Епоха невинності

           "Besides,Idon’tseewhyIshouldhavegonetoyourgrandmother’s.Ididn’tknowyouwerethere."Sheturnedandmovedtothelooking-glassabovethemantel-piece.Asshestoodthere,liftingherlongarmtofastenapuffthathadslippedfromitsplaceinherintricatehair,Archerwasstruckbysomethinglanguidandinelasticinherattitude,andwonderedifthedeadlymonotonyoftheirliveshadlaiditsweightonheralso.Thenherememberedthat,ashehadleftthehousethatmorning,shehadcalledoverthestairsthatshewouldmeethimathergrandmother’ssothattheymightdrivehometogether.Hehadcalledbackacheery"Yes!"andthen,absorbedinothervisions,hadforgottenhispromise.Nowhewassmittenwithcompunction,yetirritatedthatsotriflinganomissionshouldbestoredupagainsthimafternearlytwoyearsofmarriage.Hewaswearyoflivinginaperpetualtepidhoneymoon,withoutthetemperatureofpassionyetwithallitsexactions.IfMayhadspokenouthergrievances(hesuspectedherofmany)hemighthavelaughedthemaway;butshewastrainedtoconcealimaginarywoundsunderaSpartansmile.Todisguisehisownannoyanceheaskedhowhergrandmotherwas,andsheansweredthatMrs.Mingottwasstillimproving,buthadbeenratherdisturbedbythelastnewsabouttheBeauforts."Whatnews?""Itseemsthey’regoingtostayinNewYork.Ibelievehe’sgoingintoaninsurancebusiness,orsomething.They’relookingaboutforasmallhouse."Thepreposterousnessofthecasewasbeyonddiscussion,andtheywentintodinner.