Епоха невинності

           "Well,well,whathaveIsaidtomakeyoushakeouttheredflag?Ain’ttheregoingtobeanydaughters—onlyboys,eh?Goodgracious,lookatherblushingagainalloverherblushes!What—can’tIsaythateither?Mercyme—whenmychildrenbegmetohaveallthosegodsandgoddessespaintedoutoverheadIalwayssayI’mtoothankfultohavesomebodyaboutmethatNOTHINGcanshock!"Archerburstintoalaugh,andMayechoedit,crimsontotheeyes."Well,nowtellmeallabouttheparty,please,mydears,forIshallnevergetastraightwordaboutitoutofthatsillyMedora,"theancestresscontinued;and,asMayexclaimed:"CousinMedora?ButIthoughtshewasgoingbacktoPortsmouth?"sheansweredplacidly:"Sosheis—butshe’sgottocomeherefirsttopickupEllen.Ah—youdidn’tknowEllenhadcometospendthedaywithme?Suchfol-de-rol,hernotcomingforthesummer;butIgaveuparguingwithyoungpeopleaboutfiftyyearsago.Ellen—ELLEN!"shecriedinhershrilloldvoice,tryingtobendforwardfarenoughtocatchaglimpseofthelawnbeyondtheverandah.Therewasnoanswer,andMrs.Mingottrappedimpatientlywithherstickontheshinyfloor.Amulattomaid-servantinabrightturban,replyingtothesummons,informedhermistressthatshehadseen"MissEllen"goingdownthepathtotheshore;andMrs.MingottturnedtoArcher."Rundownandfetchher,likeagoodgrandson;thisprettyladywilldescribethepartytome,"shesaid;andArcherstoodupasifinadream.