Епоха невинності

           Theclangingandgroaningofthetraincamenearer,anditstaggeredslowlyintothestationlikeaprey-ladenmonsterintoitslair.Archerpushedforward,elbowingthroughthecrowd,andstaringblindlyintowindowafterwindowofthehigh-hungcarriages.Andthen,suddenly,hesawMadameOlenska’spaleandsurprisedfacecloseathand,andhadagainthemortifiedsensationofhavingforgottenwhatshelookedlike.Theyreachedeachother,theirhandsmet,andhedrewherarmthroughhis."Thisway—Ihavethecarriage,"hesaid.Afterthatitallhappenedashehaddreamed.Hehelpedherintothebroughamwithherbags,andhadafterwardthevaguerecollectionofhavingproperlyreassuredherabouthergrandmotherandgivenherasummaryoftheBeaufortsituation(hewasstruckbythesoftnessofher:"PoorRegina!").Meanwhilethecarriagehadworkeditswayoutofthecoilaboutthestation,andtheywerecrawlingdowntheslipperyinclinetothewharf,menacedbyswayingcoal-carts,bewilderedhorses,dishevelledexpress-wagons,andanemptyhearse—ah,thathearse!Sheshuthereyesasitpassed,andclutchedatArcher’shand."Ifonlyitdoesn’tmean—poorGranny!""Oh,no,no—she’smuchbetter—she’sallright,really.There—we’vepassedit!"heexclaimed,asifthatmadeallthedifference.Herhandremainedinhis,andasthecarriagelurchedacrossthegang-plankontotheferryhebentover,unbuttonedhertightbrownglove,andkissedherpalmasifhehadkissedarelic.Shedisengagedherselfwithafaintsmile,andhesaid:"Youdidn’texpectmetoday?""Oh,no.