Эпоха невинности

           Idon’tthinkGrannyunderstandsher,oruncleLovellMingotteither;theyreallythinkshe’smuchworldlierandfonderofsocietythansheis.AndIcanquiteseethatNewYorkmustseemdulltoher,thoughthefamilywon’tadmitit.Ithinkshe’sbeenusedtolotsofthingswehaven’tgot;wonderfulmusic,andpictureshows,andcelebrities—artistsandauthorsandallthecleverpeopleyouadmire.Grannycan’tunderstandherwantinganythingbutlotsofdinnersandclothes—butIcanseethatyou’realmosttheonlypersoninNewYorkwhocantalktoheraboutwhatshereallycaresfor."HiswiseMay—howhehadlovedherforthatletter!Buthehadnotmeanttoactonit;hewastoobusy,tobeginwith,andhedidnotcare,asanengagedman,toplaytooconspicuouslythepartofMadameOlenska’schampion.HehadanideathatsheknewhowtotakecareofherselfagooddealbetterthantheingenuousMayimagined.ShehadBeaufortatherfeet,Mr.vanderLuydenhoveringaboveherlikeaprotectingdeity,andanynumberofcandidates(LawrenceLeffertsamongthem)waitingtheiropportunityinthemiddledistance.Yetheneversawher,orexchangedawordwithher,withoutfeelingthat,afterall,May’singenuousnessalmostamountedtoagiftofdivination.EllenOlenskawaslonelyandshewasunhappy.