Епоха невинності

           PerhapshehadmisunderstoodMadameOlenska—perhapsshehadnotinvitedhimafterall.Downthecobblestonesofthequietstreetcametheringofastepper’shoofs;theystoppedbeforethehouse,andhecaughttheopeningofacarriagedoor.Partingthecurtainshelookedoutintotheearlydusk.Astreet-lampfacedhim,andinitslighthesawJuliusBeaufort’scompactEnglishbrougham,drawnbyabigroan,andthebankerdescendingfromit,andhelpingoutMadameOlenska.Beaufortstood,hatinhand,sayingsomethingwhichhiscompanionseemedtonegative;thentheyshookhands,andhejumpedintohiscarriagewhileshemountedthesteps.WhensheenteredtheroomsheshowednosurpriseatseeingArcherthere;surpriseseemedtheemotionthatshewasleastaddictedto."Howdoyoulikemyfunnyhouse?"sheasked."Tomeit’slikeheaven."Asshespokesheuntiedherlittlevelvetbonnetandtossingitawaywithherlongcloakstoodlookingathimwithmeditativeeyes."You’vearrangeditdelightfully,"herejoined,alivetotheflatnessofthewords,butimprisonedintheconventionalbyhisconsumingdesiretobesimpleandstriking."Oh,it’sapoorlittleplace.Myrelationsdespiseit.Butatanyrateit’slessgloomythanthevanderLuydens’."Thewordsgavehimanelectricshock,forfewweretherebelliousspiritswhowouldhavedaredtocallthestatelyhomeofthevanderLuydensgloomy.Thoseprivilegedtoenteritshiveredthere,andspokeofitas"handsome."Butsuddenlyhewasgladthatshehadgivenvoicetothegeneralshiver."It’sdelicious—whatyou’vedonehere,"herepeated.