Епоха невинності

           "Atleast,"shecontinued,"itwasyouwhomademeunderstandthatunderthedullnesstherearethingssofineandsensitiveanddelicatethateventhoseImostcaredforinmyotherlifelookcheapincomparison.Idon’tknowhowtoexplainmyself"—shedrewtogetherhertroubledbrows—"butitseemsasifI’dneverbeforeunderstoodwithhowmuchthatishardandshabbyandbasethemostexquisitepleasuresmaybepaid.""Exquisitepleasures—it’ssomethingtohavehadthem!"hefeltlikeretorting;buttheappealinhereyeskepthimsilent."Iwant,"shewenton,"tobeperfectlyhonestwithyou—andwithmyself.ForalongtimeI’vehopedthischancewouldcome:thatImighttellyouhowyou’vehelpedme,whatyou’vemadeofme—"Archersatstaringbeneathfrowningbrows.Heinterruptedherwithalaugh."Andwhatdoyoumakeoutthatyou’vemadeofme?"Shepaledalittle."Ofyou?""Yes:forI’mofyourmakingmuchmorethanyoueverwereofmine.I’mthemanwhomarriedonewomanbecauseanotheronetoldhimto."Herpalenessturnedtoafugitiveflush."Ithought—youpromised—youwerenottosaysuchthingstoday.""Ah—howlikeawoman!Noneofyouwilleverseeabadbusinessthrough!"Sheloweredhervoice."ISitabadbusiness—forMay?"Hestoodinthewindow,drummingagainsttheraisedsash,andfeelingineveryfibrethewistfultendernesswithwhichshehadspokenhercousin’sname."Forthat’sthethingwe’vealwaysgottothinkof—haven’twe—byyourownshowing?"sheinsisted."Myownshowing?"heechoed,hisblankeyesstillonthesea.