Епоха невинності
Chapter 2
"Youwereahorridboy,andkissedmeoncebehindadoor;butitwasyourcousinVandieNewland,whoneverlookedatme,thatIwasinlovewith."Herglancesweptthehorse-shoecurveofboxes."Ah,howthisbringsitallbacktome—Iseeeverybodyhereinknickerbockersandpantalettes,"shesaid,withhertrailingslightlyforeignaccent,hereyesreturningtohisface.Agreeableastheirexpressionwas,theyoungmanwasshockedthattheyshouldreflectsounseemlyapictureoftheaugusttribunalbeforewhich,atthatverymoment,hercasewasbeingtried.Nothingcouldbeinworsetastethanmisplacedflippancy;andheansweredsomewhatstiffly:"Yes,youhavebeenawayaverylongtime.""Oh,centuriesandcenturies;solong,"shesaid,"thatI’msureI’mdeadandburied,andthisdearoldplaceisheaven;"which,forreasonshecouldnotdefine,struckNewlandArcherasanevenmoredisrespectfulwayofdescribingNewYorksociety.
