Епоха невинності

           Onthewayfromtheferryshehadtoldhimthatheandshemustremainapart;butshehadsaiditwithherheadonhisbreast.Heknewthattherewasnocalculatedcoquetryinherwords;shewasfightingherfateashehadfoughthis,andclingingdesperatelytoherresolvethattheyshouldnotbreakfaithwiththepeoplewhotrustedthem.ButduringthetendayswhichhadelapsedsinceherreturntoNewYorkshehadperhapsguessedfromhissilence,andfromthefactofhismakingnoattempttoseeher,thathewasmeditatingadecisivestep,astepfromwhichtherewasnoturningback.Atthethought,asuddenfearofherownweaknessmighthaveseizedher,andshemighthavefeltthat,afterall,itwasbettertoacceptthecompromiseusualinsuchcases,andfollowthelineofleastresistance.Anhourearlier,whenhehadrungMrs.Mingott’sbell,Archerhadfanciedthathispathwasclearbeforehim.HehadmeanttohaveawordalonewithMadameOlenska,andfailingthat,tolearnfromhergrandmotheronwhatday,andbywhichtrain,shewasreturningtoWashington.Inthattrainheintendedtojoinher,andtravelwithhertoWashington,orasmuchfartherasshewaswillingtogo.HisownfancyinclinedtoJapan.Atanyrateshewouldunderstandatoncethat,wherevershewent,hewasgoing.HemeanttoleaveanoteforMaythatshouldcutoffanyotheralternative.Hehadfanciedhimselfnotonlynervedforthisplungebuteagertotakeit;yethisfirstfeelingonhearingthatthecourseofeventswaschangedhadbeenoneofrelief.Now,however,ashewalkedhomefromMrs.