English
ItwasgenerallyagreedinNewYorkthattheCountessOlenskahad"lostherlooks."
Shehadappearedtherefirst,inNewlandArcher'sboyhood,asabrilliantlyprettylittlegirlofnineorten,ofwhompeoplesaidthatshe"oughttobepainted."
Herparentshadbeencontinentalwanderers,andafteraroamingbabyhoodshehadlostthemboth,andbeentakeninchargebyheraunt,MedoraManson,alsoawanderer,whowasherselfreturningtoNewYorkto"settledown."
PoorMedora,repeatedlywidowed,wasalwayscominghometosettledown(eachtimeinalessexpensivehouse),andbringingwithheranewhusbandoranadoptedchild;butafterafewmonthssheinvariablypartedfromherhusbandorquarrelledwithherward,and,havinggotridofherhouseataloss,setoutagainonherwanderings.
AshermotherhadbeenaRushworth,andherlastunhappymarriagehadlinkedhertooneofthecrazyChiverses,NewYorklookedindulgentlyonhereccentricities;butwhenshereturnedwithherlittleorphanedniece,whoseparentshadbeenpopularinspiteoftheirregrettabletastefortravel,peoplethoughtitapitythattheprettychildshouldbeinsuchhands.
EveryonewasdisposedtobekindtolittleEllenMingott,thoughherduskyredcheeksandtightcurlsgaveheranairofgaietythatseemedunsuitableinachildwhoshouldstillhavebeeninblackforherparents.
ItwasoneofthemisguidedMedora'smanypeculiaritiestoflouttheunalterablerulesthatregulatedAmericanmourning,andwhenshesteppedfromthesteamerherfamilywerescandalisedtoseethatthecrapeveilsheworeforherownbrotherwasseveninchesshorterthanthoseofhersisters–in–law,whilelittleEllenwasincrimsonmerinoandamberbeads,likeagipsyfoundling.
ButNewYorkhadsolongresigneditselftoMedorathatonlyafewoldladiesshooktheirheadsoverEllen'sgaudyclothes,whileherotherrelationsfellunderthecharmofherhighcolourandhighspirits.
Shewasafearlessandfamiliarlittlething,whoaskeddisconcertingquestions,madeprecociouscomments,andpossessedoutlandisharts,suchasdancingaSpanishshawldanceandsingingNeapolitanlove–songstoaguitar.
Underthedirectionofheraunt(whoserealnamewasMrs.ThorleyChivers,butwho,havingreceivedaPapaltitle,hadresumedherfirsthusband'spatronymic,andcalledherselftheMarchionessManson,becauseinItalyshecouldturnitintoManzoni)thelittlegirlreceivedanexpensivebutincoherenteducation,whichincluded"drawingfromthemodel,"athingneverdreamedofbefore,andplayingthepianoinquintetswithprofessionalmusicians.
Ofcoursenogoodcouldcomeofthis;andwhen,afewyearslater,poorChiversfinallydiedinamadhouse,hiswidow(drapedinstrangeweeds)againpulledupstakesanddepartedwithEllen,whohadgrownintoatallbonygirlwithconspicuouseyes.
Forsometimenomorewasheardofthem;thennewscameofEllen'smarriagetoanimmenselyrichPolishnoblemanoflegendaryfame,whomshehadmetataballattheTuileries,andwhowassaidtohaveprincelyestablishmentsinParis,NiceandFlorence,ayachtatCowes,andmanysquaremilesofshootinginTransylvania.
Shedisappearedinakindofsulphurousapotheosis,andwhenafewyearslaterMedoraagaincamebacktoNewYork,subdued,impoverished,mourningathirdhusband,andinquestofastillsmallerhouse,peoplewonderedthatherrichniecehadnotbeenabletodosomethingforher.
ThencamethenewsthatEllen'sownmarriagehadendedindisaster,andthatshewasherselfreturninghometoseekrestandoblivionamongherkinsfolk.
ThesethingspassedthroughNewlandArcher'smindaweeklaterashewatchedtheCountessOlenskaenterthevanderLuydendrawing–roomontheeveningofthemomentousdinner.
Theoccasionwasasolemnone,andhewonderedalittlenervouslyhowshewouldcarryitoff.
Shecameratherlate,onehandstillungloved,andfasteningabraceletaboutherwrist;yetsheenteredwithoutanyappearanceofhasteorembarrassmentthedrawing–roominwhichNewYork'smostchosencompanywassomewhatawfullyassembled.
Inthemiddleoftheroomshepaused,lookingaboutherwithagravemouthandsmilingeyes;andinthatinstantNewlandArcherrejectedthegeneralverdictonherlooks.
Itwastruethatherearlyradiancewasgone.
Theredcheekshadpaled;shewasthin,worn,alittleolder–lookingthanherage,whichmusthavebeennearlythirty.
Buttherewasaboutherthemysteriousauthorityofbeauty,asurenessinthecarriageofthehead,themovementoftheeyes,which,withoutbeingintheleasttheatrical,struckhisashighlytrainedandfullofaconsciouspower.
Atthesametimeshewassimplerinmannerthanmostoftheladiespresent,andmanypeople(asheheardafterwardfromJaney)weredisappointedthatherappearancewasnotmore"stylish"—forstylishnesswaswhatNewYorkmostvalued.
Itwas,perhaps,Archerreflected,becauseherearlyvivacityhaddisappeared;becauseshewassoquiet—quietinhermovements,hervoice,andthetonesofherlow–pitchedvoice.
NewYorkhadexpectedsomethingagooddealmorereasonantinayoungwomanwithsuchahistory.
Thedinnerwasasomewhatformidablebusiness.
DiningwiththevanderLuydenswasatbestnolightmatter,anddiningtherewithaDukewhowastheircousinwasalmostareligioussolemnity.
ItpleasedArchertothinkthatonlyanoldNewYorkercouldperceivetheshadeofdifference(toNewYork)betweenbeingmerelyaDukeandbeingthevanderLuydens'Duke.
NewYorktookstraynoblemencalmly,andeven(exceptintheStruthersset)withacertaindistrustfulhauteur;butwhentheypresentedsuchcredentialsasthesetheywerereceivedwithanold–fashionedcordialitythattheywouldhavebeengreatlymistakeninascribingsolelytotheirstandinginDebrett.
ItwasforjustsuchdistinctionsthattheyoungmancherishedhisoldNewYorkevenwhilehesmiledatit.
ThevanderLuydenshaddonetheirbesttoemphasisetheimportanceoftheoccasion.
TheduLacSevresandtheTrevennaGeorgeIIplatewereout;sowasthevanderLuyden"Lowestoft"(EastIndiaCompany)andtheDagonetCrownDerby.
Mrs.vanderLuydenlookedmorethaneverlikeaCabanel,andMrs.Archer,inhergrandmother'sseed–pearlsandemeralds,remindedhersonofanIsabeyminiature.
Alltheladieshadontheirhandsomestjewels,butitwascharacteristicofthehouseandtheoccasionthattheseweremostlyinratherheavyold–fashionedsettings;andoldMissLanning,whohadbeenpersuadedtocome,actuallyworehermother'scameosandaSpanishblondeshawl.
TheCountessOlenskawastheonlyyoungwomanatthedinner;yet,asArcherscannedthesmoothplumpelderlyfacesbetweentheirdiamondnecklacesandtoweringostrichfeathers,theystruckhimascuriouslyimmaturecomparedwithhers.
Itfrightenedhimtothinkwhatmusthavegonetothemakingofhereyes.
TheDukeofSt.Austrey,whosatathishostess'sright,wasnaturallythechieffigureoftheevening.
ButiftheCountessOlenskawaslessconspicuousthanhadbeenhoped,theDukewasalmostinvisible.
Beingawell–bredmanhehadnot(likeanotherrecentducalvisitor)cometothedinnerinashooting–jacket;buthiseveningclothesweresoshabbyandbaggy,andheworethemwithsuchanairoftheirbeinghomespun,that(withhisstoopingwayofsitting,andthevastbeardspreadingoverhisshirt–front)hehardlygavetheappearanceofbeingindinnerattire.
Hewasshort,round–shouldered,sunburnt,withathicknose,smalleyesandasociablesmile;butheseldomspoke,andwhenhediditwasinsuchlowtonesthat,despitethefrequentsilencesofexpectationaboutthetable,hisremarkswerelosttoallbuthisneighbours.
WhenthemenjoinedtheladiesafterdinnertheDukewentstraightuptotheCountessOlenska,andtheysatdowninacornerandplungedintoanimatedtalk.
NeitherseemedawarethattheDukeshouldfirsthavepaidhisrespectstoMrs.LovellMingottandMrs.HeadlyChivers,andtheCountesshaveconversedwiththatamiablehypochondriac,Mr.UrbanDagonetofWashingtonSquare,who,inordertohavethepleasureofmeetingher,hadbrokenthroughhisfixedruleofnotdiningoutbetweenJanuaryandApril.
Thetwochattedtogetherfornearlytwentyminutes;thentheCountessroseand,walkingaloneacrossthewidedrawing–room,satdownatNewlandArcher'sside.
ItwasnotthecustominNewYorkdrawing–roomsforaladytogetupandwalkawayfromonegentlemaninordertoseekthecompanyofanother.
Etiquetterequiredthatsheshouldwait,immovableasanidol,whilethemenwhowishedtoconversewithhersucceededeachotheratherside.
ButtheCountesswasapparentlyunawareofhavingbrokenanyrule;shesatatperfecteaseinacornerofthesofabesideArcher,andlookedathimwiththekindesteyes.
"IwantyoutotalktomeaboutMay,"shesaid.
Insteadofansweringherheasked:"YouknewtheDukebefore?"
"Oh,yes—weusedtoseehimeverywinteratNice.
He'sveryfondofgambling—heusedtocometothehouseagreatdeal."
Shesaiditinthesimplestmanner,asifshehadsaid:"He'sfondofwild–flowers";andafteramomentsheaddedcandidly:"Ithinkhe'sthedullestmanIevermet."
Thispleasedhercompanionsomuchthatheforgottheslightshockherpreviousremarkhadcausedhim.
ItwasundeniablyexcitingtomeetaladywhofoundthevanderLuydens'Dukedull,anddaredtouttertheopinion.
Helongedtoquestionher,tohearmoreaboutthelifeofwhichhercarelesswordshadgivenhimsoilluminatingaglimpse;buthefearedtotouchondistressingmemories,andbeforehecouldthinkofanythingtosayshehadstrayedbacktoheroriginalsubject.
"Mayisadarling;I'veseennoyounggirlinNewYorksohandsomeandsointelligent.Areyouverymuchinlovewithher?"
NewlandArcherreddenedandlaughed."Asmuchasamancanbe."
Shecontinuedtoconsiderhimthoughtfully,asifnottomissanyshadeofmeaninginwhathesaid,"Doyouthink,then,thereisalimit?"
"Tobeinginlove?Ifthereis,Ihaven'tfoundit!"
Sheglowedwithsympathy."Ah—it'sreallyandtrulyaromance?"
"Themostromanticofromances!"
"Howdelightful!Andyoufounditalloutforyourselves—itwasnotintheleastarrangedforyou?"
Archerlookedatherincredulously."Haveyouforgotten,"heaskedwithasmile,"thatinourcountrywedon'tallowourmarriagestobearrangedforus?"
Aduskyblushrosetohercheek,andheinstantlyregrettedhiswords.
"Yes,"sheanswered,"I'dforgotten.YoumustforgivemeifIsometimesmakethesemistakes.
Idon'talwaysrememberthateverythinghereisgoodthatwas—thatwasbadwhereI'vecomefrom."
ShelookeddownatherViennesefanofeaglefeathers,andhesawthatherlipstrembled.
"I'msosorry,"hesaidimpulsively;"butyouAREamongfriendshere,youknow."
"Yes—Iknow.WhereverIgoIhavethatfeeling.That'swhyIcamehome.
Iwanttoforgeteverythingelse,tobecomeacompleteAmericanagain,liketheMingottsandWellands,andyouandyourdelightfulmother,andalltheothergoodpeopleheretonight.
Ah,here'sMayarriving,andyouwillwanttohurryawaytoher,"sheadded,butwithoutmoving;andhereyesturnedbackfromthedoortorestontheyoungman'sface.
Thedrawing–roomswerebeginningtofillupwithafter–dinnerguests,andfollowingMadameOlenska'sglanceArchersawMayWellandenteringwithhermother.
Inherdressofwhiteandsilver,withawreathofsilverblossomsinherhair,thetallgirllookedlikeaDianajustalightfromthechase.
"Oh,"saidArcher,"Ihavesomanyrivals;youseeshe'salreadysurrounded.There'stheDukebeingintroduced."
"Thenstaywithmealittlelonger,"MadameOlenskasaidinalowtone,justtouchinghiskneewithherplumedfan.Itwasthelightesttouch,butitthrilledhimlikeacaress.
"Yes,letmestay,"heansweredinthesametone,hardlyknowingwhathesaid;butjustthenMr.vanderLuydencameup,followedbyoldMr.UrbanDagonet.
TheCountessgreetedthemwithhergravesmile,andArcher,feelinghishost'sadmonitoryglanceonhim,roseandsurrenderedhisseat.
MadameOlenskaheldoutherhandasiftobidhimgoodbye.
"Tomorrow,then,afterfive—Ishallexpectyou,"shesaid;andthenturnedbacktomakeroomforMr.Dagonet.
"Tomorrow—"Archerheardhimselfrepeating,thoughtherehadbeennoengagement,andduringtheirtalkshehadgivenhimnohintthatshewishedtoseehimagain.
AshemovedawayhesawLawrenceLefferts,tallandresplendent,leadinghiswifeuptobeintroduced;andheardGertrudeLeffertssay,asshebeamedontheCountesswithherlargeunperceivingsmile:"ButIthinkweusedtogotodancing–schooltogetherwhenwewerechildren—."
Behindher,waitingtheirturntonamethemselvestotheCountess,ArchernoticedanumberoftherecalcitrantcoupleswhohaddeclinedtomeetheratMrs.LovellMingott's.
AsMrs.Archerremarked:whenthevanderLuydenschose,theyknewhowtogivealesson.
Thewonderwasthattheychosesoseldom.
TheyoungmanfeltatouchonhisarmandsawMrs.vanderLuydenlookingdownonhimfromthepureeminenceofblackvelvetandthefamilydiamonds.
"Itwasgoodofyou,dearNewland,todevoteyourselfsounselfishlytoMadameOlenska.
ItoldyourcousinHenryhemustreallycometotherescue."
Hewasawareofsmilingathervaguely,andsheadded,asifcondescendingtohisnaturalshyness:"I'veneverseenMaylookinglovelier.TheDukethinksherthehandsomestgirlintheroom."
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