Эпоха невинности

           WhatanopportunityforSillertonJackson,ifheshouldchancetopass!ArcherhadbeengreatlymovedbyoldCatherine’saccountofMadameOlenska’sattitudetowardMrs.Beaufort;itmadetherighteousreprobationofNewYorkseemlikeapassingbyontheotherside.Butheknewwellenoughwhatconstructiontheclubsanddrawing-roomswouldputonEllenOlenska’svisitstohercousin.Hepausedandlookedupatthelightedwindow.Nodoubtthetwowomenweresittingtogetherinthatroom:Beauforthadprobablysoughtconsolationelsewhere.TherewereevenrumoursthathehadleftNewYorkwithFannyRing;butMrs.Beaufort’sattitudemadethereportseemimprobable.ArcherhadthenocturnalperspectiveofFifthAvenuealmosttohimself.Atthathourmostpeoplewereindoors,dressingfordinner;andhewassecretlygladthatEllen’sexitwaslikelytobeunobserved.Asthethoughtpassedthroughhismindthedooropened,andshecameout.Behindherwasafaintlight,suchasmighthavebeencarrieddownthestairstoshowhertheway.Sheturnedtosayawordtosomeone;thenthedoorclosed,andshecamedownthesteps."Ellen,"hesaidinalowvoice,asshereachedthepavement.Shestoppedwithaslightstart,andjustthenhesawtwoyoungmenoffashionablecutapproaching.Therewasafamiliarairabouttheirovercoatsandthewaytheirsmartsilkmufflerswerefoldedovertheirwhiteties;andhewonderedhowyouthsoftheirqualityhappenedtobediningoutsoearly.