Епоха невинності

           Thepatchoflawnbeforeithadrelapsedintoahay-field;buttotheleftanovergrownbox-gardenfullofdahliasandrustyrose-bushesencircledaghostlysummer-houseoftrellis-workthathadoncebeenwhite,surmountedbyawoodenCupidwhohadlosthisbowandarrowbutcontinuedtotakeineffectualaim.Archerleanedforawhileagainstthegate.Noonewasinsight,andnotasoundcamefromtheopenwindowsofthehouse:agrizzledNewfoundlanddozingbeforethedoorseemedasineffectualaguardianasthearrowlessCupid.ItwasstrangetothinkthatthisplaceofsilenceanddecaywasthehomeoftheturbulentBlenkers;yetArcherwassurethathewasnotmistaken.Foralongtimehestoodthere,contenttotakeinthescene,andgraduallyfallingunderitsdrowsyspell;butatlengthherousedhimselftothesenseofthepassingtime.Shouldhelookhisfillandthendriveaway?Hestoodirresolute,wishingsuddenlytoseetheinsideofthehouse,sothathemightpicturetheroomthatMadameOlenskasatin.Therewasnothingtopreventhiswalkinguptothedoorandringingthebell;if,ashesupposed,shewasawaywiththerestoftheparty,hecouldeasilygivehisname,andaskpermissiontogointothesitting-roomtowriteamessage.Butinstead,hecrossedthelawnandturnedtowardthebox-garden.Asheenteredithecaughtsightofsomethingbright-colouredinthesummer-house,andpresentlymadeitouttobeapinkparasol.Theparasoldrewhimlikeamagnet:hewassureitwashers.