Пробный камень

           Thethoughtofmaterialbenefithadbeenovershadowedbyhissenseoftheintrinsicbasenessofmakingthelettersknown;nowhesawwhatanelementofsordidnessitaddedtothesituationandhowthefactthatheneededthemoney,andmustuseit,pledgedhimmoreirrevocablythanevertotheconsequencesofhisact.Itseemedtohim,inthatfirsthourofmisery,thathehadbetrayedhisfriendanew.

           When,thatafternoon,hereachedhomeearlierthanusual,Alexa’sdrawing-roomwasfullofagayetythatoverflowedtothestairs.Flamel,forawonder,wasnotthere;butDreshamandyoungHartly,groupedaboutthetea-table,werereceivingwithresonantmirthanarrativedeliveredintheflutteredstaccatothatmadeMrs.Armiger’sconversationliketheejaculationsofastartledaviary.

           ShepausedasGlennardentered,andhehadtimetonoticethathiswife,whowasbusiedaboutthetea-tray,hadnotjoinedinthelaughterofthemen.

           “Oh,goon,goon,”youngHartlyrapturouslygroaned;andMrs.ArmigermetGlennard’sinquirywiththedeprecatingcrythatreallyshedidn’tseewhattherewastolaughat.“I’msureIfeelmorelikecrying.Idon’tknowwhatIshouldhavedoneifAlexahadn’tbeenhometogivemeacupoftea.Mynervesareinshreds—yes,another,dear,please—”andasGlennardlookedhisperplexity,shewenton,afterponderingontheselectionofasecondlumpofsugar,“Why,I’vejustcomefromthereading,youknow—thereadingattheWaldorf.”

           “Ihaven’tbeenintownlongenoughtoknowanything,”saidGlennard,takingthecuphiswifehandedhim.