Эпоха невинности

           Itsglassshelveswerecrowdedwithsmallbrokenobjects—hardlyrecognisabledomesticutensils,ornamentsandpersonaltrifles—madeofglass,ofclay,ofdiscolouredbronzeandothertime-blurredsubstances."Itseemscruel,"shesaid,"thatafterawhilenothingmatters...anymorethantheselittlethings,thatusedtobenecessaryandimportanttoforgottenpeople,andnowhavetobeguessedatunderamagnifyingglassandlabelled:’Useunknown.’""Yes;butmeanwhile—""Ah,meanwhile—"Asshestoodthere,inherlongsealskincoat,herhandsthrustinasmallroundmuff,herveildrawndownlikeatransparentmasktothetipofhernose,andthebunchofvioletshehadbroughtherstirringwithherquickly-takenbreath,itseemedincrediblethatthispureharmonyoflineandcolourshouldeversufferthestupidlawofchange."Meanwhileeverythingmatters—thatconcernsyou,"hesaid.Shelookedathimthoughtfully,andturnedbacktothedivan.Hesatdownbesideherandwaited;butsuddenlyheheardastepechoingfaroffdowntheemptyrooms,andfeltthepressureoftheminutes."Whatisityouwantedtotellme?"sheasked,asifshehadreceivedthesamewarning."WhatIwantedtotellyou?"herejoined."Why,thatIbelieveyoucametoNewYorkbecauseyouwereafraid.""Afraid?""OfmycomingtoWashington."Shelookeddownathermuff,andhesawherhandsstirinituneasily."Well—?""Well—yes,"shesaid."YouWEREafraid?Youknew—?""Yes:Iknew...""Well,then?"heinsisted."Well,then:thisisbetter,isn’tit?"shereturnedwithalongquestioningsigh.