Епоха невинності

           "Thedifferenceisthattheseyoungpeopletakeitforgrantedthatthey’regoingtogetwhatevertheywant,andthatwealmostalwaystookitforgrantedthatweshouldn’t.Only,Iwonder—thethingone’ssocertainofinadvance:canitevermakeone’sheartbeataswildly?"ItwasthedayaftertheirarrivalinParis,andthespringsunshineheldArcherinhisopenwindow,abovethewidesilveryprospectofthePlaceVendome.Oneofthethingshehadstipulated—almosttheonlyone—whenhehadagreedtocomeabroadwithDallas,wasthat,inParis,heshouldn’tbemadetogotooneofthenewfangled"palaces.""Oh,allright—ofcourse,"Dallasgood-naturedlyagreed."I’lltakeyoutosomejollyold-fashionedplace—theBristolsay—"leavinghisfatherspeechlessathearingthatthecentury-longhomeofkingsandemperorswasnowspokenofasanold-fashionedinn,whereonewentforitsquaintinconveniencesandlingeringlocalcolour.Archerhadpicturedoftenenough,inthefirstimpatientyears,thesceneofhisreturntoParis;thenthepersonalvisionhadfaded,andhehadsimplytriedtoseethecityasthesettingofMadameOlenska’slife.Sittingaloneatnightinhislibrary,afterthehouseholdhadgonetobed,hehadevokedtheradiantoutbreakofspringdowntheavenuesofhorse-chestnuts,theflowersandstatuesinthepublicgardens,thewhiffoflilacsfromtheflower-carts,themajesticrolloftheriverunderthegreatbridges,andthelifeofartandstudyandpleasurethatfilledeachmightyarterytobursting.