Епоха невинності
Chapter 7
Larryhasbeengoingitratherharderthanusuallately—ifcousinLouisawon’tmindmymentioningit—havingratherastiffaffairwiththepostmaster’swifeintheirvillage,orsomeoneofthatsort;andwheneverpoorGertrudeLeffertsbeginstosuspectanything,andhe’safraidoftrouble,hegetsupafussofthiskind,toshowhowawfullymoralheis,andtalksatthetopofhisvoiceabouttheimpertinenceofinvitinghiswifetomeetpeoplehedoesn’twishhertoknow.He’ssimplyusingMadameOlenskaasalightning-rod;I’veseenhimtrythesamethingoftenbefore.""TheLEFFERTSES!—"saidMrs.vanderLuyden."TheLEFFERTSES!—"echoedMrs.Archer."WhatwoulduncleEgmonthavesaidofLawrenceLefferts’spronouncingonanybody’ssocialposition?ItshowswhatSocietyhascometo.""We’llhopeithasnotquitecometothat,"saidMr.vanderLuydenfirmly."Ah,ifonlyyouandLouisawentoutmore!"sighedMrs.Archer.Butinstantlyshebecameawareofhermistake.ThevanderLuydensweremorbidlysensitivetoanycriticismoftheirsecludedexistence.Theywerethearbitersoffashion,theCourtoflastAppeal,andtheyknewit,andbowedtotheirfate.Butbeingshyandretiringpersons,withnonaturalinclinationfortheirpart,theylivedasmuchaspossibleinthesylvansolitudeofSkuytercliff,andwhentheycametotown,declinedallinvitationsonthepleaofMrs.vanderLuyden’shealth.NewlandArchercametohismother’srescue."EverybodyinNewYorkknowswhatyouandcousinLouisarepresent.That’swhyMrs.
