Епоха невинності

           Shewouldnothavedoneso,heknew,hadherconscienceprotested;butsheprobablysharedthefamilyviewthatMadameOlenskawouldbebetteroffasanunhappywifethanasaseparatedone,andthattherewasnouseindiscussingthecasewithNewland,whohadanawkwardwayofsuddenlynotseemingtotakethemostfundamentalthingsforgranted.Archerlookedupandmethisvisitor’sanxiousgaze."Don’tyouknow,Monsieur—isitpossibleyoudon’tknow—thatthefamilybegintodoubtiftheyhavetherighttoadvisetheCountesstorefuseherhusband’slastproposals?""Theproposalsyoubrought?""TheproposalsIbrought."ItwasonArcher’slipstoexclaimthatwhateverheknewordidnotknowwasnoconcernofM.Riviere’s;butsomethinginthehumbleandyetcourageoustenacityofM.Riviere’sgazemadehimrejectthisconclusion,andhemettheyoungman’squestionwithanother."Whatisyourobjectinspeakingtomeofthis?"Hehadnottowaitamomentfortheanswer."Tobegyou,Monsieur—tobegyouwithalltheforceI’mcapableof—nottolethergoback.—Oh,don’tlether!"M.Riviereexclaimed.Archerlookedathimwithincreasingastonishment.Therewasnomistakingthesincerityofhisdistressorthestrengthofhisdetermination:hehadevidentlyresolvedtoleteverythinggobytheboardbutthesupremeneedofthusputtinghimselfonrecord.Archerconsidered."MayIask,"hesaidatlength,"ifthisisthelineyoutookwiththeCountessOlenska?"M.Rivierereddened,buthiseyesdidnotfalter."No,Monsieur:Iacceptedmymissioningoodfaith.