Епоха невинності

           Itwasburntintohisconsciousnessthathehadcalledher"Ellen"—calledhersotwice;andthatshehadnotnoticedit.FardowntheinvertedtelescopehesawthefaintwhitefigureofMayWelland—inNewYork.SuddenlyNastasiaputherheadintosaysomethinginherrichItalian.MadameOlenska,againwithahandatherhair,utteredanexclamationofassent—aflashing"Gia—gia"—andtheDukeofSt.Austreyentered,pilotingatremendousblackwiggedandred-plumedladyinoverflowingfurs."MydearCountess,I’vebroughtanoldfriendofminetoseeyou—Mrs.Struthers.Shewasn’taskedtothepartylastnight,andshewantstoknowyou."TheDukebeamedonthegroup,andMadameOlenskaadvancedwithamurmurofwelcometowardthequeercouple.Sheseemedtohavenoideahowoddlymatchedtheywere,norwhatalibertytheDukehadtakeninbringinghiscompanion—andtodohimjustice,asArcherperceived,theDukeseemedasunawareofithimself."OfcourseIwanttoknowyou,mydear,"criedMrs.Struthersinaroundrollingvoicethatmatchedherboldfeathersandherbrazenwig."Iwanttoknoweverybodywho’syoungandinterestingandcharming.AndtheDuketellsmeyoulikemusic—didn’tyou,Duke?You’reapianistyourself,Ibelieve?Well,doyouwanttohearSarasateplaytomorroweveningatmyhouse?YouknowI’vesomethinggoingoneverySundayevening—it’sthedaywhenNewYorkdoesn’tknowwhattodowithitself,andsoIsaytoit:’Comeandbeamused.’AndtheDukethoughtyou’dbetemptedbySarasate.You’llfindanumberofyourfriends.