Эпоха невинности

           Atlengthhesaidinalowvoice:"Sheneveraskedme.""No.Iforgot.Youneverdidaskeachotheranything,didyou?Andyounevertoldeachotheranything.Youjustsatandwatchedeachother,andguessedatwhatwasgoingonunderneath.Adeaf-and-dumbasylum,infact!Well,Ibackyourgenerationforknowingmoreabouteachother’sprivatethoughtsthanweeverhavetimetofindoutaboutourown.—Isay,Dad,"Dallasbrokeoff,"you’renotangrywithme?Ifyouare,let’smakeitupandgoandlunchatHenri’s.I’vegottorushouttoVersaillesafterward."ArcherdidnotaccompanyhissontoVersailles.HepreferredtospendtheafternooninsolitaryroamingsthroughParis.Hehadtodealallatoncewiththepackedregretsandstifledmemoriesofaninarticulatelifetime.AfteralittlewhilehedidnotregretDallas’sindiscretion.Itseemedtotakeanironbandfromhishearttoknowthat,afterall,someonehadguessedandpitied....Andthatitshouldhavebeenhiswifemovedhimindescribably.Dallas,forallhisaffectionateinsight,wouldnothaveunderstoodthat.Totheboy,nodoubt,theepisodewasonlyapatheticinstanceofvainfrustration,ofwastedforces.Butwasitreallynomore?ForalongtimeArchersatonabenchintheChampsElyseesandwondered,whilethestreamofliferolledby....Afewstreetsaway,afewhoursaway,EllenOlenskawaited.Shehadnevergonebacktoherhusband,andwhenhehaddied,someyearsbefore,shehadmadenochangeinherwayofliving.TherewasnothingnowtokeepherandArcherapart—andthatafternoonhewastoseeher.