Епоха невинності

           Then,inamoment,Maywasbesidehim,suchradiancestreamingfromherthatitsentafaintwarmththroughhisnumbness,andhestraightenedhimselfandsmiledintohereyes."Dearlybeloved,wearegatheredtogetherhere,"theRectorbegan...Theringwasonherhand,theBishop’sbenedictionhadbeengiven,thebridesmaidswerea-poisetoresumetheirplaceintheprocession,andtheorganwasshowingpreliminarysymptomsofbreakingoutintotheMendelssohnMarch,withoutwhichnonewly-weddedcouplehadeveremergeduponNewYork."Yourarm—ISAY,GIVEHERYOURARM!"youngNewlandnervouslyhissed;andoncemoreArcherbecameawareofhavingbeenadriftfaroffintheunknown.Whatwasitthathadsenthimthere,hewondered?Perhapstheglimpse,amongtheanonymousspectatorsinthetransept,ofadarkcoilofhairunderahatwhich,amomentlater,revealeditselfasbelongingtoanunknownladywithalongnose,solaughablyunlikethepersonwhoseimageshehadevokedthatheaskedhimselfifhewerebecomingsubjecttohallucinations.Andnowheandhiswifewerepacingslowlydownthenave,carriedforwardonthelightMendelssohnripples,thespringdaybeckoningtothemthroughwidelyopeneddoors,andMrs.Welland’schestnuts,withbigwhitefavoursontheirfrontlets,curvettingandshowingoffatthefarendofthecanvastunnel.Thefootman,whohadastillbiggerwhitefavouronhislapel,wrappedMay’swhitecloakabouther,andArcherjumpedintothebroughamatherside.Sheturnedtohimwithatriumphantsmileandtheirhandsclaspedunderherveil.