Епоха невинності

           Overhead,Handel’sMarchswelledpompouslythroughtheimitationstonevaulting,carryingonitswavesthefadeddriftofthemanyweddingsatwhich,withcheerfulindifference,hehadstoodonthesamechancelstepwatchingotherbridesfloatupthenavetowardotherbridegrooms."HowlikeafirstnightattheOpera!"hethought,recognisingallthesamefacesinthesameboxes(no,pews),andwonderingif,whentheLastTrumpsounded,Mrs.SelfridgeMerrywouldbetherewiththesametoweringostrichfeathersinherbonnet,andMrs.Beaufortwiththesamediamondearringsandthesamesmile—andwhethersuitableprosceniumseatswerealreadypreparedfortheminanotherworld.Afterthattherewasstilltimetoreview,onebyone,thefamiliarcountenancesinthefirstrows;thewomen’ssharpwithcuriosityandexcitement,themen’ssulkywiththeobligationofhavingtoputontheirfrock-coatsbeforeluncheon,andfightforfoodatthewedding-breakfast."ToobadthebreakfastisatoldCatherine’s,"thebridegroomcouldfancyReggieChiverssaying."ButI’mtoldthatLovellMingottinsistedonitsbeingcookedbyhisownchef,soitoughttobegoodifonecanonlygetatit."AndhecouldimagineSillertonJacksonaddingwithauthority:"Mydearfellow,haven’tyouheard?It’stobeservedatsmalltables,inthenewEnglishfashion."Archer’seyeslingeredamomentontheleft-handpew,wherehismother,whohadenteredthechurchonMr.HenryvanderLuyden’sarm,satweepingsoftlyunderherChantillyveil,herhandsinhergrandmother’serminemuff.