Епоха невинності

           Archertoowouldhavepreferredtoescapetheirfriends’hospitality:inconformitywiththefamilytraditionhehadalwaystravelledasasight-seerandlooker-on,affectingahaughtyunconsciousnessofthepresenceofhisfellow-beings.Onceonly,justafterHarvard,hehadspentafewgayweeksatFlorencewithabandofqueerEuropeanisedAmericans,dancingallnightwithtitledladiesinpalaces,andgamblinghalfthedaywiththerakesanddandiesofthefashionableclub;butithadallseemedtohim,thoughthegreatestfunintheworld,asunrealasacarnival.Thesequeercosmopolitanwomen,deepincomplicatedlove-affairswhichtheyappearedtofeeltheneedofretailingtoeveryonetheymet,andthemagnificentyoungofficersandelderlydyedwitswhowerethesubjectsortherecipientsoftheirconfidences,weretoodifferentfromthepeopleArcherhadgrownupamong,toomuchlikeexpensiveandrathermalodoroushot-houseexotics,todetainhisimaginationlong.Tointroducehiswifeintosuchasocietywasoutofthequestion;andinthecourseofhistravelsnootherhadshownanymarkedeagernessforhiscompany.NotlongaftertheirarrivalinLondonhehadrunacrosstheDukeofSt.Austrey,andtheDuke,instantlyandcordiallyrecognisinghim,hadsaid:"Lookmeup,won’tyou?"—butnoproper-spiritedAmericanwouldhaveconsideredthatasuggestiontobeactedon,andthemeetingwaswithoutasequel.