyproposed."IshouldliketotellhermyselfthatI’vewontheprize.There’slotsoftimebeforedinner."Archeracquiesced,andsheturnedtheponiesdownNarragansettAvenue,crossedSpringStreetanddroveouttowardtherockymoorlandbeyond.InthisunfashionableregionCatherinetheGreat,alwaysindifferenttoprecedentandthriftyofpurse,hadbuiltherselfinheryouthamany-peakedandcross-beamedcottage-orneonabitofcheaplandoverlookingthebay.Here,inathicketofstuntedoaks,herverandahsspreadthemselvesabovetheisland-dottedwaters.Awindingdriveledupbetweenironstagsandblueglassballsembeddedinmoundsofgeraniumstoafrontdoorofhighly-varnishedwalnutunderastripedverandah-roof;andbehinditrananarrowhallwithablackandyellowstar-patternedparquetfloor,uponwhichopenedfoursmallsquareroomswithheavyflock-papersunderceilingsonwhichanItalianhouse-painterhadlavishedallthedivinitiesofOlympus.OneoftheseroomshadbeenturnedintoabedroombyMrs.