Эпоха невинности

           Indignationlenthimascathingeloquence,anditwasclearthatifothershadfollowedhisexample,andactedashetalked,societywouldneverhavebeenweakenoughtoreceiveaforeignupstartlikeBeaufort—no,sir,notevenifhe’dmarriedavanderLuydenoraLanninginsteadofaDallas.Andwhatchancewouldtherehavebeen,Leffertswrathfullyquestioned,ofhismarryingintosuchafamilyastheDallases,ifhehadnotalreadywormedhiswayintocertainhouses,aspeoplelikeMrs.LemuelStruthershadmanagedtowormtheirsinhiswake?Ifsocietychosetoopenitsdoorstovulgarwomentheharmwasnotgreat,thoughthegainwasdoubtful;butonceitgotinthewayoftoleratingmenofobscureoriginandtaintedwealththeendwastotaldisintegration—andatnodistantdate."Ifthingsgoonatthispace,"Leffertsthundered,lookinglikeayoungprophetdressedbyPoole,andwhohadnotyetbeenstoned,"weshallseeourchildrenfightingforinvitationstoswindlers’houses,andmarryingBeaufort’sbastards.""Oh,Isay—drawitmild!"ReggieChiversandyoungNewlandprotested,whileMr.SelfridgeMerrylookedgenuinelyalarmed,andanexpressionofpainanddisgustsettledonMr.vanderLuyden’ssensitiveface."Hashegotany?"criedMr.SillertonJackson,prickinguphisears;andwhileLeffertstriedtoturnthequestionwithalaugh,theoldgentlemantwitteredintoArcher’sear:"Queer,thosefellowswhoarealwayswantingtosetthingsright.Thepeoplewhohavetheworstcooksarealwaystellingyouthey’repoisonedwhentheydineout.