Епоха невинності

           Letterblair’s:"NewYorksocietyisaverysmallworldcomparedwiththeoneyou’velivedin.Andit’sruled,inspiteofappearances,byafewpeoplewith—well,ratherold-fashionedideas."Shesaidnothing,andhecontinued:"Ourideasaboutmarriageanddivorceareparticularlyold-fashioned.Ourlegislationfavoursdivorce—oursocialcustomsdon’t.""Never?""Well—notifthewoman,howeverinjured,howeverirreproachable,hasappearancesintheleastdegreeagainsther,hasexposedherselfbyanyunconventionalactionto—tooffensiveinsinuations—"Shedroopedherheadalittlelower,andhewaitedagain,intenselyhopingforaflashofindignation,oratleastabriefcryofdenial.Nonecame.Alittletravellingclocktickedpurringlyatherelbow,andalogbrokeintwoandsentupashowerofsparks.ThewholehushedandbroodingroomseemedtobewaitingsilentlywithArcher."Yes,"shemurmuredatlength,"that’swhatmyfamilytellme."Hewincedalittle."It’snotunnatural—""OURfamily,"shecorrectedherself;andArchercoloured."Foryou’llbemycousinsoon,"shecontinuedgently."Ihopeso.""Andyoutaketheirview?"Hestoodupatthis,wanderedacrosstheroom,staredwithvoideyesatoneofthepicturesagainsttheoldreddamask,andcamebackirresolutelytoherside.Howcouldhesay:"Yes,ifwhatyourhusbandhintsistrue,orifyou’venowayofdisprovingit?""Sincerely—"sheinterjected,ashewasabouttospeak.Helookeddownintothefire.