Епоха невинності
Chapter 1
Itwasoneofthegreatlivery-stableman’smostmasterlyintuitionstohavediscoveredthatAmericanswanttogetawayfromamusementevenmorequicklythantheywanttogettoit.WhenNewlandArcheropenedthedooratthebackoftheclubboxthecurtainhadjustgoneuponthegardenscene.Therewasnoreasonwhytheyoungmanshouldnothavecomeearlier,forhehaddinedatseven,alonewithhismotherandsister,andhadlingeredafterwardoveracigarintheGothiclibrarywithglazedblack-walnutbookcasesandfinial-toppedchairswhichwastheonlyroominthehousewhereMrs.Archerallowedsmoking.But,inthefirstplace,NewYorkwasametropolis,andperfectlyawarethatinmetropolisesitwas"notthething"toarriveearlyattheopera;andwhatwasorwasnot"thething"playedapartasimportantinNewlandArcher’sNewYorkastheinscrutabletotemterrorsthathadruledthedestiniesofhisforefathersthousandsofyearsago.Thesecondreasonforhisdelaywasapersonalone.Hehaddawdledoverhiscigarbecausehewasatheartadilettante,andthinkingoverapleasuretocomeoftengavehimasubtlersatisfactionthanitsrealisation.
