Эпоха невинности

           Heronlychancewouldbetoleaveherhusband—yethowcananyonetellherso?Herdutyisathisside;andluckilysheseemsalwaystohavebeenblindtohisprivateweaknesses."Therewasaknock,andMr.Letterblairturnedhisheadsharply."Whatisit?Ican’tbedisturbed."AclerkbroughtinaletterforArcherandwithdrew.Recognisinghiswife’shand,theyoungmanopenedtheenvelopeandread:"Won’tyoupleasecomeuptownasearlyasyoucan?Grannyhadaslightstrokelastnight.Insomemysteriouswayshefoundoutbeforeanyoneelsethisawfulnewsaboutthebank.UncleLovellisawayshooting,andtheideaofthedisgracehasmadepoorPapasonervousthathehasatemperatureandcan’tleavehisroom.Mammaneedsyoudreadfully,andIdohopeyoucangetawayatonceandgostraighttoGranny’s."Archerhandedthenotetohisseniorpartner,andafewminuteslaterwascrawlingnorthwardinacrowdedhorse-car,whichheexchangedatFourteenthStreetforoneofthehighstaggeringomnibusesoftheFifthAvenueline.Itwasaftertwelveo’clockwhenthislaboriousvehicledroppedhimatoldCatherine’s.Thesitting-roomwindowonthegroundfloor,wheresheusuallythroned,wastenantedbytheinadequatefigureofherdaughter,Mrs.Welland,whosignedahaggardwelcomeasshecaughtsightofArcher;andatthedoorhewasmetbyMay.Thehallworetheunnaturalappearancepeculiartowell-kepthousessuddenlyinvadedbyillness:wrapsandfurslayinheapsonthechairs,adoctor’sbagandovercoatwereonthetable,andbesidethemlettersandcardshadalreadypiledupunheeded.