Епоха невинності

           Betterkeeponthesurface,intheprudentoldNewYorkway,thanriskuncoveringawoundhecouldnotheal."It’smybusiness,youknow,"hewenton,"tohelpyoutoseethesethingsasthepeoplewhoarefondestofyouseethem.TheMingotts,theWellands,thevanderLuydens,allyourfriendsandrelations:ifIdidn’tshowyouhonestlyhowtheyjudgesuchquestions,itwouldn’tbefairofme,wouldit?"Hespokeinsistently,almostpleadingwithherinhiseagernesstocoverupthatyawningsilence.Shesaidslowly:"No;itwouldn’tbefair."Thefirehadcrumbleddowntogreyness,andoneofthelampsmadeagurglingappealforattention.MadameOlenskarose,wounditupandreturnedtothefire,butwithoutresumingherseat.Herremainingonherfeetseemedtosignifythattherewasnothingmoreforeitherofthemtosay,andArcherstoodupalso."Verywell;Iwilldowhatyouwish,"shesaidabruptly.Thebloodrushedtohisforehead;and,takenabackbythesuddennessofhersurrender,hecaughthertwohandsawkwardlyinhis."I—Idowanttohelpyou,"hesaid."Youdohelpme.Goodnight,mycousin."Hebentandlaidhislipsonherhands,whichwerecoldandlifeless.Shedrewthemaway,andheturnedtothedoor,foundhiscoatandhatunderthefaintgas-lightofthehall,andplungedoutintothewinternightburstingwiththebelatedeloquenceoftheinarticulate.