Епоха невинності

           "Ah,mydear,Ialwaysknewyouwereonherside;andthat’swhyIsentforyoutoday,andwhyIsaidtoyourprettywife,whensheproposedtocomewithyou:’No,mydear,I’mpiningtoseeNewland,andIdon’twantanybodytoshareourtransports.’Foryousee,mydear—"shedrewherheadbackasfarasitstetheringchinspermitted,andlookedhimfullintheeyes—"yousee,weshallhaveafightyet.Thefamilydon’twantherhere,andthey’llsayit’sbecauseI’vebeenill,becauseI’maweakoldwoman,thatshe’spersuadedme.I’mnotwellenoughyettofightthemonebyone,andyou’vegottodoitforme.""I?"hestammered."You.Whynot?"shejerkedbackathim,herroundeyessuddenlyassharpaspen-knives.Herhandflutteredfromitschair-armandlitonhiswithaclutchoflittlepalenailslikebird-claws."Whynot?"shesearchinglyrepeated.Archer,undertheexposureofhergaze,hadrecoveredhisself-possession."Oh,Idon’tcount—I’mtooinsignificant.""Well,you’reLetterblair’spartner,ain’tyou?You’vegottogetatthemthroughLetterblair.Unlessyou’vegotareason,"sheinsisted."Oh,mydear,Ibackyoutoholdyourownagainstthemallwithoutmyhelp;butyoushallhaveitifyouneedit,"hereassuredher."Thenwe’resafe!"shesighed;andsmilingonhimwithallherancientcunningsheadded,asshesettledherheadamongthecushions:"Ialwaysknewyou’dbackusup,becausetheyneverquoteyouwhentheytalkaboutitsbeingherdutytogohome.