Эпоха невинности

           ItmadeArchershivertothinkthatitmightbespreadingoverhimtoo.Hehad,tobesure,othertastesandinterests;hespenthisvacationsinEuropeantravel,cultivatedthe"cleverpeople"Mayspokeof,andgenerallytriedto"keepup,"ashehadsomewhatwistfullyputittoMadameOlenska.Butoncehewasmarried,whatwouldbecomeofthisnarrowmarginoflifeinwhichhisrealexperienceswerelived?Hehadseenenoughofotheryoungmenwhohaddreamedhisdream,thoughperhapslessardently,andwhohadgraduallysunkintotheplacidandluxuriousroutineoftheirelders.FromtheofficehesentanotebymessengertoMadameOlenska,askingifhemightcallthatafternoon,andbegginghertolethimfindareplyathisclub;butattheclubhefoundnothing,nordidhereceiveanyletterthefollowingday.Thisunexpectedsilencemortifiedhimbeyondreason,andthoughthenextmorninghesawagloriousclusterofyellowrosesbehindaflorist’swindow-pane,heleftitthere.ItwasonlyonthethirdmorningthathereceivedalinebypostfromtheCountessOlenska.TohissurpriseitwasdatedfromSkuytercliff,whitherthevanderLuydenshadpromptlyretreatedafterputtingtheDukeonboardhissteamer."Iranaway,"thewriterbeganabruptly(withouttheusualpreliminaries),"thedayafterIsawyouattheplay,andthesekindfriendshavetakenmein.Iwantedtobequiet,andthinkthingsover.Youwererightintellingmehowkindtheywere;Ifeelmyselfsosafehere.Iwishthatyouwerewithus."Sheendedwithaconventional"Yourssincerely,"andwithoutanyallusiontothedateofherreturn.