Епоха невинності

           "Youdoyourhairdifferently,"hesaid,hisheartbeatingasifhehadutteredsomethingirrevocable."Differently?No—it’sonlythatIdoitasbestIcanwhenI’mwithoutNastasia.""Nastasia;butisn’tshewithyou?""No;I’malone.Fortwodaysitwasnotworthwhiletobringher.""You’realone—attheParkerHouse?"Shelookedathimwithaflashofheroldmalice."Doesitstrikeyouasdangerous?""No;notdangerous—""Butunconventional?Isee;Isupposeitis."Sheconsideredamoment."Ihadn’tthoughtofit,becauseI’vejustdonesomethingsomuchmoreunconventional."Thefainttingeofironylingeredinhereyes."I’vejustrefusedtotakebackasumofmoney—thatbelongedtome."Archersprangupandmovedasteportwoaway.Shehadfurledherparasolandsatabsentlydrawingpatternsonthegravel.Presentlyhecamebackandstoodbeforeher."Someone—hascomeheretomeetyou?""Yes.""Withthisoffer?"Shenodded."Andyourefused—becauseoftheconditions?""Irefused,"shesaidafteramoment.Hesatdownbyheragain."Whatweretheconditions?""Oh,theywerenotonerous:justtositattheheadofhistablenowandthen."Therewasanotherintervalofsilence.Archer’shearthadslammeditselfshutinthequeerwayithad,andhesatvainlygropingforaword."Hewantsyouback—atanyprice?""Well—aconsiderableprice.Atleastthesumisconsiderableforme."Hepausedagain,beatingaboutthequestionhefelthemustput."Itwastomeethimherethatyoucame?"Shestared,andthenburstintoalaugh.