Епоха невинності

           Themulattomaidputhertobed,broughtheracupofteaasusual,laideverythingstraightintheroom,andwentaway;butatthreeinthemorningthebellrangagain,andthetwoservants,hasteninginatthisunwontedsummons(foroldCatherineusuallysleptlikeababy),hadfoundtheirmistresssittingupagainstherpillowswithacrookedsmileonherfaceandonelittlehandhanginglimpfromitshugearm.Thestrokehadclearlybeenaslightone,forshewasabletoarticulateandtomakeherwishesknown;andsoonafterthedoctor’sfirstvisitshehadbeguntoregaincontrolofherfacialmuscles.Butthealarmhadbeengreat;andproportionatelygreatwastheindignationwhenitwasgatheredfromMrs.Mingott’sfragmentaryphrasesthatReginaBeauforthadcometoaskher—incredibleeffrontery!—tobackupherhusband,seethemthrough—notto"desert"them,asshecalledit—infacttoinducethewholefamilytocoverandcondonetheirmonstrousdishonour."Isaidtoher:’Honour’salwaysbeenhonour,andhonestyhonesty,inMansonMingott’shouse,andwillbetillI’mcarriedoutofitfeetfirst,’"theoldwomanhadstammeredintoherdaughter’sear,inthethickvoiceofthepartlyparalysed."Andwhenshesaid:’Butmyname,Auntie—myname’sReginaDallas,’Isaid:’ItwasBeaufortwhenhecoveredyouwithjewels,andit’sgottostayBeaufortnowthathe’scoveredyouwithshame.’"Somuch,withtearsandgaspsofhorror,Mrs.Wellandimparted,blanchedanddemolishedbytheunwontedobligationofhavingatlasttofixhereyesontheunpleasantandthediscreditable.