Эпоха невинности

           "ArcherturnedfromthefascinatedcontemplationofasmallpaintingrepresentingtwoCardinalscarousing,inanoctagonalebonyframesetwithmedallionsofonyx."ShallIfetchher?"heproposed."Icaneasilygetawayfromtheofficeintimetomeetthebroughamattheferry,ifMaywillsenditthere."Hisheartwasbeatingexcitedlyashespoke.Mrs.Wellandheavedasighofgratitude,andMay,whohadmovedawaytothewindow,turnedtoshedonhimabeamofapproval."Soyousee,Mamma,everythingWILLbesettledtwenty-fourhoursinadvance,"shesaid,stoopingovertokisshermother’stroubledforehead.May’sbroughamawaitedheratthedoor,andshewastodriveArchertoUnionSquare,wherehecouldpickupaBroadwaycartocarryhimtotheoffice.Asshesettledherselfinhercornershesaid:"Ididn’twanttoworryMammabyraisingfreshobstacles;buthowcanyoumeetEllentomorrow,andbringherbacktoNewYork,whenyou’regoingtoWashington?""Oh,I’mnotgoing,"Archeranswered."Notgoing?Why,what’shappened?"Hervoicewasasclearasabell,andfullofwifelysolicitude."Thecaseisoff—postponed.""Postponed?Howodd!IsawanotethismorningfromMr.LetterblairtoMammasayingthathewasgoingtoWashingtontomorrowforthebigpatentcasethathewastoarguebeforetheSupremeCourt.Yousaiditwasapatentcase,didn’tyou?""Well—that’sit:thewholeofficecan’tgo.Letterblairdecidedtogothismorning