Эпоха невинности

           Indeed,Mrs.Struthers’snamehadbeenintroducedbyMrs.Archeronlythatshemightpresentlybeabletosay:"AndNewland’snewcousin—CountessOlenska?WasSHEattheballtoo?"Therewasafainttouchofsarcasminthereferencetoherson,andArcherknewitandhadexpectedit.EvenMrs.Archer,whowasseldomundulypleasedwithhumanevents,hadbeenaltogethergladofherson’sengagement.("EspeciallyafterthatsillybusinesswithMrs.Rushworth,"asshehadremarkedtoJaney,alludingtowhathadonceseemedtoNewlandatragedyofwhichhissoulwouldalwaysbearthescar.)TherewasnobettermatchinNewYorkthanMayWelland,lookatthequestionfromwhateverpointyouchose.OfcoursesuchamarriagewasonlywhatNewlandwasentitledto;butyoungmenaresofoolishandincalculable—andsomewomensoensnaringandunscrupulous—thatitwasnothingshortofamiracletoseeone’sonlysonsafepasttheSirenIsleandinthehavenofablamelessdomesticity.AllthisMrs.Archerfelt,andhersonknewshefelt;butheknewalsothatshehadbeenperturbedbytheprematureannouncementofhisengagement,orratherbyitscause;anditwasforthatreason—becauseonthewholehewasatenderandindulgentmaster—thathehadstayedathomethatevening."It’snotthatIdon’tapproveoftheMingotts’espritdecorps;butwhyNewland’sengagementshouldbemixedupwiththatOlenskawoman’scomingsandgoingsIdon’tsee,"Mrs.ArchergrumbledtoJaney,theonlywitnessofherslightlapsesfromperfectsweetness.