Эпоха невинности

           Butatanyrateitsparedthemtheembarrassmentofherpresence,andthefaintshadowthatherunhappypastmightseemtoshedontheirradiantfuture.Thevisitwentoffsuccessfully,aswastohavebeenexpected.OldMrs.Mingottwasdelightedwiththeengagement,which,beinglongforeseenbywatchfulrelatives,hadbeencarefullypasseduponinfamilycouncil;andtheengagementring,alargethicksapphiresetininvisibleclaws,metwithherunqualifiedadmiration."It’sthenewsetting:ofcourseitshowsthestonebeautifully,butitlooksalittlebaretoold-fashionedeyes,"Mrs.Wellandhadexplained,withaconciliatoryside-glanceatherfutureson-in-law."Old-fashionedeyes?Ihopeyoudon’tmeanmine,mydear?Ilikeallthenovelties,"saidtheancestress,liftingthestonetohersmallbrightorbs,whichnoglasseshadeverdisfigured."Veryhandsome,"sheadded,returningthejewel;"veryliberal.Inmytimeacameosetinpearlswasthoughtsufficient.Butit’sthehandthatsetsoffthering,isn’tit,mydearMr.Archer?"andshewavedoneofhertinyhands,withsmallpointednailsandrollsofagedfatencirclingthewristlikeivorybracelets."MinewasmodelledinRomebythegreatFerrigiani.YoushouldhaveMay’sdone:nodoubthe’llhaveitdone,mychild.Herhandislarge—it’sthesemodernsportsthatspreadthejoints—buttheskiniswhite.—Andwhen’stheweddingtobe?"shebrokeoff,fixinghereyesonArcher’sface."Oh—"Mrs.Wellandmurmured,whiletheyoungman,smilingathisbetrothed,replied:"Assoonaseveritcan,ifonlyyou’llbackmeup,Mrs.