Епоха невинності

           Hehadbeensomewhatlanguidlydriftingwitheventsforthelastfortnight,andlettingMay’sfairlooksandradiantnatureobliteratetheratherimportunatepressureoftheMingottclaims.ButthisbehestofoldMrs.Mingott’srousedhimtoasenseofwhattheclanthoughttheyhadtherighttoexactfromaprospectiveson-in-law;andhechafedattherole."Herunclesoughttodealwiththis,"hesaid."Theyhave.Thematterhasbeengoneintobythefamily.TheyareopposedtotheCountess’sidea;butsheisfirm,andinsistsonalegalopinion."Theyoungmanwassilent:hehadnotopenedthepacketinhishand."Doesshewanttomarryagain?""Ibelieveitissuggested;butshedeniesit.""Then—""Willyouobligeme,Mr.Archer,byfirstlookingthroughthesepapers?Afterward,whenwehavetalkedthecaseover,Iwillgiveyoumyopinion."Archerwithdrewreluctantlywiththeunwelcomedocuments.Sincetheirlastmeetinghehadhalf-unconsciouslycollaboratedwitheventsinriddinghimselfoftheburdenofMadameOlenska.HishouralonewithherbythefirelighthaddrawnthemintoamomentaryintimacyonwhichtheDukeofSt.Austrey’sintrusionwithMrs.LemuelStruthers,andtheCountess’sjoyousgreetingofthem,hadratherprovidentiallybroken.