Эпоха невинности

           Notthatthefamilywouldadmitthat:theythinkFifthAvenueisHeavenwiththeruedelaPaixthrownin.AndpoorEllen,ofcourse,hasnoideaofgoingbacktoherhusband.Sheheldoutasfirmlyaseveragainstthat.Soshe’stosettledowninPariswiththatfoolMedora....Well,ParisisParis;andyoucankeepacarriagethereonnexttonothing.Butshewasasgayasabird,andIshallmissher."Twotears,theparchedtearsoftheold,rolleddownherpuffycheeksandvanishedintheabyssesofherbosom."AllIaskis,"sheconcluded,"thattheyshouldn’tbothermeanymore.Imustreallybeallowedtodigestmygruel...."AndshetwinkledalittlewistfullyatArcher.Itwasthatevening,onhisreturnhome,thatMayannouncedherintentionofgivingafarewelldinnertohercousin.MadameOlenska’snamehadnotbeenpronouncedbetweenthemsincethenightofherflighttoWashington;andArcherlookedathiswifewithsurprise."Adinner—why?"heinterrogated.Hercolourrose."ButyoulikeEllen—Ithoughtyou’dbepleased.""It’sawfullynice—yourputtingitinthatway.ButIreallydon’tsee—""Imeantodoit,Newland,"shesaid,quietlyrisingandgoingtoherdesk."Herearetheinvitationsallwritten.Motherhelpedme—sheagreesthatweoughtto."Shepaused,embarrassedandyetsmiling,andArchersuddenlysawbeforehimtheembodiedimageoftheFamily."Oh,allright,"hesaid,staringwithunseeingeyesatthelistofgueststhatshehadputinhishand.