Эпоха невинности

           NothingwasdonewithoutceremonyunderthevanderLuydenroof,andthoughtherewerebutfourgueststherepasthadbegunatsevenpunctually,sothatthepropersequenceofcoursesmightbeservedwithouthastebeforethegentlemensettleddowntotheircigars.Archerhadnotseenhiswifesincetheeveningbefore.Hehadleftearlyfortheoffice,wherehehadplungedintoanaccumulationofunimportantbusiness.Intheafternoononeoftheseniorpartnershadmadeanunexpectedcallonhistime;andhehadreachedhomesolatethatMayhadprecededhimtothevanderLuydens’,andsentbackthecarriage.Now,acrosstheSkuytercliffcarnationsandthemassiveplate,shestruckhimaspaleandlanguid;buthereyesshone,andshetalkedwithexaggeratedanimation.ThesubjectwhichhadcalledforthMr.SillertonJackson’sfavouriteallusionhadbeenbroughtup(Archerfanciednotwithoutintention)bytheirhostess.TheBeaufortfailure,orrathertheBeaufortattitudesincethefailure,wasstillafruitfulthemeforthedrawing-roommoralist;andafterithadbeenthoroughlyexaminedandcondemnedMrs.vanderLuydenhadturnedherscrupulouseyesonMayArcher."Isitpossible,dear,thatwhatIhearistrue?IwastoldyourgrandmotherMingott’scarriagewasseenstandingatMrs.Beaufort’sdoor."ItwasnoticeablethatshenolongercalledtheoffendingladybyherChristianname.May’scolourrose,andMrs.Archerputinhastily:"Ifitwas,I’mconvinceditwastherewithoutMrs.Mingott’sknowledge.""Ah,youthink—?"Mrs.vanderLuydenpaused,sighed,andglancedatherhusband.