Эпоха невинности

           But,doyouknow,theyinterestmemorethantheblindconformitytotradition—somebodyelse’stradition—thatIseeamongourownfriends.ItseemsstupidtohavediscoveredAmericaonlytomakeitintoacopyofanothercountry."Shesmiledacrossthetable."DoyousupposeChristopherColumbuswouldhavetakenallthattroublejusttogototheOperawiththeSelfridgeMerrys?"Archerchangedcolour."AndBeaufort—doyousaythesethingstoBeaufort?"heaskedabruptly."Ihaven’tseenhimforalongtime.ButIusedto;andheunderstands.""Ah,it’swhatI’vealwaystoldyou;youdon’tlikeus.AndyoulikeBeaufortbecausehe’ssounlikeus."Helookedaboutthebareroomandoutatthebarebeachandtherowofstarkwhitevillagehousesstrungalongtheshore."We’redamnablydull.We’venocharacter,nocolour,novariety.—Iwonder,"hebrokeout,"whyyoudon’tgoback?"Hereyesdarkened,andheexpectedanindignantrejoinder.Butshesatsilent,asifthinkingoverwhathehadsaid,andhegrewfrightenedlestsheshouldanswerthatshewonderedtoo.Atlengthshesaid:"Ibelieveit’sbecauseofyou."Itwasimpossibletomaketheconfessionmoredispassionately,orinatonelessencouragingtothevanityofthepersonaddressed.Archerreddenedtothetemples,butdarednotmoveorspeak:itwasasifherwordshadbeensomerarebutterflythattheleastmotionmightdriveoffonstartledwings,butthatmightgatheraflockaboutitifitwereleftundisturbed.