Епоха невинності

           MingottfeltsheoughtnottoallowthisslightonCountessOlenskatopasswithoutconsultingyou."Mrs.vanderLuydenglancedatherhusband,whoglancedbackather."ItistheprinciplethatIdislike,"saidMr.vanderLuyden."Aslongasamemberofawell-knownfamilyisbackedupbythatfamilyitshouldbeconsidered—final.""Itseemssotome,"saidhiswife,asifshewereproducinganewthought."Ihadnoidea,"Mr.vanderLuydencontinued,"thatthingshadcometosuchapass."Hepaused,andlookedathiswifeagain."Itoccurstome,mydear,thattheCountessOlenskaisalreadyasortofrelation—throughMedoraManson’sfirsthusband.Atanyrate,shewillbewhenNewlandmarries."Heturnedtowardtheyoungman."Haveyoureadthismorning’sTimes,Newland?""Why,yes,sir,"saidArcher,whousuallytossedoffhalfadozenpaperswithhismorningcoffee.Husbandandwifelookedateachotheragain.Theirpaleeyesclungtogetherinprolongedandseriousconsultation;thenafaintsmileflutteredoverMrs.vanderLuyden’sface.Shehadevidentlyguessedandapproved.Mr.vanderLuydenturnedtoMrs.Archer."IfLouisa’shealthallowedhertodineout—IwishyouwouldsaytoMrs.LovellMingott—sheandIwouldhavebeenhappyto—er—filltheplacesoftheLawrenceLeffertsesatherdinner."Hepausedtolettheironyofthissinkin."Asyouknow,thisisimpossible."Mrs.Archersoundedasympatheticassent."ButNewlandtellsmehehasreadthismorning’sTimes;thereforehehasprobablyseenthatLouisa’srelative,theDukeofSt.Austrey,arrivesnextweekontheRussia.