Эпоха невинности

           Mingott.""Wemustgivethemtimetogettoknoweachotheralittlebetter,mamma,"Mrs.Wellandinterposed,withtheproperaffectationofreluctance;towhichtheancestressrejoined:"Knoweachother?Fiddlesticks!EverybodyinNewYorkhasalwaysknowneverybody.Lettheyoungmanhavehisway,mydear;don’twaittillthebubble’soffthewine.MarrythembeforeLent;Imaycatchpneumoniaanywinternow,andIwanttogivethewedding-breakfast."Thesesuccessivestatementswerereceivedwiththeproperexpressionsofamusement,incredulityandgratitude;andthevisitwasbreakingupinaveinofmildpleasantrywhenthedooropenedtoadmittheCountessOlenska,whoenteredinbonnetandmantlefollowedbytheunexpectedfigureofJuliusBeaufort.Therewasacousinlymurmurofpleasurebetweentheladies,andMrs.MingottheldoutFerrigiani’smodeltothebanker."Ha!Beaufort,thisisararefavour!"(Shehadanoddforeignwayofaddressingmenbytheirsurnames.)"Thanks.Iwishitmighthappenoftener,"saidthevisitorinhiseasyarrogantway."I’mgenerallysotieddown;butImettheCountessElleninMadisonSquare,andshewasgoodenoughtoletmewalkhomewithher.""Ah—Ihopethehousewillbegayer,nowthatEllen’shere!"criedMrs.Mingottwithagloriouseffrontery."Sitdown—sitdown,Beaufort:pushuptheyellowarmchair;nowI’vegotyouIwantagoodgossip.Ihearyourballwasmagnificent;andIunderstandyouinvitedMrs.LemuelStruthers?Well—I’veacuriositytoseethewomanmyself.