Эпоха невинности

           "Andthen,ashewassilent,shewenton,intonessoclearandevenly-pitchedthateachseparatesyllabletappedlikealittlehammeronhisbrain:"Thatis,ifthedoctorswillletmego...butI’mafraidtheywon’t.Foryousee,Newland,I’vebeensuresincethismorningofsomethingI’vebeensolongingandhopingfor—"Helookedupatherwithasickstare,andshesankdown,alldewandroses,andhidherfaceagainsthisknee."Oh,mydear,"hesaid,holdinghertohimwhilehiscoldhandstrokedherhair.Therewasalongpause,whichtheinnerdevilsfilledwithstridentlaughter;thenMayfreedherselffromhisarmsandstoodup."Youdidn’tguess—?""Yes—I;no.Thatis,ofcourseIhoped—"Theylookedateachotherforaninstantandagainfellsilent;then,turninghiseyesfromhers,heaskedabruptly:"Haveyoutoldanyoneelse?""OnlyMammaandyourmother."Shepaused,andthenaddedhurriedly,thebloodflushinguptoherforehead:"Thatis—andEllen.YouknowItoldyouwe’dhadalongtalkoneafternoon—andhowdearshewastome.""Ah—"saidArcher,hisheartstopping.Hefeltthathiswifewaswatchinghimintently."DidyouMINDmytellingherfirst,Newland?""Mind?WhyshouldI?"Hemadealastefforttocollecthimself."Butthatwasafortnightago,wasn’tit?Ithoughtyousaidyouweren’tsuretilltoday."Hercolourburneddeeper,butsheheldhisgaze."No;Iwasn’tsurethen—butItoldherIwas.AndyouseeIwasright!"sheexclaimed,herblueeyeswetwithvictory.