Епоха невинності

           Thepersonsoftheirworldlivedinanatmosphereoffaintimplicationsandpaledelicacies,andthefactthatheandsheunderstoodeachotherwithoutawordseemedtotheyoungmantobringthemnearerthananyexplanationwouldhavedone.Hereyessaid:"YouseewhyMammabroughtme,"andhisanswered:"Iwouldnotfortheworldhavehadyoustayaway.""YouknowmynieceCountessOlenska?"Mrs.Wellandenquiredassheshookhandswithherfutureson-in-law.Archerbowedwithoutextendinghishand,aswasthecustomonbeingintroducedtoalady;andEllenOlenskabentherheadslightly,keepingherownpale-glovedhandsclaspedonherhugefanofeaglefeathers.HavinggreetedMrs.LovellMingott,alargeblondeladyincreakingsatin,hesatdownbesidehisbetrothed,andsaidinalowtone:"Ihopeyou’vetoldMadameOlenskathatwe’reengaged?Iwanteverybodytoknow—Iwantyoutoletmeannounceitthiseveningattheball."MissWelland’sfacegrewrosyasthedawn,andshelookedathimwithradianteyes."IfyoucanpersuadeMamma,"shesaid;"butwhyshouldwechangewhatisalreadysettled?"Hemadenoanswerbutthatwhichhiseyesreturned,andsheadded,stillmoreconfidentlysmiling:"Tellmycousinyourself:Igiveyouleave.Shesayssheusedtoplaywithyouwhenyouwerechildren."Shemadewayforhimbypushingbackherchair,andpromptly,andalittleostentatiously,withthedesirethatthewholehouseshouldseewhathewasdoing,ArcherseatedhimselfattheCountessOlenska’sside."WeDIDusetoplaytogether,didn’twe?"sheasked,turninghergraveeyestohis