Эпоха невинности
Chapter 5
Maysaidshemeanttogo,andthendecidedthatthedressinquestionwasn’tsmartenough."Mrs.Archersmiledatthisconfirmationofherinference."PoorEllen,"shesimplyremarked;addingcompassionately:"Wemustalwaysbearinmindwhataneccentricbringing-upMedoraMansongaveher.Whatcanyouexpectofagirlwhowasallowedtowearblacksatinathercoming-outball?""Ah—don’tIrememberherinit!"saidMr.Jackson;adding:"Poorgirl!"inthetoneofonewho,whileenjoyingthememory,hadfullyunderstoodatthetimewhatthesightportended."It’sodd,"Janeyremarked,"thatsheshouldhavekeptsuchanuglynameasEllen.IshouldhavechangedittoElaine."Sheglancedaboutthetabletoseetheeffectofthis.Herbrotherlaughed."WhyElaine?""Idon’tknow;itsoundsmore—morePolish,"saidJaney,blushing."Itsoundsmoreconspicuous;andthatcanhardlybewhatshewishes,"saidMrs.Archerdistantly."Whynot?"brokeinherson,growingsuddenlyargumentative."Whyshouldn’tshebeconspicuousifshechooses?Whyshouldsheslinkaboutasifitwereshewhohaddisgracedherself?She’s’poorEllen’certainly,becauseshehadthebadlucktomakeawretchedmarriage;butIdon’tseethatthat’sareasonforhidingherheadasifsheweretheculprit.""That,Isuppose,"saidMr.Jackson,speculatively,"isthelinetheMingottsmeantotake."Theyoungmanreddened."Ididn’thavetowaitfortheircue,ifthat’swhatyoumean,sir.MadameOlenskahashadanunhappylife:thatdoesn’tmakeheranoutcast.""Therearerumours,"beganMr.Jackson,glancingatJaney.