Епоха невинності

           Whyhadshebiddenhimtocomeearlyifshewashavingpeopletodine?OnacloserinspectionofthegarmentsbesideswhichNastasiawaslayinghisown,hisresentmentgavewaytocuriosity.Theovercoatswereinfacttheverystrangesthehadeverseenunderapoliteroof;andittookbutaglancetoassurehimselfthatneitherofthembelongedtoJuliusBeaufort.Onewasashaggyyellowulsterof"reach-me-down"cut,theotheraveryoldandrustycloakwithacape—somethinglikewhattheFrenchcalleda"Macfarlane."Thisgarment,whichappearedtobemadeforapersonofprodigioussize,hadevidentlyseenlongandhardwear,anditsgreenish-blackfoldsgaveoutamoistsawdustysmellsuggestiveofprolongedsessionsagainstbar-roomwalls.Onitlayaraggedgreyscarfandanoddfelthatofsemiclericalshape.ArcherraisedhiseyebrowsenquiringlyatNastasia,whoraisedhersinreturnwithafatalistic"Gia!"asshethrewopenthedrawing-roomdoor.Theyoungmansawatoncethathishostesswasnotintheroom;then,withsurprise,hediscoveredanotherladystandingbythefire.Thislady,whowaslong,leanandlooselyputtogether,wascladinraimentintricatelyloopedandfringed,withplaidsandstripesandbandsofplaincolourdisposedinadesigntowhichtheclueseemedmissing.Herhair,whichhadtriedtoturnwhiteandonlysucceededinfading,wassurmountedbyaSpanishcombandblacklacescarf,andsilkmittens,visiblydarned,coveredherrheumatichands.