Епоха невинності

           "Mydaughterstellmeitdoesn’tmatteratmyage—asifhideousnessdidn’tmatterallthemoretheharderitgetstoconceal!""Mydear,you’rehandsomerthanever!"Archerrejoinedinthesametone;andshethrewbackherheadandlaughed."Ah,butnotashandsomeasEllen!"shejerkedout,twinklingathimmaliciously;andbeforehecouldanswersheadded:"Wasshesoawfullyhandsomethedayyoudroveherupfromtheferry?"Helaughed,andshecontinued:"Wasitbecauseyoutoldhersothatshehadtoputyououtontheway?Inmyyouthyoungmendidn’tdesertprettywomenunlesstheyweremadeto!"Shegaveanotherchuckle,andinterruptedittosayalmostquerulously:"It’sapityshedidn’tmarryyou;Ialwaystoldherso.Itwouldhavesparedmeallthisworry.Butwhoeverthoughtofsparingtheirgrandmotherworry?"Archerwonderedifherillnesshadblurredherfaculties;butsuddenlyshebrokeout:"Well,it’ssettled,anyhow:she’sgoingtostaywithme,whatevertherestofthefamilysay!Shehadn’tbeenherefiveminutesbeforeI’dhavegonedownonmykneestokeepher—ifonly,forthelasttwentyyears,I’dbeenabletoseewherethefloorwas!"Archerlistenedinsilence,andshewenton:"They’dtalkedmeover,asnodoubtyouknow:persuadedme,Lovell,andLetterblair,andAugustaWelland,andalltherestofthem,thatImustholdoutandcutoffherallowance,tillshewasmadetoseethatitwasherdutytogobacktoOlenski.