Епоха невинності

           "Youdo,then,agreewiththerestofthefamilythat,infaceofthenewproposalsIhavebrought,itishardlypossibleforMadameOlenskanottoreturntoherhusband?""GoodGod!"Archerexclaimed;andhisvisitorgaveoutalowmurmurofconfirmation."Beforeseeingher,Isaw—atCountOlenski’srequest—Mr.LovellMingott,withwhomIhadseveraltalksbeforegoingtoBoston.Iunderstandthatherepresentshismother’sview;andthatMrs.MansonMingott’sinfluenceisgreatthroughoutherfamily."Archersatsilent,withthesenseofclingingtotheedgeofaslidingprecipice.Thediscoverythathehadbeenexcludedfromashareinthesenegotiations,andevenfromtheknowledgethattheywereonfoot,causedhimasurprisehardlydulledbytheacuterwonderofwhathewaslearning.Hesawinaflashthatifthefamilyhadceasedtoconsulthimitwasbecausesomedeeptribalinstinctwarnedthemthathewasnolongerontheirside;andherecalled,withastartofcomprehension,aremarkofMay’sduringtheirdrivehomefromMrs.MansonMingott’sonthedayoftheArcheryMeeting:"Perhaps,afterall,Ellenwouldbehappierwithherhusband."EveninthetumultofnewdiscoveriesArcherrememberedhisindignantexclamation,andthefactthatsincethenhiswifehadnevernamedMadameOlenskatohim.Hercarelessallusionhadnodoubtbeenthestrawhelduptoseewhichwaythewindblew;theresulthadbeenreportedtothefamily,andthereafterArcherhadbeentacitlyomittedfromtheircounsels.HeadmiredthetribaldisciplinewhichmadeMaybowtothisdecision.