Епоха невинності

           Intheuncertaintyofthesituationhelethimselfdrift,conscious,somewherebelowthesurfaceofhisthoughts,ofaresolvewhichhadcometohimwhenhehadleanedoutfromhislibrarywindowintotheicynight.Thestrengthofthatresolvemadeiteasytowaitandmakenosign.ThenonedayMaytoldhimthatMrs.MansonMingotthadaskedtoseehim.Therewasnothingsurprisingintherequest,fortheoldladywassteadilyrecovering,andshehadalwaysopenlydeclaredthatshepreferredArchertoanyofherothergrandsons-in-law.Maygavethemessagewithevidentpleasure:shewasproudofoldCatherine’sappreciationofherhusband.Therewasamoment’spause,andthenArcherfeltitincumbentonhimtosay:"Allright.Shallwegotogetherthisafternoon?"Hiswife’sfacebrightened,butsheinstantlyanswered:"Oh,you’dmuchbettergoalone.ItboresGrannytoseethesamepeopletoooften."Archer’sheartwasbeatingviolentlywhenherangoldMrs.Mingott’sbell.Hehadwantedaboveallthingstogoalone,forhefeltsurethevisitwouldgivehimthechanceofsayingawordinprivatetotheCountessOlenska.Hehaddeterminedtowaittillthechancepresenteditselfnaturally;andhereitwas,andherehewasonthedoorstep.Behindthedoor,behindthecurtainsoftheyellowdamaskroomnexttothehall,shewassurelyawaitinghim;inanothermomentheshouldseeher,andbeabletospeaktoherbeforesheledhimtothesick-room.Hewantedonlytoputonequestion:afterthathiscoursewouldbeclear.