Епоха невинності

           Intherotationofcropstherewasarecognisedseasonforwildoats;buttheywerenottobesownmorethanonce.Archerhadalwayssharedthisview:inhishearthethoughtLeffertsdespicable.ButtoloveEllenOlenskawasnottobecomeamanlikeLefferts:forthefirsttimeArcherfoundhimselffacetofacewiththedreadargumentoftheindividualcase.EllenOlenskawaslikenootherwoman,hewaslikenootherman:theirsituation,therefore,resemblednooneelse’s,andtheywereanswerabletonotribunalbutthatoftheirownjudgment.Yes,butintenminutesmorehewouldbemountinghisowndoorstep;andtherewereMay,andhabit,andhonour,andalltheolddecenciesthatheandhispeoplehadalwaysbelievedin...Athiscornerhehesitated,andthenwalkedondownFifthAvenue.Aheadofhim,inthewinternight,loomedabigunlithouse.Ashedrewnearhethoughthowoftenhehadseenitblazingwithlights,itsstepsawningedandcarpeted,andcarriageswaitingindoublelinetodrawupatthecurbstone.Itwasintheconservatorythatstretcheditsdead-blackbulkdownthesidestreetthathehadtakenhisfirstkissfromMay;itwasunderthemyriadcandlesoftheball-roomthathehadseenherappear,tallandsilver-shiningasayoungDiana.Nowthehousewasasdarkasthegrave,exceptforafaintflareofgasinthebasement,andalightinoneupstairsroomwheretheblindhadnotbeenlowered.AsArcherreachedthecornerhesawthatthecarriagestandingatthedoorwasMrs.MansonMingott’s.