Епоха невинності

           HewassubsequentlyheardofinConstantinople,theninRussia;andadozenyearslaterAmericantravellerswerehandsomelyentertainedbyhiminBuenosAyres,whereherepresentedalargeinsuranceagency.Heandhiswifediedthereintheodourofprosperity;andonedaytheirorphaneddaughterhadappearedinNewYorkinchargeofMayArcher’ssister-in-law,Mrs.JackWelland,whosehusbandhadbeenappointedthegirl’sguardian.ThefactthrewherintoalmostcousinlyrelationshipwithNewlandArcher’schildren,andnobodywassurprisedwhenDallas’sengagementwasannounced.Nothingcouldmoredearlygivethemeasureofthedistancethattheworldhadtravelled.Peoplenowadaysweretoobusy—busywithreformsand"movements,"withfadsandfetishesandfrivolities—tobothermuchabouttheirneighbours.Andofwhataccountwasanybody’spast,inthehugekaleidoscopewhereallthesocialatomsspunaroundonthesameplane?NewlandArcher,lookingoutofhishotelwindowatthestatelygaietyoftheParisstreets,felthisheartbeatingwiththeconfusionandeagernessofyouth.Itwaslongsinceithadthusplungedandrearedunderhiswideningwaistcoat,leavinghim,thenextminute,withanemptybreastandhottemples.Hewonderedifitwasthusthathisson’sconducteditselfinthepresenceofMissFannyBeaufort—anddecidedthatitwasnot."Itfunctionsasactively,nodoubt,buttherhythmisdifferent,"hereflected,recallingthecoolcomposurewithwhichtheyoungmanhadannouncedhisengagement,andtakenforgrantedthathisfamilywouldapprove.