Епоха невинності

           TheyconsistedmainlyofanexchangeoflettersbetweenCountOlenski’ssolicitorsandaFrenchlegalfirmtowhomtheCountesshadappliedforthesettlementofherfinancialsituation.TherewasalsoashortletterfromtheCounttohiswife:afterreadingit,NewlandArcherrose,jammedthepapersbackintotheirenvelope,andreenteredMr.Letterblair’soffice."Herearetheletters,sir.Ifyouwish,I’llseeMadameOlenska,"hesaidinaconstrainedvoice."Thankyou—thankyou,Mr.Archer.Comeanddinewithmetonightifyou’refree,andwe’llgointothematterafterward:incaseyouwishtocallonourclienttomorrow."NewlandArcherwalkedstraighthomeagainthatafternoon.Itwasawintereveningoftransparentclearness,withaninnocentyoungmoonabovethehouse-tops;andhewantedtofillhissoul’slungswiththepureradiance,andnotexchangeawordwithanyonetillheandMr.Letterblairwereclosetedtogetherafterdinner.Itwasimpossibletodecideotherwisethanhehaddone:hemustseeMadameOlenskahimselfratherthanlethersecretsbebaredtoothereyes.Agreatwaveofcompassionhadsweptawayhisindifferenceandimpatience:shestoodbeforehimasanexposedandpitifulfigure,tobesavedatallcostsfromfartherwoundingherselfinhermadplungesagainstfate.HerememberedwhatshehadtoldhimofMrs.Welland’srequesttobesparedwhateverwas"unpleasant"inherhistory,andwincedatthethoughtthatitwasperhapsthisattitudeofmindwhichkepttheNewYorkairsopure.