Епоха невинності

           "Ifyou’dallofyourathersheshouldbeBeaufort’smistressthansomedecentfellow’swifeyou’vecertainlygonetherightwayaboutit."HewonderedwhatMrs.Wellandwouldhavesaidifhehadutteredthewordsinsteadofmerelythinkingthem.Hecouldpicturethesuddendecomposureofherfirmplacidfeatures,towhichalifelongmasteryovertrifleshadgivenanairoffactitiousauthority.Tracesstilllingeredonthemofafreshbeautylikeherdaughter’s;andheaskedhimselfifMay’sfacewasdoomedtothickenintothesamemiddle-agedimageofinvincibleinnocence.Ah,no,hedidnotwantMaytohavethatkindofinnocence,theinnocencethatsealsthemindagainstimaginationandtheheartagainstexperience!"Iverilybelieve,"Mrs.Wellandcontinued,"thatifthehorriblebusinesshadcomeoutinthenewspapersitwouldhavebeenmyhusband’sdeath-blow.Idon’tknowanyofthedetails;Ionlyasknotto,asItoldpoorEllenwhenshetriedtotalktomeaboutit.Havinganinvalidtocarefor,Ihavetokeepmymindbrightandhappy.ButMr.Wellandwasterriblyupset;hehadaslighttemperatureeverymorningwhilewewerewaitingtohearwhathadbeendecided.Itwasthehorrorofhisgirl’slearningthatsuchthingswerepossible—butofcourse,dearNewland,youfeltthattoo.WeallknewthatyouwerethinkingofMay.""I’malwaysthinkingofMay,"theyoungmanrejoined,risingtocutshorttheconversation.HehadmeanttoseizetheopportunityofhisprivatetalkwithMrs.Wellandtourgehertoadvancethedateofhismarriage.