Епоха невинності

           Intothisdimly-litanddim-featuredgroupMayArcherfloatedlikeaswanwiththesunsetonher:sheseemedlarger,fairer,morevoluminouslyrustlingthanherhusbandhadeverseenher;andheperceivedthattherosinessandrustlingnesswerethetokensofanextremeandinfantileshyness."Whatonearthwilltheyexpectmetotalkabout?"herhelplesseyesimploredhim,attheverymomentthatherdazzlingapparitionwascallingforththesameanxietyintheirownbosoms.Butbeauty,evenwhendistrustfulofitself,awakensconfidenceinthemanlyheart;andtheVicarandtheFrench-namedtutorweresoonmanifestingtoMaytheirdesiretoputheratherease.Inspiteoftheirbestefforts,however,thedinnerwasalanguishingaffair.Archernoticedthathiswife’swayofshowingherselfathereasewithforeignerswastobecomemoreuncompromisinglylocalinherreferences,sothat,thoughherlovelinesswasanencouragementtoadmiration,herconversationwasachilltorepartee.TheVicarsoonabandonedthestruggle;butthetutor,whospokethemostfluentandaccomplishedEnglish,gallantlycontinuedtopouritouttoheruntiltheladies,tothemanifestreliefofallconcerned,wentuptothedrawing-room.TheVicar,afteraglassofport,wasobligedtohurryawaytoameeting,andtheshynephew,whoappearedtobeaninvalid,waspackedofftobed.ButArcherandthetutorcontinuedtositovertheirwine,andsuddenlyArcherfoundhimselftalkingashehadnotdonesincehislastsymposiumwithNedWinsett.