Епоха невинності

           "Darling!"Archersaid—andsuddenlythesameblackabyssyawnedbeforehimandhefelthimselfsinkingintoit,deeperanddeeper,whilehisvoicerambledonsmoothlyandcheerfully:"Yes,ofcourseIthoughtI’dlostthering;noweddingwouldbecompleteifthepoordevilofabridegroomdidn’tgothroughthat.ButyouDIDkeepmewaiting,youknow!Ihadtimetothinkofeveryhorrorthatmightpossiblyhappen."Shesurprisedhimbyturning,infullFifthAvenue,andflingingherarmsabouthisneck."ButnoneeverCANhappennow,canit,Newland,aslongaswetwoaretogether?"Everydetailofthedayhadbeensocarefullythoughtoutthattheyoungcouple,afterthewedding-breakfast,hadampletimetoputontheirtravelling-clothes,descendthewideMingottstairsbetweenlaughingbridesmaidsandweepingparents,andgetintothebroughamunderthetraditionalshowerofriceandsatinslippers;andtherewasstillhalfanhourleftinwhichtodrivetothestation,buythelastweekliesatthebookstallwiththeairofseasonedtravellers,andsettlethemselvesinthereservedcompartmentinwhichMay’smaidhadalreadyplacedherdove-colouredtravellingcloakandglaringlynewdressing-bagfromLondon.TheoldduLacauntsatRhinebeckhadputtheirhouseatthedisposalofthebridalcouple,withareadinessinspiredbytheprospectofspendingaweekinNewYorkwithMrs.Archer;andArcher,gladtoescapetheusual"bridalsuite"inaPhiladelphiaorBaltimorehotel,hadacceptedwithanequalalacrity.