Епоха невинності

           Absent—thatwaswhathewas:soabsentfromeverythingmostdenselyrealandneartothoseabouthimthatitsometimesstartledhimtofindtheystillimaginedhewasthere.HebecameawarethatMr.Jacksonwasclearinghisthroatpreparatorytofartherrevelations."Idon’tknow,ofcourse,howfaryourwife’sfamilyareawareofwhatpeoplesayabout—well,aboutMadameOlenska’srefusaltoacceptherhusband’slatestoffer."Archerwassilent,andMr.Jacksonobliquelycontinued:"It’sapity—it’scertainlyapity—thatsherefusedit.""Apity?InGod’sname,why?"Mr.Jacksonlookeddownhislegtotheunwrinkledsockthatjoinedittoaglossypump."Well—toputitonthelowestground—what’sshegoingtoliveonnow?""Now—?""IfBeaufort—"Archersprangup,hisfistbangingdownontheblackwalnut-edgeofthewriting-table.Thewellsofthebrassdouble-inkstanddancedintheirsockets."Whatthedevildoyoumean,sir?"Mr.Jackson,shiftinghimselfslightlyinhischair,turnedatranquilgazeontheyoungman’sburningface."Well—Ihaveitonprettygoodauthority—infact,onoldCatherine’sherself—thatthefamilyreducedCountessOlenska’sallowanceconsiderablywhenshedefinitelyrefusedtogobacktoherhusband;andas,bythisrefusal,shealsoforfeitsthemoneysettledonherwhenshemarried—whichOlenskiwasreadytomakeovertoherifshereturned—why,whatthedevildoYOUmean,mydearboy,byaskingmewhatImean?"Mr.Jacksongood-humouredlyretorted.Archermovedtowardthemantelpieceandbentovertoknockhisashesintothegrate.