Эпоха невинности

           NooneintheMingottsetcouldunderstandwhyAmySillertonhadsubmittedsotamelytotheeccentricitiesofahusbandwhofilledthehousewithlong-hairedmenandshort-hairedwomen,and,whenhetravelled,tookhertoexploretombsinYucataninsteadofgoingtoParisorItaly.Buttheretheywere,setintheirways,andapparentlyunawarethattheyweredifferentfromotherpeople;andwhentheygaveoneoftheirdrearyannualgarden-partieseveryfamilyontheCliffs,becauseoftheSillerton-Pennilow-Dagonetconnection,hadtodrawlotsandsendanunwillingrepresentative."It’sawonder,"Mrs.Wellandremarked,"thattheydidn’tchoosetheCupRaceday!Doyouremember,twoyearsago,theirgivingapartyforablackmanonthedayofJuliaMingott’sthedansant?Luckilythistimethere’snothingelsegoingonthatIknowof—forofcoursesomeofuswillhavetogo."Mr.Wellandsighednervously."’Someofus,’mydear—morethanone?Threeo’clockissuchaveryawkwardhour.Ihavetobehereathalf-pastthreetotakemydrops:it’sreallynousetryingtofollowBencomb’snewtreatmentifIdon’tdoitsystematically;andifIjoinyoulater,ofcourseIshallmissmydrive."Atthethoughthelaiddownhisknifeandforkagain,andaflushofanxietyrosetohisfinely-wrinkledcheek."There’snoreasonwhyyoushouldgoatall,mydear,"hiswifeansweredwithacheerfulnessthathadbecomeautomatic."IhavesomecardstoleaveattheotherendofBellevueAvenue,andI’lldropinatabouthalf-pastthreeandstaylongenoughtomakepoorAmyfeelthatshehasn’tbeenslighted.