Епоха невинності
Chapter 22
Abreezefromthenorthdrovelittlepuffsofwhitecloudacrossanultramarinesky,withabrightsearunningunderit.BellevueAvenuewasemptyatthathour,andafterdroppingthestable-ladatthecornerofMillStreetArcherturneddowntheOldBeachRoadanddroveacrossEastman’sBeach.Hehadthefeelingofunexplainedexcitementwithwhich,onhalf-holidaysatschool,heusedtostartoffintotheunknown.Takinghispairataneasygait,hecountedonreachingthestud-farm,whichwasnotfarbeyondParadiseRocks,beforethreeo’clock;sothat,afterlookingoverthehorse(andtryinghimifheseemedpromising)hewouldstillhavefourgoldenhourstodisposeof.AssoonasheheardoftheSillerton’spartyhehadsaidtohimselfthattheMarchionessMansonwouldcertainlycometoNewportwiththeBlenkers,andthatMadameOlenskamightagaintaketheopportunityofspendingthedaywithhergrandmother.Atanyrate,theBlenkerhabitationwouldprobablybedeserted,andhewouldbeable,withoutindiscretion,tosatisfyavaguecuriosityconcerningit.HewasnotsurethathewantedtoseetheCountessOlenskaagain;buteversincehehadlookedatherfromthepathabovethebayhehadwanted,irrationallyandindescribably,toseetheplaceshewaslivingin,andtofollowthemovementsofherimaginedfigureashehadwatchedtherealoneinthesummer-house.Thelongingwaswithhimdayandnight,anincessantundefinablecraving,likethesuddenwhimofasickmanforfoodordrinkoncetastedandlongsinceforgotten.
