Епоха невинності

           "Itdidn’tlastlong,though:IheardofherafewmonthslaterlivingaloneinVenice.IbelieveLovellMingottwentouttogether.Hesaidshewasdesperatelyunhappy.That’sallright—butthisparadingherattheOpera’sanotherthing.""Perhaps,"youngThorleyhazarded,"she’stoounhappytobeleftathome."Thiswasgreetedwithanirreverentlaugh,andtheyouthblusheddeeply,andtriedtolookasifhehadmeanttoinsinuatewhatknowingpeoplecalleda"doubleentendre.""Well—it’squeertohavebroughtMissWelland,anyhow,"someonesaidinalowtone,withaside-glanceatArcher."Oh,that’spartofthecampaign:Granny’sorders,nodoubt,"Leffertslaughed."Whentheoldladydoesathingshedoesitthoroughly."Theactwasending,andtherewasageneralstirinthebox.SuddenlyNewlandArcherfelthimselfimpelledtodecisiveaction.ThedesiretobethefirstmantoenterMrs.Mingott’sbox,toproclaimtothewaitingworldhisengagementtoMayWelland,andtoseeherthroughwhateverdifficultieshercousin’sanomaloussituationmightinvolveherin;thisimpulsehadabruptlyoverruledallscruplesandhesitations,andsenthimhurryingthroughtheredcorridorstothefarthersideofthehouse.AsheenteredtheboxhiseyesmetMissWelland’s,andhesawthatshehadinstantlyunderstoodhismotive,thoughthefamilydignitywhichbothconsideredsohighavirtuewouldnotpermithertotellhimso.