Эпоха невинности

           ItwouldtakeanomniscientDeitytoknowwhatyou’retalkingabout.""It’snotatimetobeprofane,Newland....Motherfeelsbadlyenoughaboutyournotgoingtochurch..."Withagroanheplungedbackintohisbook."NEWLAND!Dolisten.YourfriendMadameOlenskawasatMrs.LemuelStruthers’spartylastnight:shewenttherewiththeDukeandMr.Beaufort."Atthelastclauseofthisannouncementasenselessangerswelledtheyoungman’sbreast.Tosmotherithelaughed."Well,whatofit?Iknewshemeantto."Janeypaledandhereyesbegantoproject."Youknewshemeantto—andyoudidn’ttrytostopher?Towarnher?""Stopher?Warnher?"Helaughedagain."I’mnotengagedtobemarriedtotheCountessOlenska!"Thewordshadafantasticsoundinhisownears."You’remarryingintoherfamily.""Oh,family—family!"hejeered."Newland—don’tyoucareaboutFamily?""Notabrassfarthing.""NoraboutwhatcousinLouisavanderLuydenwillthink?""Notthehalfofone—ifshethinkssucholdmaid’srubbish.""Motherisnotanoldmaid,"saidhisvirginsisterwithpinchedlips.Hefeltlikeshoutingback:"Yes,sheis,andsoarethevanderLuydens,andsoweallare,whenitcomestobeingsomuchasbrushedbythewing-tipofReality."Buthesawherlonggentlefacepuckeringintotears,andfeltashamedoftheuselesspainhewasinflicting."HangCountessOlenska!Don’tbeagoose,Janey—I’mnotherkeeper.