Епоха невинності

           ButashestoodontheBeaufortverandahandlookedoutonthebrightlypeopledlawnitcamehometohimwithashiverthathewasnotgoingtolikeitatall.ItwasnotMay’sfault,poordear.If,nowandthen,duringtheirtravels,theyhadfallenslightlyoutofstep,harmonyhadbeenrestoredbytheirreturntotheconditionsshewasusedto.Hehadalwaysforeseenthatshewouldnotdisappointhim;andhehadbeenright.Hehadmarried(asmostyoungmendid)becausehehadmetaperfectlycharminggirlatthemomentwhenaseriesofratheraimlesssentimentaladventureswereendinginprematuredisgust;andshehadrepresentedpeace,stability,comradeship,andthesteadyingsenseofanunescapableduty.Hecouldnotsaythathehadbeenmistakeninhischoice,forshehadfulfilledallthathehadexpected.ItwasundoubtedlygratifyingtobethehusbandofoneofthehandsomestandmostpopularyoungmarriedwomeninNewYork,especiallywhenshewasalsooneofthesweetest-temperedandmostreasonableofwives;andArcherhadneverbeeninsensibletosuchadvantages.Asforthemomentarymadnesswhichhadfallenuponhimontheeveofhismarriage,hehadtrainedhimselftoregarditasthelastofhisdiscardedexperiments.Theideathathecouldever,inhissenses,havedreamedofmarryingtheCountessOlenskahadbecomealmostunthinkable,andsheremainedinhismemorysimplyasthemostplaintiveandpoignantofalineofghosts.