Эпоха невинности

           Themereideaofawoman’sappealingtoherfamilytoscreenherhusband’sbusinessdishonourwasinadmissible,sinceitwastheonethingthattheFamily,asaninstitution,couldnotdo.ThemulattomaidcalledMrs.LovellMingottintothehall,andthelattercamebackinamomentwithafrowningbrow."ShewantsmetotelegraphforEllenOlenska.IhadwrittentoEllen,ofcourse,andtoMedora;butnowitseemsthat’snotenough.I’mtotelegraphtoherimmediately,andtotellherthatshe’stocomealone."Theannouncementwasreceivedinsilence.Mrs.Wellandsighedresignedly,andMayrosefromherseatandwenttogatherupsomenewspapersthathadbeenscatteredonthefloor."Isupposeitmustbedone,"Mrs.LovellMingottcontinued,asifhopingtobecontradicted;andMayturnedbacktowardthemiddleoftheroom."Ofcourseitmustbedone,"shesaid."Grannyknowswhatshewants,andwemustcarryoutallherwishes.ShallIwritethetelegramforyou,Auntie?IfitgoesatonceEllencanprobablycatchtomorrowmorning’strain."Shepronouncedthesyllablesofthenamewithapeculiarclearness,asifshehadtappedontwosilverbells."Well,itcan’tgoatonce.Jasperandthepantry-boyarebothoutwithnotesandtelegrams."Mayturnedtoherhusbandwithasmile."Buthere’sNewland,readytodoanything.Willyoutakethetelegram,Newland?There’llbejusttimebeforeluncheon."Archerrosewithamurmurofreadiness,andsheseatedherselfatoldCatherine’srosewood"BonheurduJour,"andwroteoutthemessageinherlargeimmaturehand