Эпоха невинности

           Therefore,asthefamilysay,whynotletwellenoughalone?"ArcherhadgonetothehouseanhourearlierinfullagreementwithMr.Letterblair’sview;butputintowordsbythisselfish,well-fedandsupremelyindifferentoldmanitsuddenlybecamethePharisaicvoiceofasocietywhollyabsorbedinbarricadingitselfagainsttheunpleasant."Ithinkthat’sforhertodecide.""H’m—haveyouconsideredtheconsequencesifshedecidesfordivorce?""Youmeanthethreatinherhusband’sletter?Whatweightwouldthatcarry?It’snomorethanthevaguechargeofanangryblackguard.""Yes;butitmightmakesomeunpleasanttalkifhereallydefendsthesuit.""Unpleasant—!"saidArcherexplosively.Mr.Letterblairlookedathimfromunderenquiringeyebrows,andtheyoungman,awareoftheuselessnessoftryingtoexplainwhatwasinhismind,bowedacquiescentlywhilehisseniorcontinued:"Divorceisalwaysunpleasant.""Youagreewithme?"Mr.Letterblairresumed,afterawaitingsilence."Naturally,"saidArcher."Well,then,Imaycountonyou;theMingottsmaycountonyou;touseyourinfluenceagainsttheidea?"Archerhesitated."Ican’tpledgemyselftillI’veseentheCountessOlenska,"hesaidatlength."Mr.Archer,Idon’tunderstandyou.Doyouwanttomarryintoafamilywithascandalousdivorce-suithangingoverit?""Idon’tthinkthathasanythingtodowiththecase."Mr.Letterblairputdownhisglassofportandfixedonhisyoungpartneracautiousandapprehensivegaze