Эпоха невинности

           "Maydear,IhaveatlastmadeGrannyunderstandthatmyvisittohercouldbenomorethanavisit;andshehasbeenaskindandgenerousasever.SheseesnowthatifIreturntoEuropeImustlivebymyself,orratherwithpoorAuntMedora,whoiscomingwithme.IamhurryingbacktoWashingtontopackup,andwesailnextweek.YoumustbeverygoodtoGrannywhenI’mgone—asgoodasyou’vealwaysbeentome.Ellen."Ifanyofmyfriendswishtourgemetochangemymind,pleasetellthemitwouldbeutterlyuseless."Archerreadtheletterovertwoorthreetimes;thenheflungitdownandburstoutlaughing.Thesoundofhislaughstartledhim.ItrecalledJaney’smidnightfrightwhenshehadcaughthimrockingwithincomprehensiblemirthoverMay’stelegramannouncingthatthedateoftheirmarriagehadbeenadvanced."Whydidshewritethis?"heasked,checkinghislaughwithasupremeeffort.Maymetthequestionwithherunshakencandour."Isupposebecausewetalkedthingsoveryesterday—""Whatthings?""ItoldherIwasafraidIhadn’tbeenfairtoher—hadn’talwaysunderstoodhowharditmusthavebeenforherhere,aloneamongsomanypeoplewhowererelationsandyetstrangers;whofelttherighttocriticise,andyetdidn’talwaysknowthecircumstances."Shepaused."Iknewyou’dbeentheonefriendshecouldalwayscounton;andIwantedhertoknowthatyouandIwerethesame—inallourfeelings."Shehesitated,asifwaitingforhimtospeak,andthenaddedslowly:"Sheunderstoodmywishingtotellherthis.Ithinksheunderstandseverything