Епоха невинності

           "Well—then—whatmoreisthere?Inthiscountryaresuchthingstolerated?I’maProtestant—ourchurchdoesnotforbiddivorceinsuchcases.""Certainlynot."Theywerebothsilentagain,andArcherfeltthespectreofCountOlenski’slettergrimacinghideouslybetweenthem.Theletterfilledonlyhalfapage,andwasjustwhathehaddescribedittobeinspeakingofittoMr.Letterblair:thevaguechargeofanangryblackguard.Buthowmuchtruthwasbehindit?OnlyCountOlenski’swifecouldtell."I’velookedthroughthepapersyougavetoMr.Letterblair,"hesaidatlength."Well—cantherebeanythingmoreabominable?""No."Shechangedherpositionslightly,screeninghereyeswithherliftedhand."Ofcourseyouknow,"Archercontinued,"thatifyourhusbandchoosestofightthecase—ashethreatensto—""Yes—?""Hecansaythings—thingsthatmightbeunpl—mightbedisagreeabletoyou:saythempublicly,sothattheywouldgetabout,andharmyouevenif—""If—?""Imean:nomatterhowunfoundedtheywere."Shepausedforalonginterval;solongthat,notwishingtokeephiseyesonhershadedface,hehadtimetoimprintonhismindtheexactshapeofherotherhand,theoneonherknee,andeverydetailofthethreeringsonherfourthandfifthfingers;amongwhich,henoticed,aweddingringdidnotappear."Whatharmcouldsuchaccusations,evenifhemadethempublicly,domehere?"Itwasonhislipstoexclaim:"Mypoorchild—farmoreharmthananywhereelse!"Instead,heanswered,inavoicethatsoundedinhisearslikeMr.