Епоха невинності
Chapter 15
Fromthehighgroundonwhichitstoodaseriesofterracesborderedbybalustradesandurnsdescendedinthesteel-engravingstyletoasmallirregularlakewithanasphaltedgeoverhungbyrareweepingconifers.Totherightandleft,thefamousweedlesslawnsstuddedwith"specimen"trees(eachofadifferentvariety)rolledawaytolongrangesofgrasscrestedwithelaboratecast-ironornaments;andbelow,inahollow,laythefour-roomedstonehousewhichthefirstPatroonhadbuiltonthelandgrantedhimin1612.AgainsttheuniformsheetofsnowandthegreyishwinterskytheItalianvillaloomeduprathergrimly;eveninsummeritkeptitsdistance,andtheboldestcoleusbedhadneverventurednearerthanthirtyfeetfromitsawfulfront.Now,asArcherrangthebell,thelongtinkleseemedtoechothroughamausoleum;andthesurpriseofthebutlerwhoatlengthrespondedtothecallwasasgreatasthoughhehadbeensummonedfromhisfinalsleep.HappilyArcherwasofthefamily,andtherefore,irregularthoughhisarrivalwas,entitledtobeinformedthattheCountessOlenskawasout,havingdriventoafternoonservicewithMrs.vanderLuydenexactlythreequartersofanhourearlier."Mr.vanderLuyden,"thebutlercontinued,"isin,sir;butmyimpressionisthatheiseitherfinishinghisnaporelsereadingyesterday’sEveningPost.
