Епоха невинності
Chapter 11
"AreweonlyPhariseesafterall?"hewondered,puzzledbytheefforttoreconcilehisinstinctivedisgustathumanvilenesswithhisequallyinstinctivepityforhumanfrailty.Forthefirsttimeheperceivedhowelementaryhisownprincipleshadalwaysbeen.Hepassedforayoungmanwhohadnotbeenafraidofrisks,andheknewthathissecretlove-affairwithpoorsillyMrs.ThorleyRushworthhadnotbeentoosecrettoinvesthimwithabecomingairofadventure.ButMrs.Rushworthwas"thatkindofwoman";foolish,vain,clandestinebynature,andfarmoreattractedbythesecrecyandperiloftheaffairthanbysuchcharmsandqualitiesashepossessed.Whenthefactdawnedonhimitnearlybrokehisheart,butnowitseemedtheredeemingfeatureofthecase.Theaffair,inshort,hadbeenofthekindthatmostoftheyoungmenofhisagehadbeenthrough,andemergedfromwithcalmconsciencesandanundisturbedbeliefintheabysmaldistinctionbetweenthewomenonelovedandrespectedandthoseoneenjoyed—andpitied.Inthisviewtheyweresedulouslyabettedbytheirmothers,auntsandotherelderlyfemalerelatives,whoallsharedMrs.Archer’sbeliefthatwhen"suchthingshappened"itwasundoubtedlyfoolishoftheman,butsomehowalwayscriminalofthewoman.AlltheelderlyladieswhomArcherknewregardedanywomanwholovedimprudentlyasnecessarilyunscrupulousanddesigning,andmeresimple-mindedmanaspowerlessinherclutches.Theonlythingtodowastopersuadehim,asearlyaspossible,tomarryanicegirl,andthentrusttohertolookafterhim.
