Епоха невинності

           "MadameOlenska’sfacegrewbrilliantwithpleasure."Howkind!HowgoodoftheDuketothinkofme!"Shepushedachairuptothetea-tableandMrs.Strutherssankintoitdelectably."OfcourseIshallbetoohappytocome.""That’sallright,mydear.Andbringyouryounggentlemanwithyou."Mrs.Struthersextendedahail-fellowhandtoArcher."Ican’tputanametoyou—butI’msureI’vemetyou—I’vemeteverybody,here,orinParisorLondon.Aren’tyouindiplomacy?Allthediplomatistscometome.Youlikemusictoo?Duke,youmustbesuretobringhim."TheDukesaid"Rather"fromthedepthsofhisbeard,andArcherwithdrewwithastifflycircularbowthatmadehimfeelasfullofspineasaself-consciousschool-boyamongcarelessandunnoticingelders.Hewasnotsorryforthedenouementofhisvisit:heonlywishedithadcomesooner,andsparedhimacertainwasteofemotion.Ashewentoutintothewintrynight,NewYorkagainbecamevastandimminent,andMayWellandtheloveliestwomaninit.Heturnedintohisflorist’stosendherthedailyboxoflilies-of-the-valleywhich,tohisconfusion,hefoundhehadforgottenthatmorning.Ashewroteawordonhiscardandwaitedforanenvelopeheglancedabouttheemboweredshop,andhiseyelitonaclusterofyellowroses.Hehadneverseenanyassun-goldenbefore,andhisfirstimpulsewastosendthemtoMayinsteadofthelilies.Buttheydidnotlooklikeher—therewassomethingtoorich,toostrong,intheirfierybeauty