Епоха невинності

           Hehadnotspokenwithheralonesincetheireveningtogether,andhadtriedtoavoidbeingwithherincompany;butnowtheireyesmet,andasMrs.Beaufortrecognisedhimatthesametime,andmadeherlanguidlittlegestureofinvitation,itwasimpossiblenottogointothebox.BeaufortandLeffertsmadewayforhim,andafterafewwordswithMrs.Beaufort,whoalwayspreferredtolookbeautifulandnothavetotalk,ArcherseatedhimselfbehindMadameOlenska.TherewasnooneelseintheboxbutMr.SillertonJackson,whowastellingMrs.BeaufortinaconfidentialundertoneaboutMrs.LemuelStruthers’slastSundayreception(wheresomepeoplereportedthattherehadbeendancing).Undercoverofthiscircumstantialnarrative,towhichMrs.Beaufortlistenedwithherperfectsmile,andherheadatjusttherightangletobeseeninprofilefromthestalls,MadameOlenskaturnedandspokeinalowvoice."Doyouthink,"sheasked,glancingtowardthestage,"hewillsendherabunchofyellowrosestomorrowmorning?"Archerreddened,andhisheartgavealeapofsurprise.HehadcalledonlytwiceonMadameOlenska,andeachtimehehadsentheraboxofyellowroses,andeachtimewithoutacard.Shehadneverbeforemadeanyallusiontotheflowers,andhesupposedshehadneverthoughtofhimasthesender.Nowhersuddenrecognitionofthegift,andherassociatingitwiththetenderleave-takingonthestage,filledhimwithanagitatedpleasure."Iwasthinkingofthattoo—Iwasgoingtoleavethetheatreinordertotakethepictureawaywithme,"hesaid.