Епоха невинності

           ""No;butyouDIDasktheWellandstoannounceyourengagementsoonersothatwemightallbackherup;andifithadn’tbeenforthatcousinLouisawouldneverhaveinvitedhertothedinnerfortheDuke.""Well—whatharmwasthereininvitingher?Shewasthebest-lookingwomanintheroom;shemadethedinneralittlelessfunerealthantheusualvanderLuydenbanquet.""YouknowcousinHenryaskedhertopleaseyou:hepersuadedcousinLouisa.Andnowthey’resoupsetthatthey’regoingbacktoSkuyterclifftomorrow.Ithink,Newland,you’dbettercomedown.Youdon’tseemtounderstandhowmotherfeels."Inthedrawing-roomNewlandfoundhismother.Sheraisedatroubledbrowfromherneedleworktoask:"HasJaneytoldyou?""Yes."Hetriedtokeephistoneasmeasuredasherown."ButIcan’ttakeitveryseriously.""NotthefactofhavingoffendedcousinLouisaandcousinHenry?""ThefactthattheycanbeoffendedbysuchatrifleasCountessOlenska’sgoingtothehouseofawomantheyconsidercommon.""Consider—!""Well,whois;butwhohasgoodmusic,andamusespeopleonSundayevenings,whenthewholeofNewYorkisdyingofinanition.""Goodmusic?AllIknowis,therewasawomanwhogotuponatableandsangthethingstheysingattheplacesyougotoinParis.Therewassmokingandchampagne.""Well—thatkindofthinghappensinotherplaces,andtheworldstillgoeson.""Idon’tsuppose,dear,you’rereallydefendingtheFrenchSunday?""I’veheardyouoftenenough,mother,grumbleattheEnglishSundaywhenwe’vebeeninLondon.""NewYorkisneitherParisnorLondon.