Эпоха невинности

           Theoldladyreceivedhimwithunusualwarmth;shewasgratefultohimforpersuadingtheCountessOlenskatogiveuptheideaofadivorce;andwhenhetoldherthathehaddesertedtheofficewithoutleave,andrusheddowntoSt.AugustinesimplybecausehewantedtoseeMay,shegaveanadiposechuckleandpattedhiskneewithherpuff-ballhand."Ah,ah—soyoukickedoverthetraces,didyou?AndIsupposeAugustaandWellandpulledlongfaces,andbehavedasiftheendoftheworldhadcome?ButlittleMay—sheknewbetter,I’llbebound?""Ihopedshedid;butafterallshewouldn’tagreetowhatI’dgonedowntoaskfor.""Wouldn’tsheindeed?Andwhatwasthat?""IwantedtogethertopromisethatweshouldbemarriedinApril.What’stheuseofourwastinganotheryear?"Mrs.MansonMingottscrewedupherlittlemouthintoagrimaceofmimicpruderyandtwinkledathimthroughmaliciouslids."’AskMamma,’Isuppose—theusualstory.Ah,theseMingotts—allalike!Borninarut,andyoucan’troot’emoutofit.WhenIbuiltthishouseyou’dhavethoughtIwasmovingtoCalifornia!NobodyeverHADbuiltaboveFortiethStreet—no,saysI,norabovetheBatteryeither,beforeChristopherColumbusdiscoveredAmerica.No,no;notoneofthemwantstobedifferent;they’reasscaredofitasthesmall-pox.Ah,mydearMr.Archer,IthankmystarsI’mnothingbutavulgarSpicer;butthere’snotoneofmyownchildrenthattakesaftermebutmylittleEllen.