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BookI
I.
OnaJanuaryeveningoftheearlyseventies,ChristineNilssonwassinginginFaustattheAcademyofMusicinNewYork.
Though there was already talk of the erection, in remotemetropolitandistancesabovetheForties,ofanewOperaHousewhichshould compete in costlinessand splendourwith thoseof
thegreat
European
capitals,
the
world
of
fashion
was
still
content
toreassembleeverywinterintheshabbyredandgoldboxesofthesociableoldAcademy.Conservativescherisheditforbeingsmalland inconvenient,and thuskeepingout thenewpeoplewhomNewYorkwasbeginning todreadandyetbedrawn to;and thesentimentalclungtoitforitshistoricassociations,andthemusicalforitsexcellentacoustics,alwayssoproblematicaqualityinhallsbuiltforthehearingofmusic.
Itwas
Madame
Nilssons
first
appearance
that
winter,
and
what
thedailypresshadalreadylearnedtodescribeasanexceptionallybrilliantaudiencehadgathered tohearher, transported throughtheslippery,snowystreets inprivatebroughams,in thespaciousfamily landau, or in the humbler but more convenient Browncoupe.To come to theOpera in aBrown coupewas almost ashonourable a way of arriving as in ones own carriage; anddeparture by the same means had the immense advantage ofenablingone(withaplayfulallusiontodemocraticprinciples)to
scrambleinto
the
first
Brown
conveyance
in
the
line,
instead
of
waiting till the coldandgin congested nose of ones owncoachmangleamedundertheporticooftheAcademy.Itwasoneofthe great liverystablemans most masterly intuitions to havediscoveredthatAmericanswanttogetawayfromamusementevenmorequicklythantheywanttogettoit.
WhenNewlandArcheropenedthedooratthebackoftheclubboxthe curtainhad justgoneupon thegarden scene.Therewasno
reasonwhy
the
young
man
should
not
have
come
earlier,
for
he
had dined at seven, alone with his mother and sister, and hadlingeredafterwardovera cigar in theGothic librarywithglazedblackwalnut bookcases and finialtopped chairswhich was the
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onlyroominthehousewhereMrs.Archerallowedsmoking.But,inthefirstplace,NewYorkwasametropolis,andperfectlyawarethat inmetropolises itwas not the thing to arrive early at the
opera;and
what
was
or
was
not
the
thing
played
apart
as
importantinNewlandArchersNewYorkastheinscrutabletotemterrorsthathadruledthedestiniesofhisforefathersthousandsofyearsago.
The second reason for his delay was a personal one. He haddawdledoverhis cigarbecausehewasatheartadilettante,andthinking over a pleasure to come often gave him a subtlersatisfactionthanitsrealisation.Thiswasespeciallythecasewhen
thepleasure
was
adelicate
one,
as
his
pleasures
mostly
were;
and
onthisoccasionthemomenthelookedforwardtowassorareandexquisite in quality thatwell, if he had timed his arrival inaccordwith theprimadonnas stagemanagerhe couldnothaveenteredtheAcademyatamoresignificantmomentthanjustasshewassinging:HelovesmehelovesmenotHELOVESME!andsprinklingthefallingdaisypetalswithnotesasclearasdew.
She sang, of course, Mama! and not he lovesme, since an
unalterableand
unquestioned
law
of
the
musical
world
required
that the German text of French operas sung by Swedish artistsshouldbe translated into Italian for theclearerunderstandingofEnglish speakingaudiences.Thisseemedasnatural toNewlandArcherasalltheotherconventionsonwhichhislifewasmoulded:such as the duty of using two silver backed brushes with hismonograminblueenameltoparthishair,andofneverappearingin society without a flower (preferably a gardenia) in hisbuttonhole.
Mama...nonmama...theprimadonnasang,andMama!,with a final burst of love triumphant, as she pressed thedishevelled daisy to her lips and lifted her large eyes to thesophisticated countenanceof the littlebrownFaustCapoul,whowasvainlytrying,inatightpurplevelvetdoubletandplumedcap,tolookaspureandtrueashisartlessvictim.
NewlandArcher,leaningagainst thewallat thebackof theclub
box,turned
his
eyes
from
the
stage
and
scanned
the
opposite
side
ofthehouse.DirectlyfacinghimwastheboxofoldMrs.MansonMingott, whose monstrous obesity had long since made itimpossible for her to attend the Opera, but who was always
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represented on fashionable nights by some of the youngermembersofthefamily.Onthisoccasion,thefrontoftheboxwasfilled by her daughterinlaw, Mrs. Lovell Mingott, and her
daughter,Mrs.
Welland;
and
slightly
withdrawn
behind
these
brocadedmatronssatayounggirl inwhitewitheyesecstaticallyfixedon thestagelovers.AsMadameNilssonsMama! thrilledout above the silent house (the boxes always stopped talkingduringtheDaisySong)awarmpinkmountedtothegirlscheek,mantledherbrowtotherootsofherfairbraids,andsuffusedtheyoungslopeofherbreast to the linewhere itmetamodest tulletuckerfastenedwithasinglegardenia.Shedroppedhereyestotheimmensebouquetofliliesofthevalleyonherknee,andNewland
Archersaw
her
white
gloved
finger
tips
touch
the
flowers
softly.
Hedrewabreathofsatisfiedvanityandhiseyesreturned tothestage.
No expense had been spared on the setting, which wasacknowledgedtobeverybeautifulevenbypeoplewhosharedhisacquaintance with the Opera houses of Paris and Vienna. Theforeground, to the footlights, was covered with emerald greencloth.Inthemiddledistancesymmetricalmoundsofwoollygreen
mossbounded
by
croquet
hoops
formed
the
base
of
shrubs
shaped
like orangetrees but studded with large pink and red roses.Giganticpansies, considerably larger than the roses, and closelyresemblingthefloralpen wipersmadebyfemaleparishionersforfashionable clergymen, sprang from themoss beneath the rosetrees;andhereandthereadaisygraftedonarose branchfloweredwith a luxuriance prophetic of Mr. Luther Burbanks faroffprodigies.
Inthe
centre
of
this
enchanted
garden
Madame
Nilsson,
in
white
cashmereslashedwithpalebluesatin,areticuledanglingfromablue girdle, and large yellow braids carefully disposed on eachsideofhermuslinchemisette, listenedwithdowncasteyes toM.Capouls impassioned wooing, and affected a guilelessincomprehensionofhisdesignswhenever,bywordorglance,hepersuasivelyindicatedthegroundfloorwindowoftheneatbrickvillaprojectingobliquelyfromtherightwing.
Thedarling!
thought
Newland
Archer,
his
glance
flitting
back
to
the young girl with the liliesofthe valley. She doesnt evenguess what its all about. And he contemplated her absorbedyoungfacewithathrillofpossessorshipinwhichprideinhisown
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masculine initiationwasmingledwitha tenderreverence forherabysmalpurity.WellreadFausttogether...bytheItalianlakes.. . he thought, somewhat hazily confusing the scene of his
projectedhoney
moon
with
the
masterpieces
of
literature
which
it
wouldbehismanlyprivilege to reveal tohisbride. Itwasonlythat afternoon that May Welland had let him guess that shecared (NewYorks consecratedphraseofmaiden avowal), andalreadyhisimagination,leapingaheadoftheengagementring,thebetrothalkissand themarch fromLohengrin,picturedherathissideinsomesceneofoldEuropeanwitchery.
HedidnotintheleastwishthefutureMrs.NewlandArchertobe
asimpleton.
He
meant
her
(thanks
to
his
enlightening
companionship) to develop a social tact and readiness of witenabling her to hold her own with the most popular marriedwomen of the younger set, in which it was the recognisedcustom toattractmasculinehomagewhileplayfullydiscouragingit.Ifhehadprobedtothebottomofhisvanity (ashesometimesnearly did) he would have found there the wish that his wifeshouldbeasworldlywiseand as eager topleaseas themarriedladywhosecharmshadheldhisfancythroughtwomildlyagitated
years;without,
of
course,
any
hint
of
the
frailty
which
had
so
nearlymarredthatunhappybeingslife,andhaddisarrangedhisownplansforawholewinter.
Howthismiracleoffireandicewastobecreated,andtosustainitself inaharshworld,hehadnevertakenthe time to thinkout;buthewascontenttoholdhisviewwithoutanalysingit,sinceheknew itwas thatofall the carefullybrushed,whitewaistcoated,button holefloweredgentlemenwhosucceededeachotherinthe
clubbox,
exchanged
friendly
greetings
with
him,
and
turned
their
operaglassescriticallyonthecircleofladieswhoweretheproductofthesystem.InmattersintellectualandartisticNewlandArcherfelthimselfdistinctly the superiorof these chosen specimensofoldNewYorkgentility;hehadprobablyreadmore,thoughtmore,andevenseenagooddealmoreoftheworld,thananyothermanofthenumber.Singlytheybetrayedtheirinferiority;butgroupedtogethertheyrepresentedNewYork,andthehabitofmasculinesolidaritymadehimaccept theirdoctrineonall the issuescalled
moral.He
instinctively
felt
that
in
this
respect
it
would
be
troublesomeandalsoratherbadformtostrikeoutforhimself.
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Welluponmy soul!exclaimedLawrenceLefferts, turninghisoperaglassabruptlyawayfrom thestage.LawrenceLeffertswas,onthewhole,theforemostauthorityonforminNewYork.He
hadprobably
devoted
more
time
than
any
one
else
to
the
study
of
this intricateand fascinatingquestion;butstudyalone couldnotaccount forhis complete and easy competence.Onehad only tolookathim,from theslantofhisbaldforeheadand thecurveofhisbeautiful fairmoustache to the longpatentleather feetat theother end of his lean and elegant person, to feel that theknowledge of formmustbe congenital in any onewhoknewhowtowearsuchgoodclothessocarelesslyandcarrysuchheightwithsomuchlounginggrace.Asayoungadmirerhadoncesaidof
him:If
anybody
can
tell
afellow
just
when
to
wear
ablack
tie
witheveningclothesandwhennotto,itsLarryLefferts.Andonthe question of pumps versus patentleather Oxfords hisauthorityhadneverbeendisputed.
MyGod!hesaid;andsilentlyhandedhisglasstooldSillertonJackson.
Newland Archer, following Leffertss glance, saw with surprise
thathis
exclamation
had
been
occasioned
by
the
entry
of
anew
figure into oldMrs.Mingotts box. Itwas that of a slim youngwoman, a little less tall than May Welland, with brown hairgrowing in close curlsabouther templesandheld inplacebyanarrow band of diamonds. The suggestion of this headdress,which gave her what was then called a Josephine look, wascarried out in the cut of the dark blue velvet gown rathertheatrically caughtupunderherbosomby agirdlewith a largeoldfashionedclasp.Thewearerofthisunusualdress,whoseemed
quiteunconscious
of
the
attention
it
was
attracting,
stood
a
momentinthecentreofthebox,discussingwithMrs.Wellandtheproprietyoftakingthelattersplaceinthefrontright handcorner;then she yieldedwith a slight smile, and seated herself in linewithMrs.Wellands sisterinlaw,Mrs.LovellMingott,whowasinstalledintheoppositecorner.
Mr. Sillerton Jackson had returned the operaglass to LawrenceLefferts. The whole of the club turned instinctively, waiting to
hearwhat
the
old
man
had
to
say;
for
old
Mr.
Jackson
was
as
great
anauthorityonfamilyasLawrenceLeffertswasonform.Heknewall the ramificationsofNewYorkscousinships;andcouldnot only elucidate such complicated questions as that of the
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connectionbetweentheMingotts(throughtheThorleys)withtheDallases of South Carolina, and that of the relationship of theelderbranchofPhiladelphiaThorleystotheAlbanyChiverses(on
noaccount
to
be
confused
with
the
Manson
Chiverses
of
University Place), but could also enumerate the leadingcharacteristics of each family: as, for instance, the fabulousstinginess of the younger lines of Leffertses (the Long Islandones); or the fatal tendency of theRushworths to make foolishmatches; or the insanity recurring in every secondgeneration oftheAlbany Chiverses, with whom their New York cousins hadalways refused to intermarrywith the disastrous exception ofpoorMedoraManson,who,aseverybodyknew . . .but thenher
motherwas
aRushworth.
In addition to this forest of family trees, Mr. Sillerton Jacksoncarried between his narrow hollow temples, and under his softthatch of silver hair, a register of most of the scandals andmysteriesthathadsmoulderedundertheunruffledsurfaceofNewYork society within the last fifty years. So far indeed did hisinformationextend,andsoacutelyretentivewashismemory,thathewassupposedtobetheonlymanwhocouldhavetoldyouwho
JuliusBeaufort,
the
banker,
really
was,
and
what
had
become
of
handsomeBobSpicer,oldMrs.MansonMingottsfather,whohaddisappearedsomysteriously(withalargesumoftrustmoney)lessthan a year after hismarriage, on the very day that a beautifulSpanishdancerwhohadbeendelighting thronged audiences intheoldOperahouseon theBatteryhadtakenshipforCuba.Butthese mysteries, and many others, were closely locked in Mr.Jacksonsbreast;fornotonlydidhiskeensenseofhonourforbidhisrepeatinganythingprivatelyimparted,buthewasfullyaware
thathis
reputation
for
discretion
increased
his
opportunities
of
findingoutwhathewantedtoknow.
The club box, therefore, waited in visible suspense while Mr.SillertonJacksonhandedbackLawrenceLeffertssoperaglass.Foramoment he silently scrutinised the attentive group out of hisfilmy blue eyes overhung by old veined lids; then he gave hismoustacheathoughtfultwist,andsaidsimply:IdidntthinktheMingottswouldhavetriediton.
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II.
NewlandArcher,duringthisbriefepisode,hadbeenthrownintoa
strangestate
of
embarrassment.
It was annoying that the box which was thus attracting theundivided attention of masculine New York should be that inwhichhisbetrothedwasseatedbetweenhermotherandaunt;andforamomenthecouldnot identify the lady in theEmpiredress,norimaginewhyherpresencecreatedsuchexcitementamongtheinitiated. Then light dawned on him, and with it came amomentary rushof indignation.No, indeed;noonewouldhave
thoughtthe
Mingotts
would
have
tried
it
on!
Buttheyhad;theyundoubtedlyhad;forthelow tonedcommentsbehindhimleftnodoubtinArchersmindthattheyoungwomanwasMayWellands cousin, the cousin always referred to in thefamily as poor Ellen Olenska. Archer knew that she hadsuddenly arrived from Europe a day or two previously; he hadevenheardfromMissWelland (notdisapprovingly) thatshehadbeen to seepoorEllen,whowas stayingwitholdMrs.Mingott.
Archerentirely
approved
of
family
solidarity,
and
one
of
the
qualities he most admired in the Mingotts was their resolutechampionship of the fewblack sheep that theirblameless stockhad produced. There was nothing mean or ungenerous in theyoungmansheart,andhewasgladthathisfuturewifeshouldnotberestrainedbyfalsepruderyfrombeingkind(inprivate)toherunhappy cousin; but to receiveCountessOlenska in the familycirclewasadifferent thing fromproducingher inpublic,at theOperaofallplaces,andintheveryboxwiththeyounggirlwhose
engagementto
him,
Newland
Archer,
was
to
be
announced
within
a fewweeks.No,he feltasoldSillerton Jackson felt;hedidnotthinktheMingottswouldhavetriediton!
He knew, of course, that whatever man dared (within FifthAvenues limits) thatoldMrs.MansonMingott, theMatriarchoftheline,woulddare.Hehadalwaysadmiredthehighandmightyold lady,who, in spite ofhaving been onlyCatherineSpicerofStaten Island,withafathermysteriouslydiscredited,andneither
moneynor
position
enough
to
make
people
forget
it,
had
allied
herselfwiththeheadofthewealthyMingottline,marriedtwoofherdaughters toforeigners (an ItalianmarquisandanEnglishbanker),andputthecrowningtouchtoheraudacitiesbybuilding
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a large house of pale creamcoloured stone (when brownsandstone seemed asmuch the onlywear as a frockcoat in theafternoon)inaninaccessiblewildernessneartheCentralPark.
OldMrs.Mingottsforeigndaughtershadbecomealegend.Theynever came back to see their mother, and the latter being, likemanypersonsofactivemindanddominatingwill,sedentaryandcorpulentinherhabit,hadphilosophicallyremainedathome.Butthecream colouredhouse(supposedtobemodelledontheprivatehotelsof theParisianaristocracy)was thereasavisibleproofofhermoralcourage;andshethronedinit,amongpreRevolutionaryfurnitureandsouvenirsoftheTuileriesofLouisNapoleon(where
shehad
shone
in
her
middle
age),
as
placidly
as
if
there
were
nothingpeculiarinlivingaboveThirtyfourthStreet,orinhavingFrench windows that opened like doors instead of sashes thatpushedup.
Every one (includingMr. Sillerton Jackson)was agreed that oldCatherinehadneverhadbeautyagiftwhich,intheeyesofNewYork, justified every success, and excused a certain number offailings.Unkindpeoplesaidthat,likeherImperialnamesake,she
hadwon
her
way
to
success
by
strength
of
will
and
hardness
of
heart, and a kind of haughty effrontery that was somehowjustifiedby the extremedecency anddignity ofherprivate life.Mr.MansonMingotthaddiedwhen shewasonly twentyeight,andhadtiedup themoneywithanadditionalcautionbornofthegeneraldistrustoftheSpicers;buthisboldyoungwidowwentherwayfearlessly,mingled freely inforeignsociety,marriedherdaughters inheavenknewwhat corrupt and fashionable circles,hobnobbedwith Dukes and Ambassadors, associated familiarly
withPapists,
entertained
Opera
singers,
and
was
the
intimate
friendofMme.Taglioni; and all thewhile (asSillerton Jacksonwas the first to proclaim) therehad never been a breath on herreputation; the only respect, he always added, in which shedifferedfromtheearlierCatherine.
Mrs. Manson Mingott had long since succeeded in untying herhusbands fortune,andhad lived inaffluence forhalfa century;butmemoriesofherearlystraitshadmadeherexcessivelythrifty,
andthough,
when
she
bought
adress
or
apiece
of
furniture,
she
tookcarethatitshouldbeofthebest,shecouldnotbringherselftospendmuchon the transientpleasuresof the table.Therefore,fortotallydifferentreasons,herfoodwasaspoorasMrs.Archers,
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andherwinesdidnothing to redeem it.Her relativesconsideredthatthepenuryofhertablediscreditedtheMingottname,whichhad always been associated with good living; but people
continuedto
come
to
her
in
spite
of
the
made
dishes
and
flat
champagne, and in reply to the remonstrancesofher sonLovell(whotriedtoretrievethefamilycreditbyhavingthebestchefinNew York) she used to say laughingly: Whats the use of twogoodcooksinonefamily,nowthatIvemarriedthegirlsandcanteatsauces?
Newland Archer, as he mused on these things, had once moreturnedhiseyestowardtheMingottbox.HesawthatMrs.Welland
andher
sister
in
law
were
facing
their
semicircle
of
critics
with
the
MingottianAPLOMBwhich oldCatherine had inculcated in allher tribe,and thatonlyMayWellandbetrayed,by aheightenedcolour(perhapsduetotheknowledgethathewaswatchingher)asense of the gravity of the situation. As for the cause of thecommotion, she satgracefully inher cornerof thebox,her eyesfixedon the stage, and revealing, as she leaned forward, a littlemore shoulder and bosom than New York was accustomed toseeing, at least in ladies who had reasons for wishing to pass
unnoticed.
FewthingsseemedtoNewlandArchermoreawfulthananoffenceagainstTaste,thatfaroffdivinityofwhomFormwasthemerevisiblerepresentativeandvicegerent.MadameOlenskaspaleandseriousfaceappealedtohisfancyassuitedtotheoccasionandtoher unhappy situation; but the way her dress (which had notucker)slopedawayfromherthinshouldersshockedandtroubledhim.He hated to think ofMayWellands being exposed to the
influenceof
ayoung
woman
so
careless
of
the
dictates
of
Taste.
After all,heheardoneof theyoungermenbeginbehindhim(everybody talked through the Mephistopheles andMarthascenes),afterall,justWHAThappened?
Wellshelefthim;nobodyattemptstodenythat.
Hesanawfulbrute, isnthe? continued theyoungenquirer,a
candidThorley,
who
was
evidently
preparing
to
enter
the
lists
as
theladyschampion.
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Theveryworst;IknewhimatNice,saidLawrenceLeffertswithauthority. A halfparalysed white sneering fellowratherhandsomehead,buteyeswithalotoflashes.Well,Illtellyouthe
sort:when
he
wasnt
with
women
he
was
collecting
china.
Paying
anypriceforboth,Iunderstand.
Therewasageneral laugh,and theyoungchampionsaid:Well,then?
Well,then;sheboltedwithhissecretary.
Oh,Isee.Thechampionsfacefell.
Itdidntlastlong,though:IheardofherafewmonthslaterlivingaloneinVenice.IbelieveLovellMingottwentouttogether.Hesaid she was desperately unhappy. Thats all rightbut thisparadingherattheOperasanotherthing.
Perhaps,youngThorleyhazarded,shestoounhappytobeleftathome.
Thiswas
greeted
with
an
irreverent
laugh,
and
the
youth
blushed
deeply, and tried to look as if he hadmeant to insinuatewhatknowingpeoplecalledadoubleentendre.
Wellitsqueer tohavebroughtMissWelland,anyhow,someonesaidinalowtone,withaside glanceatArcher.
Oh, thats part of the campaign: Grannys orders, no doubt,Lefferts laughed. When the old lady does a thing she does it
thoroughly.
The act was ending, and there was a general stir in the box.SuddenlyNewlandArcherfelthimselfimpelledtodecisiveaction.The desire to be the first man to enter Mrs. Mingotts box, toproclaim to thewaitingworld his engagement toMayWelland,and to see her through whatever difficulties her cousinsanomalous situation might involve her in; this impulse hadabruptly overruled all scruples and hesitations, and sent him
hurryingthrough
the
red
corridors
to
the
farther
side
of
the
house.
Ashe entered theboxhis eyesmetMissWellands, andhe sawthat shehad instantlyunderstoodhismotive, though the family
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dignitywhichbothconsideredsohighavirtuewouldnotpermither to tell him so. The persons of their world lived in anatmosphereoffaint implicationsandpaledelicacies,andthefact
thathe
and
she
understood
each
other
without
aword
seemed
to
theyoungmantobring themnearer thananyexplanationwouldhavedone.Hereyessaid:YouseewhyMammabroughtme,andhisanswered:Iwouldnotfortheworldhavehadyoustayaway.
YouknowmynieceCountessOlenska?Mrs.Wellandenquiredas she shook handswith her future son inlaw.Archer bowedwithout extending his hand, as was the custom on beingintroduced to a lady; and EllenOlenska bent her head slightly,
keepingher
own
pale
gloved
hands
clasped
on
her
huge
fan
of
eaglefeathers.HavinggreetedMrs.LovellMingott,alargeblondeladyincreakingsatin,hesatdownbesidehisbetrothed,andsaidin a low tone: I hope youve toldMadameOlenska thatwereengaged? I want everybody to knowI want you to let meannounceitthiseveningattheball.
MissWellandsfacegrewrosyasthedawn,andshelookedathimwith radianteyes.Ifyou canpersuadeMamma, she said;but
whyshould
we
change
what
is
already
settled?
He
made
no
answerbutthatwhichhiseyesreturned,andsheadded,stillmoreconfidently smiling: Tellmy cousin yourself: I give you leave.Shesayssheusedtoplaywithyouwhenyouwerechildren.
Shemadewayforhimbypushingbackherchair,andpromptly,and a little ostentatiously,with the desire that thewhole houseshould see what he was doing, Archer seated himself at theCountessOlenskasside.
WeDIDusetoplaytogether,didntwe?sheasked,turninghergrave eyes to his. Youwere a horrid boy, and kissedme oncebehindadoor;butitwasyourcousinVandieNewland,whoneverlookedatme,thatIwasinlovewith.Herglancesweptthehorseshoecurveofboxes.Ah,howthisbringsitallbacktomeIseeeverybodyhereinknickerbockersandpantalettes,shesaid,withhertrailingslightlyforeignaccent,hereyesreturningtohisface.
Agreeableas
their
expression
was,
the
young
man
was
shocked
that they should reflect so unseemly a picture of the augusttribunal beforewhich, at that verymoment, her casewas beingtried.Nothing couldbe inworse taste thanmisplaced flippancy;
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andhe answered somewhat stiffly: Yes, youhavebeen away averylongtime.
Oh,centuries
and
centuries;
so
long,
she
said,
that
Im
sure
Im
dead and buried, and this dear oldplace is heaven;which, forreasons he could not define, struckNewlandArcher as an evenmoredisrespectfulwayofdescribingNewYorksociety.
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III.
Itinvariablyhappenedinthesameway.
Mrs.JuliusBeaufort,onthenightofherannualball,neverfailedto appear at theOpera; indeed, she always gave her ball on anOpera night in order to emphasise her complete superiority tohousehold cares, and her possession of a staff of servantscompetent to organise every detail of the entertainment in herabsence.
The Beauforts house was one of the few in New York that
possessedaball
room
(it
antedated
even
Mrs.
Manson
Mingotts
andtheHeadlyChiverses);andatatimewhenitwasbeginningtobe thought provincial toput a crash over thedrawingroomfloor andmove the furniture upstairs, the possession of a ballroom that was used for no other purpose, and left for threehundredandsixtyfour days of the year to shuttered darkness,withitsgiltchairsstackedinacorneranditschandelierinabag;this undoubted superioritywas felt to compensate forwhateverwasregrettableintheBeaufortpast.
Mrs.Archer,whowasfondofcoininghersocialphilosophy intoaxioms,hadonce said: We allhaveourpet commonpeopleand though the phrase was a daring one, its truth was secretlyadmittedinmanyanexclusivebosom.ButtheBeaufortswerenotexactly common; some people said they were even worse. Mrs.Beaufort belonged indeed to one of Americas most honouredfamilies; she had been the lovely Regina Dallas (of the SouthCarolina branch), a penniless beauty introduced to New York
societyby
her
cousin,
the
imprudent
Medora
Manson,
who
was
alwaysdoing thewrong thing from the rightmotive.WhenonewasrelatedtotheMansonsandtheRushworthsonehadadroitde cite (as Mr. Sillerton Jackson, who had frequented theTuileries,calledit)inNewYorksociety;butdidonenotforfeititinmarryingJuliusBeaufort?
The question was: who was Beaufort? He passed for anEnglishman, was agreeable, handsome, illtempered, hospitable
andwitty.
He
had
come
to
America
with
letters
of
recommendationfromoldMrs.MansonMingottsEnglishsoninlaw, the banker, and had speedily made himself an importantpositionintheworldofaffairs;buthishabitsweredissipated,his
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tongue was bitter, his antecedents were mysterious; and whenMedoraMansonannouncedhercousinsengagementtohimitwasfelt tobeonemore actof folly inpoorMedoras long recordof
imprudences.
Butfollyisasoftenjustifiedofherchildrenaswisdom,andtwoyearsafteryoungMrs.Beaufortsmarriageitwasadmittedthatshehad the most distinguished house in New York. No one knewexactly how the miracle was accomplished. She was indolent,passive,thecausticevencalledherdull;butdressedlikeanidol,hung with pearls, growing younger and blonder and morebeautiful eachyear, she throned inMr.Beaufortsheavybrown
stonepalace,
and
drew
all
the
world
there
without
lifting
her
jewelled little finger. The knowing people said itwas Beauforthimselfwhotrainedtheservants,taughtthechefnewdishes,toldthegardenerswhathothouseflowerstogrowforthedinnertableand the drawingrooms, selected the guests, brewed the afterdinner punch anddictated the littlenoteshiswifewrote toherfriends. If he did, these domestic activities were privatelyperformed, and he presented to the world the appearance of acarelessandhospitablemillionairestrollingintohisowndrawing
roomwith
the
detachment
of
an
invited
guest,
and
saying:
My
wifesgloxiniasareamarvel,arentthey?IbelieveshegetsthemoutfromKew.
Mr.Beaufortssecret,peoplewereagreed,wasthewayhecarriedthings off. It was all very well to whisper that he had beenhelped to leaveEnglandby the internationalbankinghouse inwhichhehadbeenemployed;hecarriedoffthatrumouraseasilyas the restthoughNewYorksbusiness consciencewasno less
sensitivethan
its
moral
standardhe
carried
everything
before
him, and all New York into his drawing rooms, and for overtwenty years now people had said they were going to theBeaufortswiththesametoneofsecurityasiftheyhadsaidtheywere going to Mrs. Manson Mingotts, and with the addedsatisfactionofknowingtheywouldgethotcanvasbackducksandvintagewines,insteadoftepidVeuveClicquotwithoutayearandwarmedupcroquettesfromPhiladelphia.
Mrs.Beaufort,
then,
had
as
usual
appeared
in
her
box
just
before
the JewelSong;andwhen,againasusual,she roseat theendofthethirdact,drewheroperacloakaboutherlovelyshoulders,and
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disappeared,NewYorkknewthatmeantthathalfanhourlatertheballwouldbegin.
TheBeaufort
house
was
one
that
New
Yorkers
were
proud
to
show
to foreigners, especially on the night of the annual ball. TheBeaufortshadbeenamong the firstpeople inNewYork toowntheirown redvelvetcarpetandhave it rolleddown thestepsbytheirown footmen,under theirownawning, insteadofhiring itwith the supper and the ballroom chairs. They had alsoinauguratedthecustomoflettingtheladiestaketheircloaksoffinthe hall, instead of shuffling up to the hostesss bedroom andrecurling theirhairwith theaidof thegasburner;Beaufortwas
understoodto
have
said
that
he
supposed
all
his
wifes
friends
had
maidswho saw to it that theywereproperly coiffeeswhen theylefthome.
Thenthehousehadbeenboldlyplannedwithaballroom,sothat,insteadofsqueezingthroughanarrowpassagetogettoit(asattheChiverses) one marched solemnly down a vista of enfiladeddrawing rooms (theseagreen,thecrimsonand theboutondor),seeingfromafarthemanycandledlustresreflectedinthepolished
parquetry,and
beyond
that
the
depths
of
aconservatory
where
camellias and treeferns arched their costly foliage over seats ofblackandgoldbamboo.
NewlandArcher,asbecameayoungmanofhisposition,strolledinsomewhatlate.Hehadlefthisovercoatwiththesilkstockingedfootmen (thestockingswereoneofBeauforts few fatuities),haddawdled a while in the library hung with Spanish leather andfurnished with Buhl and malachite, where a few men were
chattingand
putting
on
their
dancing
gloves,
and
had
finally
joinedthelineofguestswhomMrs.Beaufortwasreceivingonthethresholdofthecrimsondrawingroom.
Archerwasdistinctlynervous.Hehadnotgoneback tohisclubafter theOpera (as theyoungbloodsusuallydid),but, thenightbeingfine,hadwalkedforsomedistanceupFifthAvenuebeforeturning back in the direction of the Beauforts house. He wasdefinitelyafraidthattheMingottsmightbegoingtoofar;that,in
fact,they
might
have
Granny
Mingotts
orders
to
bring
the
CountessOlenskatotheball.
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From the tone of the club box he had perceived how grave amistake that would be; and, though he was more than everdetermined to see the thing through, he felt less chivalrously
eagerto
champion
his
betrotheds
cousin
than
before
their
brief
talkattheOpera.
Wanderingon to theboutondordrawingroom (whereBeauforthad had the audacity to hang Love Victorious, the muchdiscussed nude ofBouguereau)Archer foundMrs.Welland andher daughter standing near the ballroom door. Couples werealreadyglidingoverthefloorbeyond:thelightofthewaxcandlesfell on revolving tulle skirts, on girlish heads wreathed with
modestblossoms,
on
the
dashing
aigrettes
and
ornaments
of
the
young married womens coiffures, and on the glitter of highlyglazedshirtfrontsandfreshglacegloves.
MissWelland, evidently about to join thedancers, hung on thethreshold,herliliesofthevalleyinherhand(shecarriednootherbouquet), her face a little pale, her eyes burningwith a candidexcitement.Agroupofyoungmenandgirlsweregatheredabouther,and therewasmuchhandclasping, laughingandpleasantry
onwhich
Mrs.
Welland,
standing
slightly
apart,
shed
the
beam
of
a
qualifiedapproval.ItwasevidentthatMissWellandwasintheactofannouncingherengagement,whilehermotheraffectedtheairofparentalreluctanceconsideredsuitabletotheoccasion.
Archer paused a moment. It was at his express wish that theannouncement had been made, and yet it was not thus that hewouldhavewished tohavehishappinessknown.Toproclaim itintheheatandnoiseofacrowdedballroomwastorobitofthe
finebloom
of
privacy
which
should
belong
to
things
nearest
the
heart.Hisjoywassodeepthatthisblurringofthesurfaceleftitsessenceuntouched;buthewouldhave liked tokeep the surfacepure too. It was something of a satisfaction to find that MayWellandsharedthisfeeling.Hereyesfledtohisbeseechingly,andtheirlooksaid:Remember,weredoingthisbecauseitsright.
No appeal could have found a more immediate response inArchersbreast;buthewishedthatthenecessityoftheiractionhad
beenrepresented
by
some
ideal
reason,
and
not
simply
by
poor
EllenOlenska.ThegroupaboutMissWellandmadewayforhimwith significant smiles, and after taking his share of the
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felicitations he drew his betrothed into the middle of the ballroomfloorandputhisarmaboutherwaist.
Nowwe
shant
have
to
talk,
he
said,
smiling
into
her
candid
eyes,astheyfloatedawayonthesoftwavesoftheBlueDanube.
Shemadenoanswer.Herlipstrembledintoasmile,buttheeyesremaineddistantandserious,asifbentonsomeineffablevision.Dear,Archerwhispered,pressinghertohim:itwasborneinonhimthatthefirsthoursofbeingengaged,evenifspentinaballroom,hadinthemsomethinggraveandsacramental.Whatanewlifeitwasgoingtobe,withthiswhiteness,radiance,goodnessat
onesside!
Thedanceover,thetwo,asbecameanaffiancedcouple,wanderedintotheconservatory;andsittingbehindatallscreenoftreefernsandcamelliasNewlandpressedherglovedhandtohislips.
YouseeIdidasyouaskedmeto,shesaid.
Yes: I couldntwait,he answered smiling.After amomenthe
added:Only
Iwish
it
hadnt
had
to
be
at
aball.
Yes, I know. Shemet his glance comprehendingly. But afterallevenherewerealonetogether,arentwe?
Oh,dearestalways!Archercried.
Evidently shewas always going to understand; shewas alwaysgoing to say the right thing.Thediscoverymade the cup ofhis
blissoverflow,
and
he
went
on
gaily:
The
worst
of
it
is
that
Iwant
tokissyouandIcant.Ashespokehetookaswiftglanceabouttheconservatory,assuredhimselfoftheirmomentaryprivacy,andcatching her to him laid a fugitive pressure on her lips. Tocounteracttheaudacityofthisproceedingheledhertoabamboosofaina lesssecludedpartof theconservatory,andsittingdownbeside her broke a lilyofthevalley from her bouquet. She satsilent,andtheworldlaylikeasunlitvalleyattheirfeet.
Didyou
tell
my
cousin
Ellen?
she
asked
presently,
as
if
she
spokethroughadream.
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He roused himself, and remembered that he had not done so.Someinvinciblerepugnancetospeakofsuchthingstothestrangeforeignwomanhadcheckedthewordsonhislips.
NoIhadntthechanceafterall,hesaid,fibbinghastily.
Ah.Shelookeddisappointed,butgentlyresolvedongainingherpoint.Youmust,then,forIdidnteither;andIshouldntlikehertothink
Ofcoursenot.Butarentyou,afterall,thepersontodoit?
Shepondered
on
this.
If
Id
done
it
at
the
right
time,
yes:
but
now
that theresbeenadelay I thinkyoumustexplain that Idaskedyou to tell her at the Opera, before our speaking about it toeverybodyhere.Otherwise shemight think I had forgottenher.Yousee,shesoneofthefamily,andshesbeenawaysolongthatshesrathersensitive.
Archerlookedatherglowingly.Dearandgreatangel!OfcourseIll tell her. He glanced a trifle apprehensively toward the
crowdedball
room.
But
Ihavent
seen
her
yet.
Has
she
come?
No;atthelastminuteshedecidednotto.
At the lastminute?he echoed,betrayinghis surprise that sheshouldeverhaveconsideredthealternativepossible.
Yes. Shes awfully fond of dancing, the young girl answeredsimply.Butsuddenlyshemadeuphermindthatherdresswasnt
smartenough
for
aball,
though
we
thought
it
so
lovely;
and
so
my
aunthadtotakeherhome.
Oh,wellsaidArcherwithhappyindifference.Nothingabouthisbetrothedpleasedhimmorethanherresolutedeterminationtocarrytoitsutmostlimitthatritualofignoringtheunpleasantinwhichtheyhadbothbeenbroughtup.
SheknowsaswellasIdo,hereflected,therealreasonofher
cousinsstaying
away;
but
Ishall
never
let
her
see
by
the
least
sign
that Iam consciousof therebeinga shadowofa shadeonpoorEllenOlenskasreputation.
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IV.
Inthecourseofthenextdaythefirstoftheusualbetrothalvisits
wereexchanged.
The
New
York
ritual
was
precise
and
inflexible
in
suchmatters;andinconformitywithitNewlandArcherfirstwentwithhismotherandsistertocallonMrs.Welland,afterwhichheand Mrs. Welland and May drove out to old Mrs. MansonMingottstoreceivethatvenerableancestresssblessing.
AvisittoMrs.MansonMingottwasalwaysanamusingepisodetothe young man. The house in itself was already an historicdocument,thoughnot,ofcourse,asvenerableascertainotherold
familyhouses
in
University
Place
and
lower
Fifth
Avenue.
Those
were of thepurest 1830,with a grimharmony of cabbage rosegarlanded carpets, rosewood consoles, roundarched fireplaceswith black marble mantels, and immense glazed bookcases ofmahogany;whereas oldMrs.Mingott,who had built her houselater,hadbodilycastoutthemassivefurnitureofherprime,andmingledwith theMingottheirlooms the frivolousupholsteryofthe Second Empire. It was her habit to sit in a window of hersittingroomonthegroundfloor,asifwatchingcalmlyforlifeand
fashionto
flow
northward
to
her
solitary
doors.
She
seemed
in
no
hurry to have them come, for her patiencewas equalled by herconfidence. She was sure that presently the hoardings, thequarries, the onestory saloons, the wooden greenhouses inragged gardens, and the rocks from which goats surveyed thescene,wouldvanishbeforetheadvanceofresidencesasstatelyasherownperhaps(forshewasanimpartialwoman)evenstatelier;and that the cobble stones over which the old clatteringomnibusesbumpedwouldbereplacedbysmoothasphalt,suchas
peoplereported
having
seen
in
Paris.
Meanwhile,
as
every
one
she
caredtoseecametoHER(andshecouldfillherroomsaseasilyastheBeauforts,andwithoutaddingasingleitemtothemenuofhersuppers),shedidnotsufferfromhergeographicisolation.
The immense accretion of fleshwhichhad descended onher inmiddlelifelikeafloodoflavaonadoomedcityhadchangedherfrom aplump active littlewomanwith aneatlyturned foot andankleintosomethingasvastandaugustasanaturalphenomenon.
Shehad
accepted
this
submergence
as
philosophically
as
all
her
other trials, and now, in extreme old age, was rewarded bypresenting to hermirror an almost unwrinkled expanse of firmpinkandwhiteflesh,inthecentreofwhichthetracesofasmall
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facesurvivedasifawaitingexcavation.Aflightofsmoothdoublechinsleddowntothedizzydepthsofastillsnowybosomveiledinsnowymuslinsthatwereheldinplacebyaminiatureportraitof
thelate
Mr.
Mingott;
and
around
and
below,
wave
after
wave
of
black silk surged away over the edges of a capacious armchair,withtwotinywhitehandspoisedlikegullsonthesurfaceofthebillows.
TheburdenofMrs.MansonMingottsfleshhadlongsincemadeitimpossible for her to go up and down stairs, and withcharacteristic independence she had made her reception roomsupstairs and established herself (in flagrant violation of all the
NewYork
proprieties)
on
the
ground
floor
of
her
house;
so
that,
as
yousatinhersittingroomwindowwithher,youcaught(throughadoor thatwasalwaysopen,anda looped backyellowdamaskportiere) theunexpectedvistaofabedroomwithahugelowbedupholstered like a sofa, and a toilettable with frivolous laceflouncesandagiltframedmirror.
Hervisitorswerestartledandfascinatedbytheforeignnessofthisarrangement, which recalled scenes in French fiction, and
architecturalincentives
to
immorality
such
as
the
simple
American
hadneverdreamedof.Thatwashowwomenwithloverslivedinthewickedoldsocieties,inapartmentswithalltheroomsononefloor, and all the indecent propinquities that their novelsdescribed. ItamusedNewlandArcher (whohad secretly situatedthe lovescenes of Monsieur de Camors in Mrs. Mingottsbedroom) topictureherblameless life led in the stagesettingofadultery;buthesaidtohimself,withconsiderableadmiration,thatifa loverhadbeenwhatshewanted, the intrepidwomanwould
havehad
him
too.
TothegeneralrelieftheCountessOlenskawasnotpresentinhergrandmothers drawingroom during the visit of the betrothedcouple.Mrs.Mingott said shehadgoneout;which,on adayofsuchglaringsunlight,andattheshoppinghour,seemedinitselfan indelicate thing for a compromisedwoman todo.But at anyrate it spared them the embarrassment of her presence, and thefaintshadow thatherunhappypastmightseem toshedon their
radiantfuture.
The
visit
went
off
successfully,
as
was
to
have
been
expected.OldMrs.Mingottwasdelightedwith the engagement,which, being long foreseen by watchful relatives, had beencarefullypasseduponinfamilycouncil;andtheengagementring,
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a large thick sapphire set in invisible claws, met with herunqualifiedadmiration.
Itsthe
new
setting:
of
course
it
shows
the
stone
beautifully,
but
it
looks a little bare to oldfashioned eyes, Mrs. Welland hadexplained,withaconciliatorysideglanceatherfuturesoninlaw.
Oldfashionedeyes?Ihopeyoudontmeanmine,mydear?Ilikeallthenovelties,saidtheancestress,liftingthestonetohersmallbright orbs, which no glasses had ever disfigured. Veryhandsome, she added, returning the jewel; very liberal. Inmytimeacameosetinpearlswasthoughtsufficient.Butitsthehand
thatsets
off
the
ring,
isnt
it,
my
dear
Mr.
Archer?
and
she
waved
oneofher tinyhands,withsmallpointednailsand rollsofagedfatencirclingthewristlikeivorybracelets.MinewasmodelledinRome by the great Ferrigiani. You should haveMays done: nodoubthellhave itdone,my child.Herhand is largeits thesemodernsportsthatspreadthejointsbuttheskiniswhite.Andwhens the wedding to be? she broke off, fixing her eyes onArchersface.
OhMrs.
Welland
murmured,
while
the
young
man,
smiling
at
hisbetrothed,replied:Assoonaseveritcan,ifonlyyoullbackmeup,Mrs.Mingott.
Wemustgivethemtimetogettoknoweachotheralittlebetter,mamma,Mrs.Wellandinterposed,withtheproperaffectationofreluctance; towhich the ancestress rejoined: Know each other?Fiddlesticks! Everybody in New York has always knowneverybody.Let theyoungmanhavehisway,mydear;dontwait
tillthe
bubbles
off
the
wine.
Marry
them
before
Lent;
Imay
catch
pneumonia any winter now, and I want to give the weddingbreakfast.
These successive statements were received with the properexpressionsofamusement,incredulityandgratitude;andthevisitwas breaking up in a vein of mild pleasantry when the dooropenedtoadmittheCountessOlenska,whoenteredinbonnetandmantlefollowedbytheunexpectedfigureofJuliusBeaufort.
Therewasacousinlymurmurofpleasurebetweentheladies,andMrs. Mingott held out Ferrigianis model to the banker. Ha!
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Beaufort, this is a rare favour! (Shehad anodd foreignwayofaddressingmenbytheirsurnames.)
Thanks.Iwish
it
might
happen
oftener,
said
the
visitor
in
his
easy arrogant way. Im generally so tied down; but I met theCountessEllen inMadisonSquare,andshewasgoodenough toletmewalkhomewithher.
AhIhopethehousewillbegayer,nowthatEllenshere!criedMrs. Mingott with a glorious effrontery. Sit downsit down,Beaufort:pushuptheyellowarmchair;nowIvegotyouIwantagoodgossip. Ihearyourballwasmagnificent;and Iunderstand
youinvited
Mrs.
Lemuel
Struthers?
WellIve
acuriosity
to
see
thewomanmyself.
Shehadforgottenherrelatives,whoweredriftingoutintothehallunder Ellen Olenskas guidance. Old Mrs. Mingott had alwaysprofessedagreatadmiration for JuliusBeaufort,and therewasakindofkinshipintheircooldomineeringwayandtheirshortcutsthrough the conventions.Now shewas eagerly curious toknowwhathaddecided theBeauforts to invite (for the first time)Mrs.
LemuelStruthers,
the
widow
of
Strutherss
Shoe
polish,
who
had
returnedthepreviousyearfromalonginitiatorysojourninEuropetolaysiegetothetightlittlecitadelofNewYork.Ofcourseifyouand Regina invite her the thing is settled. Well, we need newbloodandnewmoneyandIhearshesstillverygoodlooking,thecarnivorousoldladydeclared.
In the hall, while Mrs. Welland and May drew on their furs,ArchersawthattheCountessOlenskawaslookingathimwitha
faintlyquestioning
smile.
Of course you know alreadyabout May and me, he said,answering her look with a shy laugh. She scolded me for notgivingyouthenewslastnightattheOpera:IhadherorderstotellyouthatwewereengagedbutIcouldnt,inthatcrowd.
The smilepassed fromCountessOlenskas eyes toher lips: shelooked younger,more like theboldbrownEllenMingott ofhis
boyhood.Of
course
Iknow;
yes.
And
Im
so
glad.
But
one
doesnt
tellsuchthingsfirstinacrowd.Theladieswereonthethresholdandsheheldoutherhand.
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Goodbye;comeandseemesomeday,shesaid,stilllookingatArcher.
Inthe
carriage,
on
the
way
down
Fifth
Avenue,
they
talked
pointedly of Mrs. Mingott, of her age, her spirit, and all herwonderfulattributes.NoonealludedtoEllenOlenska;butArcherknewthatMrs.Wellandwasthinking:ItsamistakeforEllentobeseen,theverydayafterherarrival,paradingupFifthAvenueatthe crowded hour with Julius Beaufort and the young manhimselfmentallyadded:Andsheoughttoknowthatamanwhosjust engaged doesnt spend his time calling onmarriedwomen.But I daresay in the set shes lived in they dothey never do
anythingelse.
And,
in
spite
of
the
cosmopolitan
views
on
which
hepridedhimself,hethankedheaventhathewasaNewYorker,andabouttoallyhimselfwithoneofhisownkind.
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V.
ThenexteveningoldMr.SillertonJacksoncametodinewiththe
Archers.
Mrs.Archerwas a shywomanand shrank from society;but sheliked to be wellinformed as to its doings. Her old friend Mr.SillertonJacksonappliedtotheinvestigationofhisfriendsaffairsthepatienceofacollectorand thescienceofanaturalist;andhissister, Miss Sophy Jackson, who lived with him, and wasentertained by all the people who could not secure her muchsoughtafterbrother,broughthomebitsofminorgossipthatfilled
outusefully
the
gaps
in
his
picture.
Therefore,wheneveranythinghappenedthatMrs.Archerwantedto know about, she asked Mr. Jackson to dine; and as shehonoured few people with her invitations, and as she and herdaughter Janeywere an excellent audience,Mr. Jackson usuallycame himself instead of sending his sister. If he could havedictated all the conditions, he would have chosen the eveningswhen Newland was out; not because the young man was
uncongenialto
him
(the
two
got
on
capitally
at
their
club)
but
because the old anecdotist sometimes felt, onNewlands part, atendencytoweighhisevidencethattheladiesofthefamilynevershowed.
Mr.Jackson,ifperfectionhadbeenattainableonearth,wouldalsohave asked thatMrs.Archers food shouldbe a littlebetter.ButthenNewYork,asfarbackasthemindofmancouldtravel,hadbeen divided into the two great fundamental groups of the
Mingottsand
Mansons
and
all
their
clan,
who
cared
about
eating
andclothesandmoney,andtheArcherNewland vanderLuydentribe,whoweredevotedtotravel,horticultureandthebestfiction,andlookeddownonthegrosserformsofpleasure.
You couldnt have everything, after all. If you dined with theLovell Mingotts you got canvasback and terrapin and vintagewines; atAdelineArchers you could talk aboutAlpine sceneryandTheMarbleFaun;andluckilytheArcherMadeirahadgone
roundthe
Cape.
Therefore
when
afriendly
summons
came
from
Mrs.Archer,Mr. Jackson,whowasa trueeclectic,wouldusuallysaytohissister:IvebeenalittlegoutysincemylastdinnerattheLovellMingottsitwilldomegoodtodietatAdelines.
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Mrs.Archer,whohadlongbeenawidow,livedwithhersonanddaughter in West Twentyeighth Street. An upper floor was
dedicatedto
Newland,
and
the
two
women
squeezed
themselves
intonarrowerquartersbelow.Inanuncloudedharmonyoftastesand interests they cultivated ferns in Wardian cases, mademacrame laceandwoolembroideryon linen,collectedAmericanrevolutionaryglazedware,subscribedtoGoodWords,andreadOuidas novels for the sake of the Italian atmosphere. (Theypreferred thoseaboutpeasant life,becauseof thedescriptionsofscenery and the pleasanter sentiments, though in general theyliked novels about people in society,whosemotives and habits
weremore
comprehensible,
spoke
severely
of
Dickens,
who
had
neverdrawnagentleman,andconsideredThackeraylessathomeinthegreatworldthanBulwerwho,however,wasbeginningtobethoughtoldfashioned.)Mrs.andMissArcherwerebothgreatloversofscenery.Itwaswhattheyprincipallysoughtandadmiredon their occasional travels abroad; considering architecture andpaintingassubjectsformen,andchieflyforlearnedpersonswhoreadRuskin.Mrs.ArcherhadbeenbornaNewland,andmotherand daughter,whowere as like as sisters,were both, aspeople
said,true
Newlands;
tall,
pale,
and
slightly
round
shouldered,
withlongnoses,sweetsmilesandakindofdroopingdistinctionlike that in certain faded Reynolds portraits. Their physicalresemblancewouldhavebeencompleteifanelderlyembonpointhadnotstretchedMrs.Archersblackbrocade,whileMissArchersbrownandpurplepoplinshung,as theyearswenton,moreandmoreslacklyonhervirginframe.
Mentally,thelikenessbetweenthem,asNewlandwasaware,was
lesscomplete
than
their
identical
mannerisms
often
made
it
appear.The longhabitof living together inmutuallydependentintimacyhadgiventhemthesamevocabulary,andthesamehabitof beginning their phrases Mother thinks or Janey thinks,accordingasoneortheotherwishedtoadvanceanopinionofherown;butinreality,whileMrs.Archerssereneunimaginativenessrested easily in the accepted and familiar, Janey was subject tostarts and aberrations of fancy welling up from springs ofsuppressedromance.
Motheranddaughteradoredeachotherandreveredtheirsonandbrother; and Archer loved them with a tenderness madecompunctious and uncritical by the sense of their exaggerated
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admiration,andbyhissecretsatisfactioninit.Afterall,hethoughtitagoodthingforamantohavehisauthorityrespectedinhisownhouse,evenifhissenseofhumoursometimesmadehimquestion
theforce
of
his
mandate.
On thisoccasion theyoungmanwasvery sure thatMr. Jacksonwouldratherhavehadhimdineout;buthehadhisownreasonsfornotdoingso.
OfcourseoldJacksonwantedtotalkaboutEllenOlenska,andofcourseMrs.ArcherandJaneywantedtohearwhathehadtotell.All threewouldbe slightlyembarrassedbyNewlandspresence,
nowthat
his
prospective
relation
to
the
Mingott
clan
had
been
madeknown;andtheyoungmanwaitedwithanamusedcuriositytoseehowtheywouldturnthedifficulty.
Theybegan,obliquely,bytalkingaboutMrs.LemuelStruthers.
ItsapitytheBeaufortsaskedher,Mrs.Archersaidgently.ButthenReginaalwaysdoeswhathetellsher;andBEAUFORT
Certainnuances
escape
Beaufort,
said
Mr.
Jackson,
cautiously
inspecting the broiled shad, and wondering for the thousandthtime why Mrs. Archers cook always burnt the roe to a cinder.(Newland,whohadlongsharedhiswonder,couldalwaysdetectitintheoldermansexpressionofmelancholydisapproval.)
Oh,necessarily;Beaufortisavulgarman,saidMrs.Archer.MygrandfatherNewlandalwaysusedtosaytomymother:`Whateveryoudo,dont let that fellowBeaufortbe introduced to thegirls.
Butat
least
hes
had
the
advantage
of
associating
with
gentlemen;
inEnglandtoo,theysay.ItsallverymysteriousSheglancedatJaneyandpaused.SheandJaneykneweveryfoldoftheBeaufortmystery,but inpublicMrs.Archer continued toassume that thesubjectwasnotonefortheunmarried.
But thisMrs.Struthers,Mrs.Archer continued;whatdidyousaySHEwas,Sillerton?
Outof
amine:
or
rather
out
of
the
saloon
at
the
head
of
the
pit.
Then with Living WaxWorks, touring New England. After thepolicebrokeTHATup, they say she livedMr. Jackson inhisturnglancedatJaney,whoseeyesbegantobulgefromunderher
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prominentlids.TherewerestillhiatusesforherinMrs.Struthersspast.
Then,Mr.
Jackson
continued
(and
Archer
saw
he
was
wondering
whynoonehad told thebutlernever to slice cucumberswith asteel knife), then Lemuel Struthers came along. They say hisadvertiser used the girls head for the shoepolish posters; herhairs intensely black, you knowthe Egyptian style. Anyhow,heeventuallymarriedher.Therewerevolumesof innuendointhewaytheeventuallywasspaced,andeachsyllablegivenitsduestress.
Oh,wellat
the
pass
weve
come
to
nowadays,
it
doesnt
matter,
said Mrs. Archer indifferently. The ladies were not reallyinterestedinMrs.Struthersjustthen;thesubjectofEllenOlenskawastoofreshandtooabsorbingtothem.Indeed,Mrs.Strutherssname had been introduced byMrs.Archer only that shemightpresentlybeable tosay:AndNewlandsnewcousinCountessOlenska?WasSHEattheballtoo?
Therewasafainttouchofsarcasminthereferencetoherson,and
Archerknew
it
and
had
expected
it.
Even
Mrs.
Archer,
who
was
seldomundulypleasedwithhuman events,hadbeen altogethergladofhersonsengagement.(EspeciallyafterthatsillybusinesswithMrs.Rushworth,asshehadremarkedtoJaney,alludingtowhat had once seemed toNewland a tragedy ofwhich his soulwouldalwaysbearthescar.)
TherewasnobettermatchinNewYorkthanMayWelland,lookatthe question from whatever point you chose. Of course such a
marriagewas
only
what
Newland
was
entitled
to;
but
young
men
are so foolish and incalculableand somewomen so ensnaringandunscrupulousthat itwasnothing shortof amiracle to seeones only son safe past the Siren Isle and in the haven of ablamelessdomesticity.
AllthisMrs.Archerfelt,andhersonknewshefelt;butheknewalsothatshehadbeenperturbedbytheprematureannouncementof his engagement, or rather by its cause; and it was for that
reasonbecauseon
the
whole
he
was
atender
and
indulgent
masterthathehadstayedathome thatevening.Itsnot that IdontapproveoftheMingottsespritdecorps;butwhyNewlandsengagement should be mixed up with that Olenska womans
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comingsandgoingsIdontsee,Mrs.Archergrumbled toJaney,theonlywitnessofherslightlapsesfromperfectsweetness.
Shehad
behaved
beautifullyand
in
beautiful
behaviour
she
was
unsurpassedduring the call on Mrs. Welland; but Newlandknew (andhisbetrotheddoubtlessguessed) thatall through thevisit she and Janey were nervously on the watch for MadameOlenskas possible intrusion; and when they left the housetogethershehadpermittedherselftosaytoherson:ImthankfulthatAugustaWellandreceivedusalone.
These indicationsof inwarddisturbancemovedArcher themore
thathe
too
felt
that
the
Mingotts
had
gone
alittle
too
far.
But,
as
it
was against all the rules of their code that themother and sonshould ever allude towhatwasuppermost in their thoughts,hesimplyreplied:Oh,well,theresalwaysaphaseoffamilypartiesto be gone throughwhen one gets engaged, and the sooner itsoverthebetter.Atwhichhismothermerelypursedherlipsunderthelaceveilthathungdownfromhergreyvelvetbonnettrimmedwithfrostedgrapes.
Herrevenge,
he
felther
lawful
revengewould
be
to
draw
Mr.
Jackson that evening on the Countess Olenska; and, havingpubliclydonehisdutyasafuturememberoftheMingottclan,theyoung man had no objection to hearing the lady discussed inprivateexcept that the subject was already beginning to borehim.
Mr.Jacksonhadhelpedhimselftoasliceofthetepidfiletwhichthemournfulbutlerhadhandedhimwithalookasscepticalashis
own,and
had
rejected
the
mushroom
sauce
after
ascarcely
perceptible sniff. He looked baffled and hungry, and ArcherreflectedthathewouldprobablyfinishhismealonEllenOlenska.
Mr. Jackson leaned back in his chair, and glanced up at thecandlelitArchers,NewlandsandvanderLuydenshangingindarkframesonthedarkwalls.
Ah,howyourgrandfatherArcher lovedagooddinner,mydear
Newland!he
said,
his
eyes
on
the
portrait
of
aplump
full
chested
youngman in a stock and a blue coat,with a view of awhitecolumned countryhouse behind him. Wellwellwell . . . Iwonderwhathewouldhavesaidtoalltheseforeignmarriages!
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Mrs.Archerignored theallusion to theancestralcuisineandMr.Jackson continued with deliberation: No, she was NOT at the
ball.
AhMrs.Archermurmured, ina tone that implied:Shehadthatdecency.
PerhapstheBeaufortsdontknowher,Janeysuggested,withherartlessmalice.
Mr. Jacksongave a faint sip, as ifhehadbeen tasting invisible
Madeira.Mrs.
Beaufort
may
notbut
Beaufort
certainly
does,
for
shewasseenwalkingupFifthAvenuethisafternoonwithhimbythewholeofNewYork.
Mercy moaned Mrs. Archer, evidently perceiving theuselessnessoftryingtoascribetheactionsofforeignerstoasenseofdelicacy.
Iwonderifshewearsaroundhatorabonnetintheafternoon,
Janeyspeculated.
At
the
Opera
Iknow
she
had
on
dark
blue
velvet,perfectlyplainandflatlikeanightgown.
Janey! saidhermother; andMissArcherblushed and tried tolookaudacious.
It was, at any rate, in better taste not to go to the ball, Mrs.Archercontinued.
Aspirit
of
perversity
moved
her
son
to
rejoin:
I
dont
think
it
was
aquestionof tastewithher.Maysaidshemeant togo,and thendecidedthatthedressinquestionwasntsmartenough.
Mrs.Archer smiled at this confirmation of her inference. PoorEllen, she simply remarked;adding compassionately:Wemustalways bear in mind what an eccentric bringingup MedoraMansongaveher.Whatcanyouexpectofagirlwhowasallowedtowearblacksatinathercomingoutball?
AhdontIrememberherinit!saidMr.Jackson;adding:Poorgirl! in the tone of onewho,while enjoying thememory, hadfullyunderstoodatthetimewhatthesightportended.
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Its odd, Janey remarked, that she should have kept such anugly name as Ellen. I should have changed it to Elaine. She
glancedabout
the
table
to
see
the
effect
of
this.
Herbrotherlaughed.WhyElaine?
I dont know; it sounds moremore Polish, said Janey,blushing.
It sounds more conspicuous; and that can hardly be what shewishes,saidMrs.Archerdistantly.
Why not? broke in her son, growing suddenly argumentative.Why shouldnt shebe conspicuous if she chooses?Why shouldsheslinkaboutasifitwereshewhohaddisgracedherself?Shes`poor Ellen certainly, because she had the bad luck to make awretchedmarriage;but Idontsee that thatsa reason forhidingherheadasifsheweretheculprit.
That,Isuppose,saidMr.Jackson,speculatively,isthelinethe
Mingottsmean
to
take.
Theyoungman reddened.Ididnthave towait for theircue, ifthatswhatyoumean,sir.MadameOlenskahashadanunhappylife:thatdoesntmakeheranoutcast.
Therearerumours,beganMr.Jackson,glancingatJaney.
Oh, I know: the secretary, the young man took him up.
Nonsense,mother;
Janeys
grown
up.
They
say,
dont
they,
he
wenton,thatthesecretaryhelpedhertogetawayfromherbruteofahusband,whokeptherpracticallyaprisoner?Well,whatifhedid?Ihope thereisntamanamonguswhowouldnthavedonethesameinsuchacase.
Mr. Jackson glanced over his shoulder to say to the sad butler:Perhaps . . . thatsauce . . . justa little,afterall; then,havinghelpedhimself,heremarked:Imtoldsheslookingforahouse.
Shemeans
to
live
here.
Ihearshemeanstogetadivorce,saidJaneyboldly.
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Ihopeshewill!Archerexclaimed.
Theword had fallen like a bombshell in the pure and tranquil
atmosphereof
the
Archer
dining
room.
Mrs.
Archer
raised
her
delicate eyebrows in the particular curve that signified: Thebutlerandtheyoungman,himselfmindfulofthebadtasteofdiscussing such intimatematters in public, hastily branched offintoanaccountofhisvisittooldMrs.Mingott.
After dinner, according to immemorial custom,Mrs.Archer andJaney trailed their long silk draperies up to the drawingroom,where,whilethegentlemensmokedbelowstairs,theysatbesidea
Carcellamp
with
an
engraved
globe,
facing
each
other
across
a
rosewoodworktablewithagreensilkbagunderit,andstitchedatthetwoendsofatapestrybandoffieldflowersdestinedtoadornan occasional chair in the drawing room of young Mrs.NewlandArcher.
Whilethisritewasinprogressinthedrawingroom,ArchersettledMr.JacksoninanarmchairnearthefireintheGothiclibraryandhanded him a cigar. Mr. Jackson sank into the armchair with
satisfaction,lit
his
cigar
with
perfect
confidence
(it
was
Newland
whoboughtthem),andstretchinghisthinoldanklestothecoals,said: You say the secretarymerely helped her to get away,mydear fellow?Well,hewas stillhelpingherayear later, then; forsomebodymetemlivingatLausannetogether.
Newlandreddened.Livingtogether?Well,whynot?Whohadtherighttomakeherlifeoverifshehadnt?Imsickofthehypocrisythatwouldburyaliveawomanofherageifherhusbandprefersto
livewith
harlots.
He stopped and turned away angrily to lighthis cigar. Womenought to be freeas free as we are, he declared, making adiscovery of which he was too irritated to measure the terrificconsequences.
Mr. Sillerton Jackson stretched his ankles nearer the coals andemittedasardonicwhistle.
Well, he said after a pause, apparently Count Olenski takesyourview;forIneverheardofhishavingliftedafingertogethiswifeback.
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VI.
Thatevening,afterMr. Jacksonhad takenhimselfaway,and the
ladieshad
retired
to
their
chintz
curtained
bedroom,
Newland
Archermounted thoughtfully tohisown study.Avigilanthandhad,asusual,kept the firealiveand the lamp trimmed;and theroom, with its rows and rows of books, its bronze and steelstatuettes of The Fencers on the mantelpiece and its manyphotographsoffamouspictures,lookedsingularlyhomelikeandwelcoming.
Ashedroppedintohisarmchairnearthefirehiseyesrestedona
largephotograph
of
May
Welland,
which
the
young
girl
had
given
him in the first days of their romance, and which had nowdisplacedalltheotherportraitsonthetable.Withanewsenseofawehelookedatthefrankforehead,seriouseyesandgayinnocentmouthoftheyoungcreaturewhosesoulscustodianhewastobe.That terrifying product of the social system he belonged to andbelieved in, the young girl who knew nothing and expectedeverything, looked back at him like a stranger through MayWellandsfamiliarfeatures;andoncemoreitwasborneinonhim
thatmarriage
was
not
the
safe
anchorage
he
had
been
taught
to
think,butavoyageonunchartedseas.
The case of the Countess Olenska had stirred up old settledconvictionsandset themdriftingdangerously throughhismind.Hisownexclamation:Womenshouldbefreeasfreeasweare,strucktotherootofaproblemthat itwasagreedinhisworldtoregardasnonexistent.Nicewomen,howeverwronged,wouldneverclaimthekindoffreedomhemeant,andgenerous minded
menlike
himself
were
thereforein
the
heat
of
argumentthe
more chivalrously ready to concede it to them. Such verbalgenerosities were in fact only a humbugging disguise of theinexorableconventionsthattiedthingstogetherandboundpeopledowntotheoldpattern.Butherehewaspledgedtodefend,onthepartofhisbetrothedscousin,conductthat,onhisownwifespart,would justify him in calling down on her all the thunders ofChurchandState.Ofcoursethedilemmawaspurelyhypothetical;sincehewasnt ablackguardPolishnobleman, itwas absurd to
speculatewhat
his
wifes
rights
would
be
if
he
WERE.
But
NewlandArcherwas too imaginativenot to feel that, inhis caseand Mays, the tie might gall for reasons far less gross andpalpable.Whatcouldheandshereallyknowofeachother,sinceit
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washisduty, asadecent fellow, to concealhispast fromher,andhers,asamarriageablegirl,tohavenopasttoconceal?Whatif,forsomeoneofthesubtlerreasonsthatwouldtellwithbothof
them,they
should
tire
of
each
other,
misunderstand
or
irritate
each
other?Hereviewedhisfriendsmarriagesthesupposedlyhappyonesand saw none that answered, even remotely, to thepassionate and tender comradeship which he pictured as hispermanent relationwithMayWelland.Heperceived that such apicture presupposed, on her part, the experience, the versatility,thefreedomofjudgment,whichshehadbeencarefullytrainednottopossess; andwitha shiverof forebodinghe sawhismarriagebecomingwhatmostoftheothermarriagesabouthimwere:adull
associationof
material
and
social
interests
held
together
by
ignoranceon theone sideandhypocrisyon theother.LawrenceLeffertsoccurredtohimasthehusbandwhohadmostcompletelyrealisedthisenviableideal.Asbecamethehighpriestofform,hehadformedawifesocompletely tohisownconvenience that, inthemost conspicuousmoments ofhis frequent loveaffairswithother menswives, shewent about in smiling unconsciousness,saying that Lawrence was so frightfully strict; and had beenknown toblush indignantly,andaverthergaze,when someone
alludedin
her
presence
to
the
fact
that
Julius
Beaufort
(as
became
a
foreignerofdoubtfulorigin)hadwhatwasknowninNewYorkasanotherestablishment.
Archer tried toconsolehimselfwith the thought thathewasnotquite suchanassasLarryLefferts,norMaysucha simpletonaspoorGertrude;butthedifferencewasafteralloneofintelligenceand not of standards. In reality they all lived in a kind ofhieroglyphicworld,wheretherealthingwasneversaidordoneor
eventhought,
but
only
represented
by
aset
of
arbitrary
signs;
as
whenMrs.Welland,whoknew exactlywhyArcherhadpressedher to announceherdaughters engagement at theBeaufortball(andhad indeed expectedhim todono less),yet feltobliged tosimulate reluctance, and the air of having had her hand forced,quiteas, in thebooksonPrimitiveMan thatpeopleofadvancedculturewerebeginning to read, thesavagebride isdraggedwithshrieksfromherparentstent.
Theresult,
of
course,
was
that
the
young
girl
who
was
the
centre
of
this elaborate system of mystification remained the moreinscrutable forhervery franknessandassurance.Shewas frank,poordarling,becauseshehadnothingtoconceal,assuredbecause
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sheknewofnothingtobeonherguardagainst;andwithnobetterpreparationthanthis,shewastobeplungedovernightintowhatpeopleevasivelycalledthefactsoflife.
Theyoungmanwassincerelybutplacidlyinlove.Hedelightedinthe radiant good looks of his betrothed, in her health, herhorsemanship, her grace and quickness at games, and the shyinterest in books and ideas that she was beginning to developunderhisguidance.(Shehadadvancedfarenoughtojoinhiminridiculing the Idyls of the King, but not to feel the beauty ofUlyssesandtheLotusEaters.)Shewasstraightforward,loyalandbrave;shehadasenseofhumour(chieflyprovedbyherlaughing
atHIS
jokes);
and
he
suspected,
in
the
depths
of
her
innocently
gazingsoul,aglowoffeelingthatitwouldbeajoytowaken.Butwhenhehadgonethebriefroundofherhereturneddiscouragedbythethoughtthatallthisfranknessandinnocencewereonlyanartificial product. Untrained human nature was not frank andinnocent; itwas fullof the twists anddefencesof an instinctiveguile.Andhefelthimselfoppressedbythiscreationoffactitiouspurity,socunninglymanufacturedbyaconspiracyofmothersandaunts and grandmothers and longdead ancestresses, because it
wassupposed
to
be
what
he
wanted,
what
he
had
aright
to,
in
orderthathemightexercisehislordlypleasureinsmashingitlikeanimagemadeofsnow.
Therewasacertain tritenessinthesereflections:theywere thosehabitualtoyoungmenontheapproachoftheirweddingday.ButtheyweregenerallyaccompaniedbyasenseofcompunctionandselfabasementofwhichNewlandArcher feltno trace.He couldnot deplore (asThackerays heroes so often exasperated him by
doing)that
he
had
not
ablank
page
to
offer
his
bride
in
exchange
fortheunblemishedoneshewastogivetohim.Hecouldnotgetawayfromthefactthatifhehadbeenbroughtupasshehadtheywould have been no more fit to find their way about than theBabes in theWood;nor couldhe, forallhisanxious cogitations,see any honest reason (any, that is, unconnected with his ownmomentarypleasure,andthepassionofmasculinevanity)whyhisbride should not have been allowed the same freedom ofexperienceashimself.
Suchquestions,atsuchanhour,wereboundtodriftthroughhismind;buthewas conscious that theiruncomfortablepersistenceandprecisionwereduetotheinopportunearrivaloftheCountess
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Olenska. Here he was, at the very moment of his betrothalamomentforpurethoughtsandcloudlesshopespitchforkedintoa coilof scandalwhich raisedall the specialproblemshewould
havepreferred
to
let
lie.
Hang
Ellen
Olenska!
he
grumbled,
as
he
coveredhisfireandbegantoundress.Hecouldnotreallyseewhyherfateshouldhavetheleastbearingonhis;yethedimlyfeltthathehadonlyjustbeguntomeasuretherisksofthechampionshipwhichhisengagementhadforceduponhim.
Afewdayslatertheboltfell.
TheLovellMingottshadsentoutcardsforwhatwasknownasa
formaldinner
(that
is,
three
extra
footmen,
two
dishes
for
each
course,andaRomanpunchinthemiddle),andhadheadedtheirinvitationswith thewords Tomeet theCountessOlenska, inaccordance with the hospitable American fashion, which treatsstrangersasiftheywereroyalties,oratleastastheirambassadors.
Theguestshadbeenselectedwithaboldnessanddiscriminationinwhich the initiated recognised the firmhandofCatherine theGreat.AssociatedwithsuchimmemorialstandbysastheSelfridge
Merrys,who
were
asked
everywhere
because
they
always
had
been, theBeauforts,onwhom therewas a claimof relationship,and Mr. Sillerton Jackson and his sister Sophy (who wentwherever her brother told her to), were some of the mostfashionableandyetmost irreproachableof thedominantyoungmarried set; the Lawrence Leffertses, Mrs. Lefferts Rushworth(thelovelywidow),theHarryThorleys,theReggieChiversesandyoungMorrisDagonetandhiswife(whowasavanderLuyden).Thecompanyindeedwasperfectlyassorted,sinceallthemembers
belongedto
the
little
inner
group
of
people
who,
during
the
long
NewYorkseason,disportedthemselvestogetherdailyandnightlywithapparentlyundiminishedzest.
Fortyeighthourslatertheunbelievablehadhappened;everyonehadrefusedtheMingottsinvitationexcepttheBeaufortsandoldMr.Jacksonandhissister.TheintendedslightwasemphasisedbythefactthateventheReggieChiverses,whowereoftheMingottclan,wereamongthoseinflictingit;andbytheuniformwording
ofthe
notes,
in
all
of
which
the
writers
regretted
that
they
were
unable to accept, without the mitigating plea of a previousengagementthatordinarycourtesyprescribed.
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NewYorksocietywas,inthosedays,fartoosmall,andtooscantinits resources, foreveryone in it (including liverystablekeepers,butlersandcooks)nottoknowexactlyonwhicheveningspeople
werefree;
and
it
was
thus
possible
for
the
recipients
of
Mrs.
Lovell
MingottsinvitationstomakecruellycleartheirdeterminationnottomeettheCountessOlenska.
Theblowwasunexpected;buttheMingotts,astheirwaywas,metit gallantly. Mrs. Lovell Mingott confided the case to Mrs.Welland,whoconfided it toNewlandArcher;who,aflameat theoutrage,appealedpassionatelyandauthoritatively tohismother;who, after a painful period of inward resistance and outward
temporising,succumbed
to
his
instances
(as
she
always
did),
and
immediatelyembracinghiscausewithanenergyredoubledbyherprevioushesitations,putonhergreyvelvetbonnetandsaid:IllgoandseeLouisavanderLuyden.
TheNewYorkofNewlandArchersdaywasasmallandslipperypyramid, inwhich, as yet, hardly a fissure had beenmade or afootholdgained.At itsbasewasa firm foundationofwhatMrs.Archercalledplainpeople;anhonourablebutobscuremajority
ofrespectable
families
who
(as
in
the
case
of
the
Spicers
or
the
Leffertses or the Jacksons) hadbeen raised above their level bymarriagewithoneoftherulingclans.People,Mrs.Archeralwayssaid, were not as particular as they used to be; and with oldCatherine Spicer ruling one end of Fifth Avenue, and JuliusBeaufort the other, you couldnt expect the old traditions to lastmuchlonger.
Firmly narrowing upward from this wealthy but inconspicuous
substratumwas
the
compact
and
dominant
group
which
the
Mingotts, Newlands, Chiverses and Mansons so activelyrepresented.Mostpeopleimaginedthemtobetheveryapexofthepyramid; but they themselves (at least those of Mrs. Archersgeneration) were aware that, in the eyes of the professionalgenealogist,onlyastillsmallernumberoffamiliescouldlayclaimtothateminence.
Dont tellme,Mrs.Archerwould say toher children,all this
modernnewspaper
rubbish
about
aNew
York
aristocracy.
If
there
isone,neithertheMingottsnortheMansonsbelongtoit;no,northeNewlandsortheChiverseseither.Ourgrandfathersandgreatgrandfathers were just respectable English or Dutch merchants,
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whocame to thecolonies tomake their fortune,and stayedherebecause theydid sowell.Oneofyourgreatgrandfathers signedtheDeclaration,andanotherwasageneralonWashingtonsstaff,
andreceived
General
Burgoynes
sword
after
the
battle
of
Saratoga.Thesearethingstobeproudof,buttheyhavenothingtodowith rank or class.NewYorkhas alwaysbeen a commercialcommunity,and therearenotmore than three families in itwhocanclaimanaristocraticoriginintherealsenseoftheword.
Mrs.Archerandhersonanddaughter,likeeveryoneelseinNewYork, knewwho these privileged beingswere: theDagonets ofWashington Square,who came of an old English county family
alliedwith
the
Pitts
and
Foxes;
the
Lannings,
who
had
intermarriedwiththedescendantsofCountdeGrasse,andthevander Luydens, direct descendants of the first Dutch governor ofManhattan,and relatedbyprerevolutionarymarriages toseveralmembersoftheFrenchandBritisharistocracy.
The Lannings survived only in the person of two very old butlively Miss Lannings, who lived cheerfully and reminiscentlyamong family portraits and Chippendale; the Dagonets were a
considerableclan,
allied
to
the
best
names
in
Baltimore
and
Philadelphia; but the van der Luydens, who stood above all ofthem, had faded into a kind of superterrestrial twilight, fromwhich only two figures impressively emerged; those ofMr. andMrs.HenryvanderLuyden.
Mrs.Henry van der Luyden had been LouisaDagonet, and hermotherhadbeen thegranddaughterofColonelduLac,ofanoldChannelIslandfamily,whohadfoughtunderCornwallisandhad
settledin
Maryland,
after
the
war,
with
his
bride,
Lady
Angelica
Trevenna,fifthdaughteroftheEarlofSt.Austrey.Thetiebetweenthe Dagonets, the du Lacs of Maryland, and their aristocraticCornishkinsfolk, theTrevennas,hadalways remained closeandcordial.Mr. andMrs. vander Luydenhadmore than once paidlongvisitstothepresentheadofthehouseofTrevenna,theDukeofSt.Austrey,athiscountryseatinCornwallandatSt.AustreyinGloucestershire; and his Grace had frequently announced hisintentionofsomeday returning theirvisit (without theDuchess,
whofeared
the
Atlantic).
Mr. and Mrs. van der Luyden divided their time betweenTrevenna, their place in Maryland, and Skuytercliff, the great
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estateontheHudsonwhichhadbeenoneofthecolonialgrantsoftheDutchgovernmenttothefamousfirstGovernor,andofwhichMr.vanderLuydenwasstillPatroon.Theirlargesolemnhouse
inMadison
Avenue
was
seldom
opened,
and
when
they
came
to
towntheyreceivedinitonlytheirmostintimatefriends.
I wish you would go with me, Newland, his mother said,suddenlypausingatthedooroftheBrowncoupe.Louisaisfondofyou;andofcourse itsonaccountofdearMaythatIm takingthisstepandalsobecause,ifwedontallstandtogether,therellbenosuchthingasSocietyleft.
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VII.
Mrs.HenryvanderLuydenlistenedinsilencetohercousinMrs.
Archersnarrative.
Itwasallverywell to tellyourself inadvance thatMrs.vanderLuyden was always silent, and that, though noncommittal bynature and training, shewas very kind to the people she reallyliked. Even personal experience of these factswas not always aprotection from the chill that descended on one in the highceilingedwhitewalledMadisonAvenuedrawingroom,with thepalebrocadedarmchairssoobviouslyuncoveredfortheoccasion,
andthe
gauze
still
veiling
the
ormolu
mantel
ornaments
and
the
beautifuloldcarvedframeofGainsboroughsLadyAngelicaduLac.
Mrs.vanderLuydensportraitbyHuntington(inblackvelvetandVenetianpoint)facedthatofherlovelyancestress.Itwasgenerallyconsideredas fineasaCabanel,and, though twentyyearshadelapsed since itsexecution,was stillaperfect likeness. Indeedthe Mrs. van der Luyden who sat beneath it listening to Mrs.
Archermight
have
been
the
twin
sister
of
the
fair
and
still
youngishwomandroopingagainstagiltarmchairbeforeagreenrep curtain. Mrs. van der Luyden still wore black velvet andVenetianpointwhen shewent into societyor rather (since sheneverdinedout)whenshethrewopenherowndoorstoreceiveit.Her fair hair, which had faded without turning grey, was stillpartedinflatoverlappingpointsonherforehead,andthestraightnosethatdividedherpaleblueeyeswasonlyalittlemorepinchedabout thenostrils thanwhen theportraithadbeenpainted.She
always,indeed,
struck
Newland
Archer
as
having
been
rather
gruesomely preserved in the airless atmosphere of a perfectlyirreproachable existence, as bodies caught in glaciers keep foryearsarosylifeindeath.
Likeallhisfamily,heesteemedandadmiredMrs.vanderLuyden;buthefoundhergentlebendingsweetnesslessapproachablethanthe grimness of some ofhismothers old aunts, fierce spinsterswho said No on principle before they knew what they were
goingto
be
asked.
Mrs.vanderLuydensattitudesaidneitheryesnorno,butalwaysappearedtoinclinetoclemencytillherthinlips,waveringintothe
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shadowofasmile,madethealmostinvariablereply:Ishallfirsthavetotalkthisoverwithmyhusband.
Sheand
Mr.
van
der
Luyden
were
so
exactly
alike
that
Archer
oftenwonderedhow, after fortyyearsof the closest conjugality,twosuchmergedidentitieseverseparatedthemselvesenoughforanythingascontroversialasatalkingover.Butasneitherhadeverreached a decision without prefacing it by this mysteriousconclave, Mrs. Archer and her son, having set forth their case,waitedresignedlyforthefamiliarphrase.
Mrs. van der Luyden, however, who had seldom surprised any
one,now
surprised
them
by
reaching
her
long
hand
toward
the
bellrope.
I think, she said, I should likeHenry tohearwhatyouhavetoldme.
Afootmanappeared,towhomshegravelyadded:IfMr.vanderLuydenhasfinishedreadingthenewspaper,pleaseaskhimtobekindenoughtocome.
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