Эпоха невинности

           "ShallI—oncecometoyou;andthengohome?"shesuddenlyhazardedinalowclearvoice.Thebloodrushedtotheyoungman’sforehead."Dearest!"hesaid,withoutmoving.Itseemedasifheheldhisheartinhishands,likeafullcupthattheleastmotionmightoverbrim.Thenherlastphrasestruckhisearandhisfaceclouded."Gohome?Whatdoyoumeanbygoinghome?""Hometomyhusband.""Andyouexpectmetosayyestothat?"Sheraisedhertroubledeyestohis."Whatelseisthere?Ican’tstayhereandlietothepeoplewho’vebeengoodtome.""Butthat’stheveryreasonwhyIaskyoutocomeaway!""Anddestroytheirlives,whenthey’vehelpedmetoremakemine?"Archersprangtohisfeetandstoodlookingdownonherininarticulatedespair.Itwouldhavebeeneasytosay:"Yes,come;comeonce."Heknewthepowershewouldputinhishandsifsheconsented;therewouldbenodifficultytheninpersuadinghernottogobacktoherhusband.Butsomethingsilencedthewordonhislips.Asortofpassionatehonestyinhermadeitinconceivablethatheshouldtrytodrawherintothatfamiliartrap."IfIweretolethercome,"hesaidtohimself,"Ishouldhavetolethergoagain."Andthatwasnottobeimagined.Buthesawtheshadowofthelashesonherwetcheek,andwavered."Afterall,"hebeganagain,"wehavelivesofourown....There’snouseattemptingtheimpossible.