Эпоха невинности

           "Andofcourseonceyouwerethereyouneverthoughtofmeagain!"Shecontinuedtobeamonhimwithagaietythatmighthavebeenastudiedassumptionofindifference."Ifshestillneedsme,she’sdeterminednottoletmeseeit,"hethought,stungbyhermanner.Hewantedtothankherforhavingbeentoseehismother,butundertheancestress’smaliciouseyehefelthimselftongue-tiedandconstrained."Lookathim—insuchhothastetogetmarriedthathetookFrenchleaveandrusheddowntoimplorethesillygirlonhisknees!That’ssomethinglikealover—that’sthewayhandsomeBobSpicercarriedoffmypoormother;andthengottiredofherbeforeIwasweaned—thoughtheyonlyhadtowaiteightmonthsforme!Butthere—you’renotaSpicer,youngman;luckilyforyouandforMay.It’sonlymypoorEllenthathaskeptanyoftheirwickedblood;therestofthemareallmodelMingotts,"criedtheoldladyscornfully.ArcherwasawarethatMadameOlenska,whohadseatedherselfathergrandmother’sside,wasstillthoughtfullyscrutinisinghim.Thegaietyhadfadedfromhereyes,andshesaidwithgreatgentleness:"Surely,Granny,wecanpersuadethembetweenustodoashewishes."Archerrosetogo,andashishandmetMadameOlenska’shefeltthatshewaswaitingforhimtomakesomeallusiontoherunansweredletter."WhencanIseeyou?"heasked,asshewalkedwithhimtothedooroftheroom."Wheneveryoulike;butitmustbesoonifyouwanttoseethelittlehouseagain.Iammovingnextweek.