Эпоха невинности

           WellandcouldnotpossiblygotoJerseyCitybecauseshewastoaccompanyherhusbandtooldCatherine’sthatafternoon,andthebroughamcouldnotbespared,since,ifMr.Wellandwere"upset"byseeinghismother-in-lawforthefirsttimeafterherattack,hemighthavetobetakenhomeatamoment’snotice.TheWellandsonswouldofcoursebe"downtown,"Mr.LovellMingottwouldbejusthurryingbackfromhisshooting,andtheMingottcarriageengagedinmeetinghim;andonecouldnotaskMay,atthecloseofawinterafternoon,togoaloneacrosstheferrytoJerseyCity,eveninherowncarriage.Nevertheless,itmightappearinhospitable—andcontrarytooldCatherine’sexpresswishes—ifMadameOlenskawereallowedtoarrivewithoutanyofthefamilybeingatthestationtoreceiveher.ItwasjustlikeEllen,Mrs.Welland’stiredvoiceimplied,toplacethefamilyinsuchadilemma."It’salwaysonethingafteranother,"thepoorladygrieved,inoneofherrarerevoltsagainstfate;"theonlythingthatmakesmethinkMammamustbelesswellthanDr.BencombwilladmitisthismorbiddesiretohaveEllencomeatonce,howeverinconvenientitistomeether."Thewordshadbeenthoughtless,astheutterancesofimpatienceoftenare;andMr.Wellandwasuponthemwithapounce."Augusta,"hesaid,turningpaleandlayingdownhisfork,"haveyouanyotherreasonforthinkingthatBencombislesstobereliedonthanhewas?Haveyounoticedthathehasbeenlessconscientiousthanusualinfollowingupmycaseoryourmother’s?"ItwasMrs.