Эпоха невинности

           Andshehaddiedthinkingtheworldagoodplace,fulloflovingandharmonioushouseholdslikeherown,andresignedtoleaveitbecauseshewasconvincedthat,whateverhappened,NewlandwouldcontinuetoinculcateinDallasthesameprinciplesandprejudiceswhichhadshapedhisparents’lives,andthatDallasinturn(whenNewlandfollowedher)wouldtransmitthesacredtrusttolittleBill.AndofMaryshewassureasofherownself.So,havingsnatchedlittleBillfromthegrave,andgivenherlifeintheeffort,shewentcontentedlytoherplaceintheArchervaultinSt.Mark’s,whereMrs.Archeralreadylaysafefromtheterrifying"trend"whichherdaughter-in-lawhadneverevenbecomeawareof.OppositeMay’sportraitstoodoneofherdaughter.MaryChiverswasastallandfairashermother,butlarge-waisted,flat-chestedandslightlyslouching,asthealteredfashionrequired.MaryChivers’smightyfeatsofathleticismcouldnothavebeenperformedwiththetwenty-inchwaistthatMayArcher’sazuresashsoeasilyspanned.Andthedifferenceseemedsymbolic;themother’slifehadbeenascloselygirtasherfigure.Mary,whowasnolessconventional,andnomoreintelligent,yetledalargerlifeandheldmoretolerantviews.Therewasgoodinthenewordertoo.Thetelephoneclicked,andArcher,turningfromthephotographs,unhookedthetransmitterathiselbow.Howfartheywerefromthedayswhenthelegsofthebrass-buttonedmessengerboyhadbeenNewYork’sonlymeansofquickcommunication!"Chicagowantsyou.