Епоха невинності
Chapter 5
Archer’ssereneunimaginativenessrestedeasilyintheacceptedandfamiliar,Janeywassubjecttostartsandaberrationsoffancywellingupfromspringsofsuppressedromance.Motheranddaughteradoredeachotherandreveredtheirsonandbrother;andArcherlovedthemwithatendernessmadecompunctiousanduncriticalbythesenseoftheirexaggeratedadmiration,andbyhissecretsatisfactioninit.Afterall,hethoughtitagoodthingforamantohavehisauthorityrespectedinhisownhouse,evenifhissenseofhumoursometimesmadehimquestiontheforceofhismandate.OnthisoccasiontheyoungmanwasverysurethatMr.Jacksonwouldratherhavehadhimdineout;buthehadhisownreasonsfornotdoingso.OfcourseoldJacksonwantedtotalkaboutEllenOlenska,andofcourseMrs.ArcherandJaneywantedtohearwhathehadtotell.AllthreewouldbeslightlyembarrassedbyNewland’spresence,nowthathisprospectiverelationtotheMingottclanhadbeenmadeknown;andtheyoungmanwaitedwithanamusedcuriositytoseehowtheywouldturnthedifficulty.Theybegan,obliquely,bytalkingaboutMrs.LemuelStruthers."It’sapitytheBeaufortsaskedher,"Mrs.Archersaidgently."ButthenReginaalwaysdoeswhathetellsher;andBEAUFORT—""CertainnuancesescapeBeaufort,"saidMr.Jackson,cautiouslyinspectingthebroiledshad,andwonderingforthethousandthtimewhyMrs.Archer’scookalwaysburnttheroetoacinder.(Newland,whohadlongsharedhiswonder,couldalwaysdetectitintheolderman’sexpressionofmelancholydisapproval.
