Эпоха невинности

           Whenheenteredthedrawing-roombeforedinnerMaywasstoopingoverthefireandtryingtocoaxthelogstoburnintheirunaccustomedsettingofimmaculatetiles.Thetalllampswerealllit,andMr.vanderLuyden’sorchidshadbeenconspicuouslydisposedinvariousreceptaclesofmodernporcelainandknobbysilver.Mrs.NewlandArcher’sdrawing-roomwasgenerallythoughtagreatsuccess.Agiltbamboojardiniere,inwhichtheprimulasandcinerariaswerepunctuallyrenewed,blockedtheaccesstothebaywindow(wheretheold-fashionedwouldhavepreferredabronzereductionoftheVenusofMilo);thesofasandarm-chairsofpalebrocadewerecleverlygroupedaboutlittleplushtablesdenselycoveredwithsilvertoys,porcelainanimalsandefflorescentphotographframes;andtallrosy-shadedlampsshotupliketropicalflowersamongthepalms."Idon’tthinkEllenhaseverseenthisroomlightedup,"saidMay,risingflushedfromherstruggle,andsendingaboutheraglanceofpardonablepride.Thebrasstongswhichshehadproppedagainstthesideofthechimneyfellwithacrashthatdrownedherhusband’sanswer;andbeforehecouldrestorethemMr.andMrs.vanderLuydenwereannounced.Theotherguestsquicklyfollowed,foritwasknownthatthevanderLuydenslikedtodinepunctually.Theroomwasnearlyfull,andArcherwasengagedinshowingtoMrs.SelfridgeMerryasmallhighly-varnishedVerbeckhoven"StudyofSheep,"whichMr.WellandhadgivenMayforChristmas,whenhefoundMadameOlenskaathisside.Shewasexcessivelypale,andherpallormadeherdarkhairseemdenserandheavierthanever.