Епоха невинності

           Atlengthshereturnedwithalamp;andArcher,havingmeanwhileputtogetheraphraseoutofDanteandPetrarch,evokedtheanswer:"Lasignoraefuori;maverrasubito";whichhetooktomean:"She’sout—butyou’llsoonsee."Whathesaw,meanwhile,withthehelpofthelamp,wasthefadedshadowycharmofaroomunlikeanyroomhehadknown.HeknewthattheCountessOlenskahadbroughtsomeofherpossessionswithher—bitsofwreckage,shecalledthem—andthese,hesupposed,wererepresentedbysomesmallslendertablesofdarkwood,adelicatelittleGreekbronzeonthechimney-piece,andastretchofreddamasknailedonthediscolouredwallpaperbehindacoupleofItalian-lookingpicturesinoldframes.NewlandArcherpridedhimselfonhisknowledgeofItalianart.HisboyhoodhadbeensaturatedwithRuskin,andhehadreadallthelatestbooks:JohnAddingtonSymonds,VernonLee’s"Euphorion,"theessaysofP.G.Hamerton,andawonderfulnewvolumecalled"TheRenaissance"byWalterPater.HetalkedeasilyofBotticelli,andspokeofFraAngelicowithafaintcondescension.Butthesepicturesbewilderedhim,fortheywerelikenothingthathewasaccustomedtolookat(andthereforeabletosee)whenhetravelledinItaly;andperhaps,also,hispowersofobservationwereimpairedbytheoddnessoffindinghimselfinthisstrangeemptyhouse,whereapparentlynooneexpectedhim.HewassorrythathehadnottoldMayWellandofCountessOlenska’srequest,andalittledisturbedbythethoughtthathisbetrothedmightcomeintoseehercousin.