Епоха невинності

           ItwasfairlyclearthatMadameOlenskahadnotknownthathewascoming,thoughherwordstoArcherhadhintedatthepossibility;atanyrate,shehadevidentlynottoldhimwhereshewasgoingwhensheleftNewYork,andherunexplaineddeparturehadexasperatedhim.Theostensiblereasonofhisappearancewasthediscovery,theverynightbefore,ofa"perfectlittlehouse,"notinthemarket,whichwasreallyjustthethingforher,butwouldbesnappedupinstantlyifshedidn’ttakeit;andhewasloudinmock-reproachesforthedanceshehadledhiminrunningawayjustashehadfoundit."IfonlythisnewdodgefortalkingalongawirehadbeenalittlebitnearerperfectionImighthavetoldyouallthisfromtown,andbeentoastingmytoesbeforetheclubfireatthisminute,insteadoftrampingafteryouthroughthesnow,"hegrumbled,disguisingarealirritationunderthepretenceofit;andatthisopeningMadameOlenskatwistedthetalkawaytothefantasticpossibilitythattheymightonedayactuallyconversewitheachotherfromstreettostreet,oreven—incredibledream!—fromonetowntoanother.ThisstruckfromallthreeallusionstoEdgarPoeandJulesVerne,andsuchplatitudesasnaturallyrisetothelipsofthemostintelligentwhentheyaretalkingagainsttime,anddealingwithanewinventioninwhichitwouldseemingenuoustobelievetoosoon;andthequestionofthetelephonecarriedthemsafelybacktothebighouse.Mrs.vanderLuydenhadnotyetreturned;andArchertookhisleaveandwalkedofftofetchthecutter,whileBeaufortfollowedtheCountessOlenskaindoors.