Епоха невинності

           Archer,"IunderstandMay’swantinghercousintotellpeopleabroadthatwe’renotquitebarbarians.""I’msureEllenwillappreciateit.Shewastoarrivethismorning,Ibelieve.Itwillmakeamostcharminglastimpression.Theeveningbeforesailingisusuallysodreary,"Mrs.Wellandcheerfullycontinued.Archerturnedtowardthedoor,andhismother-in-lawcalledtohim:"Dogoinandhaveapeepatthetable.Anddon’tletMaytireherselftoomuch."Butheaffectednottohear,andsprangupthestairstohislibrary.Theroomlookedathimlikeanaliencountenancecomposedintoapolitegrimace;andheperceivedthatithadbeenruthlessly"tidied,"andprepared,byajudiciousdistributionofash-traysandcedar-woodboxes,forthegentlementosmokein."Ah,well,"hethought,"it’snotforlong—"andhewentontohisdressing-room.TendayshadpassedsinceMadameOlenska’sdeparturefromNewYork.DuringthosetendaysArcherhadhadnosignfromherbutthatconveyedbythereturnofakeywrappedintissuepaper,andsenttohisofficeinasealedenvelopeaddressedinherhand.Thisretorttohislastappealmighthavebeeninterpretedasaclassicmoveinafamiliargame;buttheyoungmanchosetogiveitadifferentmeaning.Shewasstillfightingagainstherfate;butshewasgoingtoEurope,andshewasnotreturningtoherhusband.Nothing,therefore,wastopreventhisfollowingher;andoncehehadtakentheirrevocablestep,andhadprovedtoherthatitwasirrevocable,hebelievedshewouldnotsendhimaway.