Епоха невинності
Chapter 8
Idon’talwaysrememberthateverythinghereisgoodthatwas—thatwasbadwhereI’vecomefrom."ShelookeddownatherViennesefanofeaglefeathers,andhesawthatherlipstrembled."I’msosorry,"hesaidimpulsively;"butyouAREamongfriendshere,youknow.""Yes—Iknow.WhereverIgoIhavethatfeeling.That’swhyIcamehome.Iwanttoforgeteverythingelse,tobecomeacompleteAmericanagain,liketheMingottsandWellands,andyouandyourdelightfulmother,andalltheothergoodpeopleheretonight.Ah,here’sMayarriving,andyouwillwanttohurryawaytoher,"sheadded,butwithoutmoving;andhereyesturnedbackfromthedoortorestontheyoungman’sface.Thedrawing-roomswerebeginningtofillupwithafter-dinnerguests,andfollowingMadameOlenska’sglanceArchersawMayWellandenteringwithhermother.Inherdressofwhiteandsilver,withawreathofsilverblossomsinherhair,thetallgirllookedlikeaDianajustalightfromthechase."Oh,"saidArcher,"Ihavesomanyrivals;youseeshe’salreadysurrounded.There’stheDukebeingintroduced.""Thenstaywithmealittlelonger,"MadameOlenskasaidinalowtone,justtouchinghiskneewithherplumedfan.Itwasthelightesttouch,butitthrilledhimlikeacaress."Yes,letmestay,"heansweredinthesametone,hardlyknowingwhathesaid;butjustthenMr.vanderLuydencameup,followedbyoldMr.UrbanDagonet.TheCountessgreetedthemwithhergravesmile,andArcher,feelinghishost’sadmonitoryglanceonhim,roseandsurrenderedhisseat
