Эпоха невинности

           You’resounprejudicedaboutsomethings,soused,asyousay,tolookingattheGorgon,thatIdon’tknowwhyyou’reafraidtofaceourcase,andseeitasitreallyis—unlessyouthinkthesacrificeisnotworthmaking."Shestoodupalso,herlipstighteningunderarapidfrown."Callitthat,then—Imustgo,"shesaid,drawingherlittlewatchfromherbosom.Sheturnedaway,andhefollowedandcaughtherbythewrist."Well,then:cometomeonce,"hesaid,hisheadturningsuddenlyatthethoughtoflosingher;andforasecondortwotheylookedateachotheralmostlikeenemies."When?"heinsisted."Tomorrow?"Shehesitated."Thedayafter.""Dearest—!"hesaidagain.Shehaddisengagedherwrist;butforamomenttheycontinuedtoholdeachother’seyes,andhesawthatherface,whichhadgrownverypale,wasfloodedwithadeepinnerradiance.Hisheartbeatwithawe:hefeltthathehadneverbeforebeheldlovevisible."Oh,Ishallbelate—good-bye.No,don’tcomeanyfartherthanthis,"shecried,walkinghurriedlyawaydownthelongroom,asifthereflectedradianceinhiseyeshadfrightenedher.Whenshereachedthedoorsheturnedforamomenttowaveaquickfarewell.Archerwalkedhomealone.Darknesswasfallingwhenhelethimselfintohishouse,andhelookedaboutatthefamiliarobjectsinthehallasifheviewedthemfromtheothersideofthegrave.Theparlour-maid,hearinghisstep,ranupthestairstolightthegasontheupperlanding."IsMrs.Archerin?""No,sir;Mrs.Archerwentoutinthecarriageafterluncheon,andhasn’tcomeback.