Епоха невинності

           BeyondthegreybastionsofFortAdamsalong-drawnsunsetwassplinteringupintoathousandfires,andtheradiancecaughtthesailofacatboatasitbeatoutthroughthechannelbetweentheLimeRockandtheshore.Archer,ashewatched,rememberedthesceneintheShaughraun,andMontagueliftingAdaDyas’sribbontohislipswithoutherknowingthathewasintheroom."Shedoesn’tknow—shehasn’tguessed.Shouldn’tIknowifshecameupbehindme,Iwonder?"hemused;andsuddenlyhesaidtohimself:"Ifshedoesn’tturnbeforethatsailcrossestheLimeRocklightI’llgoback."Theboatwasglidingoutontherecedingtide.ItslidbeforetheLimeRock,blottedoutIdaLewis’slittlehouse,andpassedacrosstheturretinwhichthelightwashung.Archerwaitedtillawidespaceofwatersparkledbetweenthelastreefoftheislandandthesternoftheboat;butstillthefigureinthesummer-housedidnotmove.Heturnedandwalkedupthehill."I’msorryyoudidn’tfindEllen—Ishouldhavelikedtoseeheragain,"Maysaidastheydrovehomethroughthedusk."Butperhapsshewouldn’thavecared—sheseemssochanged.""Changed?"echoedherhusbandinacolourlessvoice,hiseyesfixedontheponies’twitchingears."Soindifferenttoherfriends,Imean;givingupNewYorkandherhouse,andspendinghertimewithsuchqueerpeople.FancyhowhideouslyuncomfortableshemustbeattheBlenkers’!ShesaysshedoesittokeepcousinMedoraoutofmischief:topreventhermarryingdreadfulpeople.ButIsometimesthinkwe’vealwaysboredher.