Епоха невинності
Chapter 8
Forsometimenomorewasheardofthem;thennewscameofEllen’smarriagetoanimmenselyrichPolishnoblemanoflegendaryfame,whomshehadmetataballattheTuileries,andwhowassaidtohaveprincelyestablishmentsinParis,NiceandFlorence,ayachtatCowes,andmanysquaremilesofshootinginTransylvania.Shedisappearedinakindofsulphurousapotheosis,andwhenafewyearslaterMedoraagaincamebacktoNewYork,subdued,impoverished,mourningathirdhusband,andinquestofastillsmallerhouse,peoplewonderedthatherrichniecehadnotbeenabletodosomethingforher.ThencamethenewsthatEllen’sownmarriagehadendedindisaster,andthatshewasherselfreturninghometoseekrestandoblivionamongherkinsfolk.ThesethingspassedthroughNewlandArcher’smindaweeklaterashewatchedtheCountessOlenskaenterthevanderLuydendrawing-roomontheeveningofthemomentousdinner.Theoccasionwasasolemnone,andhewonderedalittlenervouslyhowshewouldcarryitoff.Shecameratherlate,onehandstillungloved,andfasteningabraceletaboutherwrist;yetsheenteredwithoutanyappearanceofhasteorembarrassmentthedrawing-roominwhichNewYork’smostchosencompanywassomewhatawfullyassembled.Inthemiddleoftheroomshepaused,lookingaboutherwithagravemouthandsmilingeyes;andinthatinstantNewlandArcherrejectedthegeneralverdictonherlooks.Itwastruethatherearlyradiancewasgone.Theredcheekshadpaled;shewasthin,worn,alittleolder-lookingthanherage,whichmusthavebeennearlythirty.
