Епоха невинності
Chapter 1
ItwasonlythatafternoonthatMayWellandhadlethimguessthatshe"cared"(NewYork’sconsecratedphraseofmaidenavowal),andalreadyhisimagination,leapingaheadoftheengagementring,thebetrothalkissandthemarchfromLohengrin,picturedherathissideinsomesceneofoldEuropeanwitchery.HedidnotintheleastwishthefutureMrs.NewlandArchertobeasimpleton.Hemeanther(thankstohisenlighteningcompanionship)todevelopasocialtactandreadinessofwitenablinghertoholdherownwiththemostpopularmarriedwomenofthe"youngerset,"inwhichitwastherecognisedcustomtoattractmasculinehomagewhileplayfullydiscouragingit.Ifhehadprobedtothebottomofhisvanity(ashesometimesnearlydid)hewouldhavefoundtherethewishthathiswifeshouldbeasworldly-wiseandaseagertopleaseasthemarriedladywhosecharmshadheldhisfancythroughtwomildlyagitatedyears;without,ofcourse,anyhintofthefrailtywhichhadsonearlymarredthatunhappybeing’slife,andhaddisarrangedhisownplansforawholewinter.Howthismiracleoffireandicewastobecreated,andtosustainitselfinaharshworld,hehadnevertakenthetimetothinkout;buthewascontenttoholdhisviewwithoutanalysingit,sinceheknewitwasthatofallthecarefully-brushed,white-waistcoated,button-hole-floweredgentlemenwhosucceededeachotherintheclubbox,exchangedfriendlygreetingswithhim,andturnedtheiropera-glassescriticallyonthecircleofladieswhoweretheproductofthesystem.
