Епоха невинності

           Maywasenchantedattheideaofgoingtothecountry,andchildishlyamusedatthevaineffortsoftheeightbridesmaidstodiscoverwheretheirmysteriousretreatwassituated.Itwasthought"veryEnglish"tohaveacountry-houselenttoone,andthefactgavealasttouchofdistinctiontowhatwasgenerallyconcededtobethemostbrilliantweddingoftheyear;butwherethehousewasnoonewaspermittedtoknow,excepttheparentsofbrideandgroom,who,whentaxedwiththeknowledge,pursedtheirlipsandsaidmysteriously:"Ah,theydidn’ttellus—"whichwasmanifestlytrue,sincetherewasnoneedto.Oncetheyweresettledintheircompartment,andthetrain,shakingofftheendlesswoodensuburbs,hadpushedoutintothepalelandscapeofspring,talkbecameeasierthanArcherhadexpected.Maywasstill,inlookandtone,thesimplegirlofyesterday,eagertocomparenoteswithhimastotheincidentsofthewedding,anddiscussingthemasimpartiallyasabridesmaidtalkingitalloverwithanusher.AtfirstArcherhadfanciedthatthisdetachmentwasthedisguiseofaninwardtremor;buthercleareyesrevealedonlythemosttranquilunawareness.Shewasaloneforthefirsttimewithherhusband;butherhusbandwasonlythecharmingcomradeofyesterday.Therewasnoonewhomshelikedasmuch,noonewhomshetrustedascompletely,andtheculminating"lark"ofthewholedelightfuladventureofengagementandmarriagewastobeoffwithhimaloneonajourney,likeagrownupperson,likea"marriedwoman,"infact.Itwaswonderfulthat—ashehadlearnedintheMissiongardenatSt.