Епоха невинності

           Theirlongyearstogetherhadshownhimthatitdidnotsomuchmatterifmarriagewasadullduty,aslongasitkeptthedignityofaduty:lapsingfromthat,itbecameamerebattleofuglyappetites.Lookingabouthim,hehonouredhisownpast,andmournedforit.Afterall,therewasgoodintheoldways.Hiseyes,makingtheroundoftheroom—doneoverbyDallaswithEnglishmezzotints,Chippendalecabinets,bitsofchosenblue-and-whiteandpleasantlyshadedelectriclamps—camebacktotheoldEastlakewriting-tablethathehadneverbeenwillingtobanish,andtohisfirstphotographofMay,whichstillkeptitsplacebesidehisinkstand.Thereshewas,tall,round-bosomedandwillowy,inherstarchedmuslinandflappingLeghorn,ashehadseenherundertheorange-treesintheMissiongarden.Andashehadseenherthatday,soshehadremained;neverquiteatthesameheight,yetneverfarbelowit:generous,faithful,unwearied;butsolackinginimagination,soincapableofgrowth,thattheworldofheryouthhadfallenintopiecesandrebuiltitselfwithouthereverbeingconsciousofthechange.Thishardbrightblindnesshadkeptherimmediatehorizonapparentlyunaltered.HerincapacitytorecognisechangemadeherchildrenconcealtheirviewsfromherasArcherconcealedhis;therehadbeen,fromthefirst,ajointpretenceofsameness,akindofinnocentfamilyhypocrisy,inwhichfatherandchildrenhadunconsciouslycollaborated.