Епоха невинності

           InthecomplicatedoldEuropeancommunities,Archerbegantoguess,love-problemsmightbelesssimpleandlesseasilyclassified.Richandidleandornamentalsocietiesmustproducemanymoresuchsituations;andtheremightevenbeoneinwhichawomannaturallysensitiveandaloofwouldyet,fromtheforceofcircumstances,fromsheerdefencelessnessandloneliness,bedrawnintoatieinexcusablebyconventionalstandards.OnreachinghomehewrotealinetotheCountessOlenska,askingatwhathourofthenextdayshecouldreceivehim,anddespatcheditbyamessenger-boy,whoreturnedpresentlywithawordtotheeffectthatshewasgoingtoSkuytercliffthenextmorningtostayoverSundaywiththevanderLuydens,butthathewouldfindheralonethateveningafterdinner.Thenotewaswrittenonaratheruntidyhalf-sheet,withoutdateoraddress,butherhandwasfirmandfree.Hewasamusedattheideaofherweek-endinginthestatelysolitudeofSkuytercliff,butimmediatelyafterwardfeltthatthere,ofallplaces,shewouldmostfeelthechillofmindsrigorouslyavertedfromthe"unpleasant."HewasatMr.Letterblair’spunctuallyatseven,gladofthepretextforexcusinghimselfsoonafterdinner.Hehadformedhisownopinionfromthepapersentrustedtohim,anddidnotespeciallywanttogointothematterwithhisseniorpartner.Mr.Letterblairwasawidower,andtheydinedalone,copiouslyandslowly,inadarkshabbyroomhungwithyellowingprintsof"TheDeathofChatham"and"TheCoronationofNapoleon.