Епоха невинності

           Mingott’s,hewasconsciousofagrowingdistasteforwhatlaybeforehim.Therewasnothingunknownorunfamiliarinthepathhewaspresumablytotread;butwhenhehadtroddenitbeforeitwasasafreeman,whowasaccountabletonooneforhisactions,andcouldlendhimselfwithanamuseddetachmenttothegameofprecautionsandprevarications,concealmentsandcompliances,thatthepartrequired.Thisprocedurewascalled"protectingawoman’shonour";andthebestfiction,combinedwiththeafter-dinnertalkofhiselders,hadlongsinceinitiatedhimintoeverydetailofitscode.Nowhesawthematterinanewlight,andhispartinitseemedsingularlydiminished.Itwas,infact,thatwhich,withasecretfatuity,hehadwatchedMrs.ThorleyRushworthplaytowardafondandunperceivinghusband:asmiling,bantering,humouring,watchfulandincessantlie.Aliebyday,aliebynight,alieineverytouchandeverylook;alieineverycaressandeveryquarrel;alieineverywordandineverysilence.Itwaseasier,andlessdastardlyonthewhole,forawifetoplaysuchaparttowardherhusband.Awoman’sstandardoftruthfulnesswastacitlyheldtobelower:shewasthesubjectcreature,andversedintheartsoftheenslaved.Thenshecouldalwayspleadmoodsandnerves,andtherightnottobeheldtoostrictlytoaccount;andeveninthemoststrait-lacedsocietiesthelaughwasalwaysagainstthehusband.ButinArcher’slittleworldnoonelaughedatawifedeceived,andacertainmeasureofcontemptwasattachedtomenwhocontinuedtheirphilanderingaftermarriage.