Епоха невинності

           ReggiepipedupthatshecouldnotthinkoflettingReggiegotillaftertheMarthaWashingtonBallshewasgettingupfortheBlindAsyluminEasterweek;andherhusbandplacidlyobservedthatbythattimehewouldhavetobepractisingfortheInternationalPolomatch.ButMr.SelfridgeMerryhadcaughtthephrase"roundtheworld,"andhavingoncecircledtheglobeinhissteam-yacht,heseizedtheopportunitytosenddownthetableseveralstrikingitemsconcerningtheshallownessoftheMediterraneanports.Though,afterall,headded,itdidn’tmatter;forwhenyou’dseenAthensandSmyrnaandConstantinople,whatelsewasthere?AndMrs.MerrysaidshecouldneverbetoogratefultoDr.BencombforhavingmadethempromisenottogotoNaplesonaccountofthefever."ButyoumusthavethreeweekstodoIndiaproperly,"herhusbandconceded,anxioustohaveitunderstoodthathewasnofrivolousglobe-trotter.Andatthispointtheladieswentuptothedrawing-room.Inthelibrary,inspiteofweightierpresences,LawrenceLeffertspredominated.Thetalk,asusual,hadveeredaroundtotheBeauforts,andevenMr.vanderLuydenandMr.SelfridgeMerry,installedinthehonoraryarm-chairstacitlyreservedforthem,pausedtolistentotheyoungerman’sphilippic.NeverhadLeffertssoaboundedinthesentimentsthatadornChristianmanhoodandexaltthesanctityofthehome.