Епоха невинності

           "I’mafraid,"Mr.vanderLuydensaid,"thatMadameOlenska’skindheartmayhaveledherintotheimprudenceofcallingonMrs.Beaufort.""Orhertasteforpeculiarpeople,"putinMrs.Archerinadrytone,whilehereyesdweltinnocentlyonherson’s."I’msorrytothinkitofMadameOlenska,"saidMrs.vanderLuyden;andMrs.Archermurmured:"Ah,mydear—andafteryou’dhadhertwiceatSkuytercliff!"ItwasatthispointthatMr.Jacksonseizedthechancetoplacehisfavouriteallusion."AttheTuileries,"herepeated,seeingtheeyesofthecompanyexpectantlyturnedonhim,"thestandardwasexcessivelylaxinsomerespects;andifyou’daskedwhereMorny’smoneycamefrom—OrwhopaidthedebtsofsomeoftheCourtbeauties...""Ihope,dearSillerton,"saidMrs.Archer,"youarenotsuggestingthatweshouldadoptsuchstandards?""Ineversuggest,"returnedMr.Jacksonimperturbably."ButMadameOlenska’sforeignbringing-upmaymakeherlessparticular—""Ah,"thetwoelderladiessighed."Still,tohavekepthergrandmother’scarriageatadefaulter’sdoor!"Mr.vanderLuydenprotested;andArcherguessedthathewasremembering,andresenting,thehampersofcarnationshehadsenttothelittlehouseinTwenty-thirdStreet."OfcourseI’vealwayssaidthatshelooksatthingsquitedifferently,"Mrs.Archersummedup.AflushrosetoMay’sforehead.Shelookedacrossthetableatherhusband,andsaidprecipitately:"I’msureEllenmeantitkindly.""Imprudentpeopleareoftenkind,"saidMrs.Archer,asifthefactwerescarcelyanextenuation;andMrs.