Епоха невинності

           Mayrousedherselffromoneofthedreamysilencesintowhichhehadreadsomanymeaningsbeforesixmonthsofmarriagehadgivenhimthekeytothem."ThelittleFrenchman?Wasn’thedreadfullycommon?"shequestionedcoldly;andheguessedthatshenursedasecretdisappointmentathavingbeeninvitedoutinLondontomeetaclergymanandaFrenchtutor.Thedisappointmentwasnotoccasionedbythesentimentordinarilydefinedassnobbishness,butbyoldNewYork’ssenseofwhatwasduetoitwhenitriskeditsdignityinforeignlands.IfMay’sparentshadentertainedtheCarfrysinFifthAvenuetheywouldhaveofferedthemsomethingmoresubstantialthanaparsonandaschoolmaster.ButArcherwasonedge,andtookherup."Common—commonWHERE?"hequeried;andshereturnedwithunusualreadiness:"Why,Ishouldsayanywherebutinhisschool-room.Thosepeoplearealwaysawkwardinsociety.Butthen,"sheaddeddisarmingly,"IsupposeIshouldn’thaveknownifhewasclever."Archerdislikedheruseoftheword"clever"almostasmuchasheruseoftheword"common";buthewasbeginningtofearhistendencytodwellonthethingshedislikedinher.Afterall,herpointofviewhadalwaysbeenthesame.Itwasthatofallthepeoplehehadgrownupamong,andhehadalwaysregardeditasnecessarybutnegligible.Untilafewmonthsagohehadneverknowna"nice"womanwholookedatlifedifferently;andifamanmarrieditmustnecessarilybeamongthenice