Епоха невинності

           She’ssoromantic-looking,isn’tshe?Doesn’tsheremindyouofMrs.Scott-Siddonswhenshereads’LadyGeraldine’sCourtship’?Didyouneverhearher?"Archerwasdealinghurriedlywithcrowdingthoughts.Hiswholefutureseemedsuddenlytobeunrolledbeforehim;andpassingdownitsendlessemptinesshesawthedwindlingfigureofamantowhomnothingwasevertohappen.Heglancedabouthimattheunprunedgarden,thetumble-downhouse,andtheoak-groveunderwhichtheduskwasgathering.IthadseemedsoexactlytheplaceinwhichheoughttohavefoundMadameOlenska;andshewasfaraway,andeventhepinksunshadewasnothers...Hefrownedandhesitated."Youdon’tknow,Isuppose—IshallbeinBostontomorrow.IfIcouldmanagetoseeher—"HefeltthatMissBlenkerwaslosinginterestinhim,thoughhersmilepersisted."Oh,ofcourse;howlovelyofyou!She’sstayingattheParkerHouse;itmustbehorriblethereinthisweather."AfterthatArcherwasbutintermittentlyawareoftheremarkstheyexchanged.Hecouldonlyrememberstoutlyresistingherentreatythatheshouldawaitthereturningfamilyandhavehighteawiththembeforehedrovehome.Atlength,withhishostessstillathisside,hepassedoutofrangeofthewoodenCupid,unfastenedhishorsesanddroveoff.AttheturnofthelanehesawMissBlenkerstandingatthegateandwavingthepinkparasol.