Епоха невинності

           IknowmyEllen—haughty,intractable;shallIsay,justashadeunforgiving?""But,goodheavens,toforgiveisonething;togobackintothathell—""Ah,yes,"theMarchionessacquiesced."Soshedescribesit—mysensitivechild!Butonthematerialside,Mr.Archer,ifonemaystooptoconsidersuchthings;doyouknowwhatsheisgivingup?Thoserosesthereonthesofa—acreslikethem,underglassandintheopen,inhismatchlessterracedgardensatNice!Jewels—historicpearls:theSobieskiemeralds—sables,—butshecaresnothingforallthese!Artandbeauty,thoseshedoescarefor,shelivesfor,asIalwayshave;andthosealsosurroundedher.Pictures,pricelessfurniture,music,brilliantconversation—ah,that,mydearyoungman,ifyou’llexcuseme,iswhatyou’venoconceptionofhere!Andshehaditall;andthehomageofthegreatest.ShetellsmesheisnotthoughthandsomeinNewYork—goodheavens!Herportraithasbeenpaintedninetimes;thegreatestartistsinEuropehavebeggedfortheprivilege.Arethesethingsnothing?Andtheremorseofanadoringhusband?"AstheMarchionessMansonrosetoherclimaxherfaceassumedanexpressionofecstaticretrospectionwhichwouldhavemovedArcher’smirthhadhenotbeennumbwithamazement.HewouldhavelaughedifanyonehadforetoldtohimthathisfirstsightofpoorMedoraMansonwouldhavebeenintheguiseofamessengerofSatan;buthewasinnomoodforlaughingnow,andsheseemedtohimtocomestraightoutofthehellfromwhichEllenOlenskahadjustescaped."Sheknowsnothingyet—ofallthis?"heaskedabruptly