Епоха невинності

           Itwastheonlywordthatpassedbetweenthemonthesubject;butinthecodeinwhichtheyhadbothbeentraineditmeant:"OfcourseyouunderstandthatIknowallthatpeoplehavebeensayingaboutEllen,andheartilysympathisewithmyfamilyintheirefforttogethertoreturntoherhusband.Ialsoknowthat,forsomereasonyouhavenotchosentotellme,youhaveadvisedheragainstthiscourse,whichalltheoldermenofthefamily,aswellasourgrandmother,agreeinapproving;andthatitisowingtoyourencouragementthatEllendefiesusall,andexposesherselftothekindofcriticismofwhichMr.SillertonJacksonprobablygaveyou,thisevening,thehintthathasmadeyousoirritable....Hintshaveindeednotbeenwanting;butsinceyouappearunwillingtotakethemfromothers,Iofferyouthisonemyself,intheonlyforminwhichwell-bredpeopleofourkindcancommunicateunpleasantthingstoeachother:bylettingyouunderstandthatIknowyoumeantoseeEllenwhenyouareinWashington,andareperhapsgoingthereexpresslyforthatpurpose;andthat,sinceyouaresuretoseeher,Iwishyoutodosowithmyfullandexplicitapproval—andtotaketheopportunityoflettingherknowwhatthecourseofconductyouhaveencouragedherinislikelytoleadto."Herhandwasstillonthekeyofthelampwhenthelastwordofthismutemessagereachedhim.Sheturnedthewickdown,liftedofftheglobe,andbreathedonthesulkyflame."Theysmelllessifoneblowsthemout,"sheexplained,withherbrighthousekeepingair.Onthethresholdsheturnedandpausedforhiskiss.