Епоха невинності

           "Shesaid"readingthenewspaper"inthetoneinwhichaMinister’swifemighthavesaid:"PresidingataCabinetmeeting"—notfromanyarroganceofmind,butbecausethehabitofalife-time,andtheattitudeofherfriendsandrelations,hadledhertoconsiderMr.vanderLuyden’sleastgestureashavinganalmostsacerdotalimportance.HerpromptnessofactionshowedthatsheconsideredthecaseaspressingasMrs.Archer;but,lestsheshouldbethoughttohavecommittedherselfinadvance,sheadded,withthesweetestlook:"Henryalwaysenjoysseeingyou,dearAdeline;andhewillwishtocongratulateNewland."ThedoubledoorshadsolemnlyreopenedandbetweenthemappearedMr.HenryvanderLuyden,tall,spareandfrock-coated,withfadedfairhair,astraightnoselikehiswife’sandthesamelookoffrozengentlenessineyesthatweremerelypalegreyinsteadofpaleblue.Mr.vanderLuydengreetedMrs.Archerwithcousinlyaffability,profferedtoNewlandlow-voicedcongratulationscouchedinthesamelanguageashiswife’s,andseatedhimselfinoneofthebrocadearmchairswiththesimplicityofareigningsovereign."IhadjustfinishedreadingtheTimes,"hesaid,layinghislongfinger-tipstogether."IntownmymorningsaresomuchoccupiedthatIfinditmoreconvenienttoreadthenewspapersafterluncheon.""Ah,there’sagreatdealtobesaidforthatplan—indeedIthinkmyuncleEgmontusedtosayhefounditlessagitatingnottoreadthemorningpaperstillafterdinner,"saidMrs.Archerresponsively."Yes:mygoodfatherabhorredhurry.