Епоха невинності

           Heguessedhimselftohavebeen,formonths,thecentreofcountlesssilentlyobservingeyesandpatientlylisteningears;heunderstoodthat,bymeansasyetunknowntohim,theseparationbetweenhimselfandthepartnerofhisguilthadbeenachieved,andthatnowthewholetribehadralliedabouthiswifeonthetacitassumptionthatnobodyknewanything,orhadeverimaginedanything,andthattheoccasionoftheentertainmentwassimplyMayArcher’snaturaldesiretotakeanaffectionateleaveofherfriendandcousin.ItwastheoldNewYorkwayoftakinglife"withouteffusionofblood":thewayofpeoplewhodreadedscandalmorethandisease,whoplaceddecencyabovecourage,andwhoconsideredthatnothingwasmoreill-bredthan"scenes,"exceptthebehaviourofthosewhogaverisetothem.AsthesethoughtssucceededeachotherinhismindArcherfeltlikeaprisonerinthecentreofanarmedcamp.Helookedaboutthetable,andguessedattheinexorablenessofhiscaptorsfromthetoneinwhich,overtheasparagusfromFlorida,theyweredealingwithBeaufortandhiswife."It’stoshowme,"hethought,"whatwouldhappentoME—"andadeathlysenseofthesuperiorityofimplicationandanalogyoverdirectaction,andofsilenceoverrashwords,closedinonhimlikethedoorsofthefamilyvault.Helaughed,andmetMrs.vanderLuyden’sstartledeyes."Youthinkitlaughable?"shesaidwithapinchedsmile."OfcoursepoorRegina’sideaofremaininginNewYorkhasitsridiculousside,Isuppose;"andArchermuttered:"Ofcourse.