Епоха невинності
Chapter 6
Welland,whoknewexactlywhyArcherhadpressedhertoannounceherdaughter’sengagementattheBeaufortball(andhadindeedexpectedhimtodonoless),yetfeltobligedtosimulatereluctance,andtheairofhavinghadherhandforced,quiteas,inthebooksonPrimitiveManthatpeopleofadvancedculturewerebeginningtoread,thesavagebrideisdraggedwithshrieksfromherparents’tent.Theresult,ofcourse,wasthattheyounggirlwhowasthecentreofthiselaboratesystemofmystificationremainedthemoreinscrutableforherveryfranknessandassurance.Shewasfrank,poordarling,becauseshehadnothingtoconceal,assuredbecausesheknewofnothingtobeonherguardagainst;andwithnobetterpreparationthanthis,shewastobeplungedovernightintowhatpeopleevasivelycalled"thefactsoflife."Theyoungmanwassincerelybutplacidlyinlove.Hedelightedintheradiantgoodlooksofhisbetrothed,inherhealth,herhorsemanship,hergraceandquicknessatgames,andtheshyinterestinbooksandideasthatshewasbeginningtodevelopunderhisguidance.(ShehadadvancedfarenoughtojoinhiminridiculingtheIdylsoftheKing,butnottofeelthebeautyofUlyssesandtheLotusEaters.)Shewasstraightforward,loyalandbrave;shehadasenseofhumour(chieflyprovedbyherlaughingatHISjokes);andhesuspected,inthedepthsofherinnocently-gazingsoul,aglowoffeelingthatitwouldbeajoytowaken.Butwhenhehadgonethebriefroundofherhereturneddiscouragedbythethoughtthatallthisfranknessandinnocencewereonlyanartificialproduct.
