Эпоха невинности

           vanderLuydenmurmured:"Ifonlyshehadconsultedsomeone—""Ah,thatsheneverdid!"Mrs.Archerrejoined.AtthispointMr.vanderLuydenglancedathiswife,whobentherheadslightlyinthedirectionofMrs.Archer;andtheglimmeringtrainsofthethreeladiessweptoutofthedoorwhilethegentlemensettleddowntotheircigars.Mr.vanderLuydensuppliedshortonesonOperanights;buttheyweresogoodthattheymadehisguestsdeplorehisinexorablepunctuality.Archer,afterthefirstact,haddetachedhimselffromthepartyandmadehiswaytothebackoftheclubbox.Fromtherehewatched,overvariousChivers,MingottandRushworthshoulders,thesamescenethathehadlookedat,twoyearspreviously,onthenightofhisfirstmeetingwithEllenOlenska.Hehadhalf-expectedhertoappearagaininoldMrs.Mingott’sbox,butitremainedempty;andhesatmotionless,hiseyesfastenedonit,tillsuddenlyMadameNilsson’spuresopranobrokeoutinto"M’ama,nonm’ama..."Archerturnedtothestage,where,inthefamiliarsettingofgiantrosesandpen-wiperpansies,thesamelargeblondevictimwassuccumbingtothesamesmallbrownseducer.FromthestagehiseyeswanderedtothepointofthehorseshoewhereMaysatbetweentwoolderladies,justas,onthatformerevening,shehadsatbetweenMrs.LovellMingottandhernewly-arrived"foreign"cousin.Asonthatevening,shewasallinwhite;andArcher,whohadnotnoticedwhatshewore,recognisedtheblue-whitesatinandoldlaceofherweddingdress.