Епоха невинності

           No:shewouldgoonlyifshefeltherselfbecomingatemptationtoArcher,atemptationtofallawayfromthestandardtheyhadbothsetup.Herchoicewouldbetostaynearhimaslongashedidnotaskhertocomenearer;anditdependedonhimselftokeepherjustthere,safebutsecluded.Inthetrainthesethoughtswerestillwithhim.Theyenclosedhiminakindofgoldenhaze,throughwhichthefacesabouthimlookedremoteandindistinct:hehadafeelingthatifhespoketohisfellow-travellerstheywouldnotunderstandwhathewassaying.Inthisstateofabstractionhefoundhimself,thefollowingmorning,wakingtotherealityofastiflingSeptemberdayinNewYork.Theheat-witheredfacesinthelongtrainstreamedpasthim,andhecontinuedtostareatthemthroughthesamegoldenblur;butsuddenly,asheleftthestation,oneofthefacesdetacheditself,camecloserandforceditselfuponhisconsciousness.Itwas,asheinstantlyrecalled,thefaceoftheyoungmanhehadseen,thedaybefore,passingoutoftheParkerHouse,andhadnotedasnotconformingtotype,asnothavinganAmericanhotelface.Thesamethingstruckhimnow;andagainhebecameawareofadimstirofformerassociations.TheyoungmanstoodlookingabouthimwiththedazedairoftheforeignerflungupontheharshmerciesofAmericantravel;thenheadvancedtowardArcher,liftedhishat,andsaidinEnglish:"Surely,Monsieur,wemetinLondon?""Ah,tobesure:inLondon!"Archergraspedhishandwithcuriosityandsympathy.