Епоха невинності

           "Imeant,thetruthabouttheoldstoryyouspeakof.""Butthat’swhatIwanttoknow,Newland—whatIoughttoknow.Icouldn’thavemyhappinessmadeoutofawrong—anunfairness—tosomebodyelse.AndIwanttobelievethatitwouldbethesamewithyou.Whatsortofalifecouldwebuildonsuchfoundations?"Herfacehadtakenonalookofsuchtragiccouragethathefeltlikebowinghimselfdownatherfeet."I’vewantedtosaythisforalongtime,"shewenton."I’vewantedtotellyouthat,whentwopeoplereallyloveeachother,Iunderstandthattheremaybesituationswhichmakeitrightthattheyshould—shouldgoagainstpublicopinion.Andifyoufeelyourselfinanywaypledged...pledgedtothepersonwe’vespokenof...andifthereisanyway...anywayinwhichyoucanfulfillyourpledge...evenbyhergettingadivorce...Newland,don’tgiveherupbecauseofme!"Hissurpriseatdiscoveringthatherfearshadfasteneduponanepisodesoremoteandsocompletelyofthepastashislove-affairwithMrs.ThorleyRushworthgavewaytowonderatthegenerosityofherview.Therewassomethingsuperhumaninanattitudesorecklesslyunorthodox,andifotherproblemshadnotpressedonhimhewouldhavebeenlostinwonderattheprodigyoftheWellands’daughterurginghimtomarryhisformermistress.Buthewasstilldizzywiththeglimpseoftheprecipicetheyhadskirted,andfullofanewaweatthemysteryofyoung-girlhood.Foramomenthecouldnotspeak;thenhesaid:"Thereisnopledge—noobligationwhatever—ofthekindyouthink