Эпоха невинности

           Carverinclinedhisleoninehead,andtheMarchionesscontinued:"Ah,NewYork—NewYork—howlittlethelifeofthespirithasreachedit!ButIseeyoudoknowMr.Winsett.""Oh,yes—Ireachedhimsometimeago;butnotbythatroute,"Winsettsaidwithhisdrysmile.TheMarchionessshookherheadreprovingly."Howdoyouknow,Mr.Winsett?Thespiritblowethwhereitlisteth.""List—oh,list!"interjectedDr.Carverinastentorianmurmur."Butdositdown,Mr.Archer.Wefourhavebeenhavingadelightfullittledinnertogether,andmychildhasgoneuptodress.Sheexpectsyou;shewillbedowninamoment.Wewerejustadmiringthesemarvellousflowers,whichwillsurpriseherwhenshereappears."Winsettremainedonhisfeet."I’mafraidImustbeoff.PleasetellMadameOlenskathatweshallallfeellostwhensheabandonsourstreet.Thishousehasbeenanoasis.""Ah,butshewon’tabandonYOU.Poetryandartarethebreathoflifetoher.ItISpoetryyouwrite,Mr.Winsett?""Well,no;butIsometimesreadit,"saidWinsett,includingthegroupinageneralnodandslippingoutoftheroom."Acausticspirit—unpeusauvage.Butsowitty;Dr.Carver,youDOthinkhimwitty?""Ineverthinkofwit,"saidDr.Carverseverely."Ah—ah—youneverthinkofwit!Howmercilessheistousweakmortals,Mr.Archer!Buthelivesonlyinthelifeofthespirit;andtonightheismentallypreparingthelectureheistodeliverpresentlyatMrs.Blenker’s.Dr.Carver,wouldtherebetime,beforeyoustartfortheBlenkers’toexplaintoMr.