Епоха невинності

           Perhapsthat,orthefactthatshehadwoundseveralrowsofamberbeadsaboutherneck,remindedhimsuddenlyofthelittleEllenMingotthehaddancedwithatchildren’sparties,whenMedoraMansonhadfirstbroughthertoNewYork.Theamberbeadsweretryingtohercomplexion,orherdresswasperhapsunbecoming:herfacelookedlustrelessandalmostugly,andhehadneverloveditashedidatthatminute.Theirhandsmet,andhethoughtheheardhersay:"Yes,we’resailingtomorrowintheRussia—";thentherewasanunmeaningnoiseofopeningdoors,andafteranintervalMay’svoice:"Newland!Dinner’sbeenannounced.Won’tyoupleasetakeEllenin?"MadameOlenskaputherhandonhisarm,andhenoticedthatthehandwasungloved,andrememberedhowhehadkepthiseyesfixedonittheeveningthathehadsatwithherinthelittleTwenty-thirdStreetdrawing-room.Allthebeautythathadforsakenherfaceseemedtohavetakenrefugeinthelongpalefingersandfaintlydimpledknucklesonhissleeve,andhesaidtohimself:"IfitwereonlytoseeherhandagainIshouldhavetofollowher—."Itwasonlyatanentertainmentostensiblyofferedtoa"foreignvisitor"thatMrs.vanderLuydencouldsufferthediminutionofbeingplacedonherhost’sleft.ThefactofMadameOlenska’s"foreignness"couldhardlyhavebeenmoreadroitlyemphasisedthanbythisfarewelltribute;andMrs.vanderLuydenacceptedherdisplacementwithanaffabilitywhichleftnodoubtastoherapproval.