Епоха невинності

           "Shebrokeoff,stilltwinklingathim,andasked,withthecasualirrelevanceofoldage:"Now,whyintheworlddidn’tyoumarrymylittleEllen?"Archerlaughed."Foronething,shewasn’ttheretobemarried.""No—tobesure;more’sthepity.Andnowit’stoolate;herlifeisfinished."Shespokewiththecold-bloodedcomplacencyoftheagedthrowingearthintothegraveofyounghopes.Theyoungman’sheartgrewchill,andhesaidhurriedly:"Can’tIpersuadeyoutouseyourinfluencewiththeWellands,Mrs.Mingott?Iwasn’tmadeforlongengagements."OldCatherinebeamedonhimapprovingly."No;Icanseethat.You’vegotaquickeye.WhenyouwerealittleboyI’venodoubtyoulikedtobehelpedfirst."Shethrewbackherheadwithalaughthatmadeherchinsripplelikelittlewaves."Ah,here’smyEllennow!"sheexclaimed,astheportierespartedbehindher.MadameOlenskacameforwardwithasmile.Herfacelookedvividandhappy,andsheheldoutherhandgailytoArcherwhileshestoopedtohergrandmother’skiss."Iwasjustsayingtohim,mydear:’Now,whydidn’tyoumarrymylittleEllen?’"MadameOlenskalookedatArcher,stillsmiling."Andwhatdidheanswer?""Oh,mydarling,Ileaveyoutofindthatout!He’sbeendowntoFloridatoseehissweetheart.""Yes,Iknow."Shestilllookedathim."Iwenttoseeyourmother,toaskwhereyou’dgone.Isentanotethatyouneveranswered,andIwasafraidyouwereill."Hemutteredsomethingaboutleavingunexpectedly,inagreathurry,andhavingintendedtowritetoherfromSt.Augustine.