Епоха невинності

           Ononeoftheupperbalconies,whichhungwellabovetheroundedtopsofthehorse-chestnutsinthesquare,theawningswerestilllowered,asthoughthesunhadjustleftit."Iwonderwhichfloor—?"Dallasconjectured;andmovingtowardtheporte-cochereheputhisheadintotheporter’slodge,andcamebacktosay:"Thefifth.Itmustbetheonewiththeawnings."Archerremainedmotionless,gazingattheupperwindowsasiftheendoftheirpilgrimagehadbeenattained."Isay,youknow,it’snearlysix,"hissonatlengthremindedhim.Thefatherglancedawayatanemptybenchunderthetrees."IbelieveI’llsitthereamoment,"hesaid."Why—aren’tyouwell?"hissonexclaimed."Oh,perfectly.ButIshouldlikeyou,please,togoupwithoutme."Dallaspausedbeforehim,visiblybewildered."But,Isay,Dad:doyoumeanyouwon’tcomeupatall?""Idon’tknow,"saidArcherslowly."Ifyoudon’tshewon’tunderstand.""Go,myboy;perhapsIshallfollowyou."Dallasgavehimalonglookthroughthetwilight."ButwhatonearthshallIsay?""Mydearfellow,don’tyoualwaysknowwhattosay?"hisfatherrejoinedwithasmile."Verywell.Ishallsayyou’reold-fashioned,andpreferwalkingupthefiveflightsbecauseyoudon’tlikelifts."Hisfathersmiledagain."SayI’mold-fashioned:that’senough."Dallaslookedathimagain,andthen,withanincredulousgesture,passedoutofsightunderthevaulteddoorway.Archersatdownonthebenchandcontinuedtogazeattheawningedbalcony