Епоха невинності

           "I’mafraidEllen’sideasarenotatalllikeours.ShewasbarelyeighteenwhenMedoraMansontookherbacktoEurope—youremembertheexcitementwhensheappearedinblackathercoming-outball?AnotherofMedora’sfads—reallythistimeitwasalmostprophetic!Thatmusthavebeenatleasttwelveyearsago;andsincethenEllenhasneverbeentoAmerica.NowondersheiscompletelyEuropeanised.""ButEuropeansocietyisnotgiventodivorce:CountessOlenskathoughtshewouldbeconformingtoAmericanideasinaskingforherfreedom."ItwasthefirsttimethattheyoungmanhadpronouncedhernamesincehehadleftSkuytercliff,andhefeltthecolourrisetohischeek.Mrs.Wellandsmiledcompassionately."Thatisjustliketheextraordinarythingsthatforeignersinventaboutus.Theythinkwedineattwoo’clockandcountenancedivorce!ThatiswhyitseemstomesofoolishtoentertainthemwhentheycometoNewYork.Theyacceptourhospitality,andthentheygohomeandrepeatthesamestupidstories."Archermadenocommentonthis,andMrs.Wellandcontinued:"ButwedomostthoroughlyappreciateyourpersuadingEllentogiveuptheidea.HergrandmotherandheruncleLovellcoulddonothingwithher;bothofthemhavewrittenthatherchanginghermindwasentirelyduetoyourinfluence—infactshesaidsotohergrandmother.Shehasanunboundedadmirationforyou.PoorEllen—shewasalwaysawaywardchild.Iwonderwhatherfatewillbe?""Whatwe’veallcontrivedtomakeit,"hefeltlikeanswering.