Bythefifteenththeseasonwasinfullblast,Operaandtheatreswereputtingforththeirnewattractions,dinner–engagementswereaccumulating,anddatesfordancesbeingfixed.
Observingitfromtheloftystand–pointofanon–participant,shewasable,withthehelpofMr.SillertonJacksonandMissSophy,totraceeachnewcrackinitssurface,andallthestrangeweedspushingupbetweentheorderedrowsofsocialvegetables.
IthadbeenoneoftheamusementsofArcher'syouthtowaitforthisannualpronouncementofhismother's,andtohearherenumeratetheminutesignsofdisintegrationthathiscarelessgazehadoverlooked.
ForNewYork,toMrs.Archer'smind,neverchangedwithoutchangingfortheworse;andinthisviewMissSophyJacksonheartilyconcurred.
Mr.SillertonJackson,asbecameamanoftheworld,suspendedhisjudgmentandlistenedwithanamusedimpartialitytothelamentationsoftheladies.
ButevenheneverdeniedthatNewYorkhadchanged;andNewlandArcher,inthewinterofthesecondyearofhismarriage,washimselfobligedtoadmitthatifithadnotactuallychangeditwascertainlychanging.
Atthedatewhenshewasofficiallyenjoinedtogivethanksfortheblessingsoftheyearitwasherhabittotakeamournfulthoughnotembitteredstockofherworld,andwonderwhattherewastobethankfulfor.
Atanyrate,notthestateofsociety;society,ifitcouldbesaidtoexist,wasratheraspectacleonwhichtocalldownBiblicalimprecations—andinfact,everyoneknewwhattheReverendDr.AshmoremeantwhenhechoseatextfromJeremiah(chap.
Dr.Ashmore,thenewRectorofSt.Matthew's,hadbeenchosenbecausehewasvery"advanced":hissermonswereconsideredboldinthoughtandnovelinlanguage.
Whenhefulminatedagainstfashionablesocietyhealwaysspokeofits"trend";andtoMrs.Archeritwasterrifyingandyetfascinatingtofeelherselfpartofacommunitythatwastrending.
"There'snodoubtthatDr.Ashmoreisright:thereISamarkedtrend,"shesaid,asifitweresomethingvisibleandmeasurable,likeacrackinahouse.
"Itwasodd,though,topreachaboutitonThanksgiving,"MissJacksonopined;andherhostessdrilyrejoined:"Oh,hemeansustogivethanksforwhat'sleft."
Archerhadbeenwonttosmileattheseannualvaticinationsofhismother's;butthisyearevenhewasobligedtoacknowledge,ashelistenedtoanenumerationofthechanges,thatthe"trend"wasvisible.
"SillertontookmetothefirstnightoftheOpera,andIcanonlytellyouthatJaneMerry'sdresswastheonlyoneIrecognisedfromlastyear;andeventhathadhadthefrontpanelchanged.
YetIknowshegotitoutfromWorthonlytwoyearsago,becausemyseamstressalwaysgoesintomakeoverherParisdressesbeforeshewearsthem."
"Ah,JaneMerryisoneofUS,"saidMrs.Archersighing,asifitwerenotsuchanenviablethingtobeinanagewhenladieswerebeginningtoflauntabroadtheirParisdressesassoonastheywereoutoftheCustomHouse,insteadoflettingthemmellowunderlockandkey,inthemannerofMrs.Archer'scontemporaries.
"Yes;she'soneofthefew.Inmyyouth,"MissJacksonrejoined,"itwasconsideredvulgartodressinthenewestfashions;andAmySillertonhasalwaystoldmethatinBostontherulewastoputawayone'sParisdressesfortwoyears.
OldMrs.BaxterPennilow,whodideverythinghandsomely,usedtoimporttwelveayear,twovelvet,twosatin,twosilk,andtheothersixofpoplinandthefinestcashmere.
Itwasastandingorder,andasshewasillfortwoyearsbeforeshediedtheyfoundforty–eightWorthdressesthathadneverbeentakenoutoftissuepaper;andwhenthegirlsleftofftheirmourningtheywereabletowearthefirstlotattheSymphonyconcertswithoutlookinginadvanceofthefashion."
"Ah,well,BostonismoreconservativethanNewYork;butIalwaysthinkit'sasaferuleforaladytolayasideherFrenchdressesforoneseason,"Mrs.Archerconceded.
"ItwasBeaufortwhostartedthenewfashionbymakinghiswifeclaphernewclothesonherbackassoonastheyarrived:ImustsayattimesittakesallRegina'sdistinctionnottolooklike...like..."MissJacksonglancedaroundthetable,caughtJaney'sbulginggaze,andtookrefugeinanunintelligiblemurmur.
"Oh,—"theladiesmurmured;andMrs.Archeradded,partlytodistractherdaughter'sattentionfromforbiddentopics:"PoorRegina!
Mr.Jacksonnoddedcarelessly.Everyonehadheardtherumoursinquestion,andhescornedtoconfirmatalethatwasalreadycommonproperty.
Agloomysilencefellupontheparty.NoonereallylikedBeaufort,anditwasnotwhollyunpleasanttothinktheworstofhisprivatelife;buttheideaofhishavingbroughtfinancialdishonouronhiswife'sfamilywastooshockingtobeenjoyedevenbyhisenemies.
Archer'sNewYorktoleratedhypocrisyinprivaterelations;butinbusinessmattersitexactedalimpidandimpeccablehonesty.
Itwasalongtimesinceanywell–knownbankerhadfaileddiscreditably;buteveryonerememberedthesocialextinctionvisitedontheheadsofthefirmwhenthelasteventofthekindhadhappened.
ItwouldbethesamewiththeBeauforts,inspiteofhispowerandherpopularity;notalltheleaguedstrengthoftheDallasconnectionwouldsavepoorReginaiftherewereanytruthinthereportsofherhusband'sunlawfulspeculations.
Thetalktookrefugeinlessominoustopics;buteverythingtheytouchedonseemedtoconfirmMrs.Archer'ssenseofanacceleratedtrend.
"Ofcourse,Newland,IknowyouletdearMaygotoMrs.Struthers'sSundayevenings—"shebegan;andMayinterposedgaily:"Oh,youknow,everybodygoestoMrs.Struthers'snow;andshewasinvitedtoGranny'slastreception."
Itwasthus,Archerreflected,thatNewYorkmanageditstransitions:conspiringtoignorethemtilltheywerewellover,andthen,inallgoodfaith,imaginingthattheyhadtakenplaceinaprecedingage.
Therewasalwaysatraitorinthecitadel;andafterhe(orgenerallyshe)hadsurrenderedthekeys,whatwastheuseofpretendingthatitwasimpregnable?
OncepeoplehadtastedofMrs.Struthers'seasySundayhospitalitytheywerenotlikelytositathomerememberingthatherchampagnewastransmutedShoe–Polish.
"Suchthingshavetobe,Isuppose,aslongasAMUSEMENTiswhatpeoplegooutfor;butI'veneverquiteforgivenyourcousinMadameOlenskaforbeingthefirstpersontocountenanceMrs.Struthers."
"Oh,ELLEN—"shemurmured,muchinthesameaccusingandyetdeprecatingtoneinwhichherparentsmighthavesaid:"Oh,THEBLENKERS—."
ItwasthenotewhichthefamilyhadtakentosoundingonthementionoftheCountessOlenska'sname,sinceshehadsurprisedandinconveniencedthembyremainingobduratetoherhusband'sadvances;butonMay'slipsitgavefoodforthought,andArcherlookedatherwiththesenseofstrangenessthatsometimescameoverhimwhenshewasmostinthetoneofherenvironment.
Hismother,withlessthanherusualsensitivenesstoatmosphere,stillinsisted:"I'vealwaysthoughtthatpeopleliketheCountessOlenska,whohavelivedinaristocraticsocieties,oughttohelpustokeepupoursocialdistinctions,insteadofignoringthem."
May'sblushremainedpermanentlyvivid:itseemedtohaveasignificancebeyondthatimpliedbytherecognitionofMadameOlenska'ssocialbadfaith.
"Idon'tthinkEllencaresforsociety;butnobodyknowsexactlywhatshedoescarefor,"Maycontinued,asifshehadbeengropingforsomethingnoncommittal.
Theyhadsimply,asMrs.Wellandsaid,"letpoorEllenfindherownlevel"—andthat,mortifyinglyandincomprehensibly,wasinthedimdepthswheretheBlenkersprevailed,and"peoplewhowrote"celebratedtheiruntidyrites.
Itwasincredible,butitwasafact,thatEllen,inspiteofallheropportunitiesandherprivileges,hadbecomesimply"Bohemian."
Afterall,ayoungwoman'splacewasunderherhusband'sroof,especiallywhenshehadleftitincircumstancesthat...well...ifonehadcaredtolookintothem...
"MadameOlenskaisagreatfavouritewiththegentlemen,"saidMissSophy,withherairofwishingtoputforthsomethingconciliatorywhensheknewthatshewasplantingadart.
"Ah,that'sthedangerthatayoungwomanlikeMadameOlenskaisalwaysexposedto,"Mrs.Archermournfullyagreed;andtheladies,onthisconclusion,gathereduptheirtrainstoseekthecarcelglobesofthedrawing–room,whileArcherandMr.SillertonJacksonwithdrewtotheGothiclibrary.
Onceestablishedbeforethegrate,andconsolinghimselffortheinadequacyofthedinnerbytheperfectionofhiscigar,Mr.Jacksonbecameportentousandcommunicable.
Archerraisedhisheadquickly:hecouldneverhearthenamewithoutthesharpvisionofBeaufort'sheavyfigure,opulentlyfurredandshod,advancingthroughthesnowatSkuytercliff.
"There'sboundtobe,"Mr.Jacksoncontinued,"thenastiestkindofacleaningup.Hehasn'tspentallhismoneyonRegina."
"Oh,well—that'sdiscounted,isn'tit?Mybeliefishe'llpulloutyet,"saidtheyoungman,wantingtochangethesubject.
Ishouldn'tliketothinkofpoorRegina'sspendingtherestofherlifeinsomeshabbyforeignwatering–placeforbankrupts."
Archersaidnothing.Itseemedtohimsonatural—howevertragic—thatmoneyill–gottenshouldbecruellyexpiated,thathismind,hardlylingeringoverMrs.Beaufort'sdoom,wanderedbacktocloserquestions.
FourmonthshadpassedsincethemidsummerdaythatheandMadameOlenskahadspenttogether;andsincethenhehadnotseenher.
HeknewthatshehadreturnedtoWashington,tothelittlehousewhichsheandMedoraMansonhadtakenthere:hehadwrittentoheronce—afewwords,askingwhentheyweretomeetagain—andshehadevenmorebrieflyreplied:"Notyet."
Sincethentherehadbeennofarthercommunicationbetweenthem,andhehadbuiltupwithinhimselfakindofsanctuaryinwhichshethronedamonghissecretthoughtsandlongings.
Littlebylittleitbecamethesceneofhisreallife,ofhisonlyrationalactivities;thitherhebroughtthebooksheread,theideasandfeelingswhichnourishedhim,hisjudgmentsandhisvisions.
Outsideit,inthesceneofhisactuallife,hemovedwithagrowingsenseofunrealityandinsufficiency,blunderingagainstfamiliarprejudicesandtraditionalpointsofviewasanabsent–mindedmangoesonbumpingintothefurnitureofhisownroom.
Absent—thatwaswhathewas:soabsentfromeverythingmostdenselyrealandneartothoseabouthimthatitsometimesstartledhimtofindtheystillimaginedhewasthere.
"Idon'tknow,ofcourse,howfaryourwife'sfamilyareawareofwhatpeoplesayabout—well,aboutMadameOlenska'srefusaltoacceptherhusband'slatestoffer."
Archersprangup,hisfistbangingdownontheblackwalnut–edgeofthewriting–table.Thewellsofthebrassdouble–inkstanddancedintheirsockets.
"Well—Ihaveitonprettygoodauthority—infact,onoldCatherine'sherself—thatthefamilyreducedCountessOlenska'sallowanceconsiderablywhenshedefinitelyrefusedtogobacktoherhusband;andas,bythisrefusal,shealsoforfeitsthemoneysettledonherwhenshemarried—whichOlenskiwasreadytomakeovertoherifshereturned—why,whatthedevildoYOUmean,mydearboy,byaskingmewhatImean?"
"Idon'tknowanythingofMadameOlenska'sprivateaffairs;butIdon'tneedto,tobecertainthatwhatyouinsinuate—"
"IfshegoesNOW,andifhefails,itwillonlyconfirmthegeneralimpression:whichisn'tbyanymeanspeculiartoLefferts,bytheway."
"Oh,shewon'tgobacknow:lessthanever!"ArcherhadnosoonersaiditthanhehadoncemorethefeelingthatitwasexactlywhatMr.Jacksonhadbeenwaitingfor.
ButeverybodywilltellyouthatthefewpenniesMedoraMansonhasleftareallinBeaufort'shands;andhowthetwowomenaretokeeptheirheadsabovewaterunlesshedoes,Ican'timagine.
Ofcourse,MadameOlenskamaystillsoftenoldCatherine,who'sbeenthemostinexorablyopposedtoherstaying;andoldCatherinecouldmakeheranyallowanceshechooses.
Butweallknowthatshehatespartingwithgoodmoney;andtherestofthefamilyhavenoparticularinterestinkeepingMadameOlenskahere."
Archerwasburningwithunavailingwrath:hewasexactlyinthestatewhenamanissuretodosomethingstupid,knowingallthewhilethatheisdoingit.
HesawthatMr.JacksonhadbeeninstantlystruckbythefactthatMadameOlenska'sdifferenceswithhergrandmotherandherotherrelationswerenotknowntohim,andthattheoldgentlemanhaddrawnhisownconclusionsastothereasonsforArcher'sexclusionfromthefamilycouncils.
Hewasmindful,however,ifnotofhisowndanger,atleastofthefactthatMr.Jacksonwasunderhismother'sroof,andconsequentlyhisguest.
OldNewYorkscrupulouslyobservedtheetiquetteofhospitality,andnodiscussionwithaguestwaseverallowedtodegenerateintoadisagreement.
"Shallwegoupandjoinmymother?"hesuggestedcurtly,asMr.Jackson'slastconeofashesdroppedintothebrassashtrayathiselbow.
OnthedrivehomewardMayremainedoddlysilent;throughthedarkness,hestillfeltherenvelopedinhermenacingblush.
Whatitsmenacemeanthecouldnotguess:buthewassufficientlywarnedbythefactthatMadameOlenska'snamehadevokedit.
Theywentupstairs,andheturnedintothelibrary.Sheusuallyfollowedhim;butheheardherpassingdownthepassagetoherbedroom.
"Thislampissmokingagain;Ishouldthinktheservantsmightseethatit'skeptproperlytrimmed,"hegrumblednervously.
"I'msosorry:itshan'thappenagain,"sheanswered,inthefirmbrighttoneshehadlearnedfromhermother;anditexasperatedArchertofeelthatshewasalreadybeginningtohumourhimlikeayoungerMr.Welland.
Shebentovertolowerthewick,andasthelightstruckuponherwhiteshouldersandtheclearcurvesofherfacehethought:"Howyoungsheis!
Hefelt,withakindofhorror,hisownstrongyouthandtheboundingbloodinhisveins."Lookhere,"hesaidsuddenly,"ImayhavetogotoWashingtonforafewdays—soon;nextweekperhaps."
Herhandremainedonthekeyofthelampassheturnedtohimslowly.Theheatfromitsflamehadbroughtbackaglowtoherface,butitpaledasshelookedup.
"Onbusiness?"sheasked,inatonewhichimpliedthattherecouldbenootherconceivablereason,andthatshehadputthequestionautomatically,asifmerelytofinishhisownsentence.
"Onbusiness,naturally.There'sapatentcasecomingupbeforetheSupremeCourt—"Hegavethenameoftheinventor,andwentonfurnishingdetailswithallLawrenceLefferts'spractisedglibness,whileshelistenedattentively,sayingatintervals:"Yes,Isee."
"Thechangewilldoyougood,"shesaidsimply,whenhehadfinished;"andyoumustbesuretogoandseeEllen,"sheadded,lookinghimstraightintheeyeswithhercloudlesssmile,andspeakinginthetoneshemighthaveemployedinurginghimnottoneglectsomeirksomefamilyduty.
Itwastheonlywordthatpassedbetweenthemonthesubject;butinthecodeinwhichtheyhadbothbeentraineditmeant:"OfcourseyouunderstandthatIknowallthatpeoplehavebeensayingaboutEllen,andheartilysympathisewithmyfamilyintheirefforttogethertoreturntoherhusband.
Ialsoknowthat,forsomereasonyouhavenotchosentotellme,youhaveadvisedheragainstthiscourse,whichalltheoldermenofthefamily,aswellasourgrandmother,agreeinapproving;andthatitisowingtoyourencouragementthatEllendefiesusall,andexposesherselftothekindofcriticismofwhichMr.SillertonJacksonprobablygaveyou,thisevening,thehintthathasmadeyousoirritable....Hintshaveindeednotbeenwanting;butsinceyouappearunwillingtotakethemfromothers,Iofferyouthisonemyself,intheonlyforminwhichwell–bredpeopleofourkindcancommunicateunpleasantthingstoeachother:bylettingyouunderstandthatIknowyoumeantoseeEllenwhenyouareinWashington,andareperhapsgoingthereexpresslyforthatpurpose;andthat,sinceyouaresuretoseeher,Iwishyoutodosowithmyfullandexplicitapproval—andtotaketheopportunityoflettingherknowwhatthecourseofconductyouhaveencouragedherinislikelytoleadto."
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