Епоха невинності

           "Archerwasburningwithunavailingwrath:hewasexactlyinthestatewhenamanissuretodosomethingstupid,knowingallthewhilethatheisdoingit.HesawthatMr.JacksonhadbeeninstantlystruckbythefactthatMadameOlenska’sdifferenceswithhergrandmotherandherotherrelationswerenotknowntohim,andthattheoldgentlemanhaddrawnhisownconclusionsastothereasonsforArcher’sexclusionfromthefamilycouncils.ThisfactwarnedArchertogowarily;buttheinsinuationsaboutBeaufortmadehimreckless.Hewasmindful,however,ifnotofhisowndanger,atleastofthefactthatMr.Jacksonwasunderhismother’sroof,andconsequentlyhisguest.OldNewYorkscrupulouslyobservedtheetiquetteofhospitality,andnodiscussionwithaguestwaseverallowedtodegenerateintoadisagreement."Shallwegoupandjoinmymother?"hesuggestedcurtly,asMr.Jackson’slastconeofashesdroppedintothebrassashtrayathiselbow.OnthedrivehomewardMayremainedoddlysilent;throughthedarkness,hestillfeltherenvelopedinhermenacingblush.Whatitsmenacemeanthecouldnotguess:buthewassufficientlywarnedbythefactthatMadameOlenska’snamehadevokedit.Theywentupstairs,andheturnedintothelibrary.Sheusuallyfollowedhim;butheheardherpassingdownthepassagetoherbedroom."May!"hecalledoutimpatiently;andshecameback,withaslightglanceofsurpriseathistone."Thislampissmokingagain;Ishouldthinktheservantsmightseethatit’skeptproperlytrimmed,"hegrumblednervously.