Епоха невинності

           "Heunderstooditasclearlyasifshehadutteredthewords,andthethoughtkepthimanchoredtohissideofthetableinakindofmovedandsacredsubmission."Whatalifeforyou!—"hegroaned."Oh—aslongasit’sapartofyours.""Andmineapartofyours?"Shenodded."Andthat’stobeall—foreitherofus?""Well;itISall,isn’tit?"Atthathesprangup,forgettingeverythingbutthesweetnessofherface.Sherosetoo,notasiftomeethimortofleefromhim,butquietly,asthoughtheworstofthetaskweredoneandshehadonlytowait;soquietlythat,ashecameclose,heroutstretchedhandsactednotasacheckbutasaguidetohim.Theyfellintohis,whileherarms,extendedbutnotrigid,kepthimfarenoughofftolethersurrenderedfacesaytherest.Theymayhavestoodinthatwayforalongtime,oronlyforafewmoments;butitwaslongenoughforhersilencetocommunicateallshehadtosay,andforhimtofeelthatonlyonethingmattered.Hemustdonothingtomakethismeetingtheirlast;hemustleavetheirfutureinhercare,askingonlythatsheshouldkeepfastholdofit."Don’t—don’tbeunhappy,"shesaid,withabreakinhervoice,asshedrewherhandsaway;andheanswered:"Youwon’tgoback—youwon’tgoback?"asifitweretheonepossibilityhecouldnotbear."Iwon’tgoback,"shesaid;andturningawaysheopenedthedoorandledthewayintothepublicdining-room