vitsta inocentei

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The Age of Innocence

by

Edith Wharton

JTABLE 6 18 1

JTABLE 6 16 19

Book I

I.

On a January eening of the ear!y "eentie"# $hri"tine %i!""on &a"

"inging in 'au"t at the Acade(y of )u"ic in %e& *ork.

Though there &a" a!ready ta!k of the erection# in re(ote (etro+o!itan

di"tance" ,aboe the 'ortie"#, of a ne& O+era -ou"e &hich "hou!d

co(+ete in co"t!ine"" and "+!endour &ith tho"e of the great Euro+ean

ca+ita!"# the &or!d of fa"hion &a" "ti!! content to rea""e(b!e eery


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&inter in the "habby red and go!d boe" of the "ociab!e o!d Acade(y.

$on"eratie" cheri"hed it for being "(a!! and inconenient# and thu"

kee+ing out the ,ne& +eo+!e, &ho( %e& *ork &a" beginning to dread and

yet be dra&n to/ and the "enti(enta! c!ung to it for it" hi"toric

a""ociation"# and the (u"ica! for it" ece!!ent acou"tic"# a!&ay" "o

+rob!e(atic a 0ua!ity in ha!!" bui!t for the hearing of (u"ic.

It &a" )ada(e %i!""on" 2r"t a++earance that &inter# and &hat the

dai!y +re"" had a!ready !earned to de"cribe a" ,an ece+tiona!!y

bri!!iant audience, had gathered to hear her# tran"+orted through the

"!i++ery# "no&y "treet" in +riate brougha("# in the "+aciou" fa(i!y

!andau# or in the hu(b!er but (ore conenient ,Bro&n cou+e., To co(e to

the O+era in a Bro&n cou+e &a" a!(o"t a" honourab!e a &ay of arriing

a" in one" o&n carriage/ and de+arture by the "a(e (ean" had the

i((en"e adantage of enab!ing one 3&ith a +!ayfu! a!!u"ion to

de(ocratic +rinci+!e"4 to "cra(b!e into the 2r"t Bro&n coneyance in

the !ine# in"tead of &aiting ti!! the co!d5and5gin conge"ted no"e of

one" o&n coach(an g!ea(ed under the +ortico of the Acade(y. It &a"

one of the great !iery5"tab!e(an" (o"t (a"ter!y intuition" to hae

di"coered that A(erican" &ant to get a&ay fro( a(u"e(ent een (ore

0uick!y than they &ant to get to it.

When %e&!and Archer o+ened the door at the back of the c!ub bo the

curtain had u"t gone u+ on the garden "cene. There &a" no rea"on &hy

the young (an "hou!d not hae co(e ear!ier# for he had dined at "een#

a!one &ith hi" (other and "i"ter# and had !ingered after&ard oer a


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cigar in the 7othic !ibrary &ith g!aed b!ack5&a!nut bookca"e" and

2nia!5to++ed chair" &hich &a" the on!y roo( in the hou"e &here )r".

Archer a!!o&ed "(oking. But# in the 2r"t +!ace# %e& *ork &a" a

(etro+o!i"# and +erfect!y a&are that in (etro+o!i"e" it &a" ,not the

thing, to arrie ear!y at the o+era/ and &hat &a" or &a" not ,the

thing, +!ayed a +art a" i(+ortant in %e&!and Archer" %e& *ork a" the

in"crutab!e tote( terror" that had ru!ed the de"tinie" of hi"

forefather" thou"and" of year" ago.

The "econd rea"on for hi" de!ay &a" a +er"ona! one. -e had da&d!ed

oer hi" cigar becau"e he &a" at heart a di!ettante# and thinking oer

a +!ea"ure to co(e often gae hi( a "ubt!er "ati"faction than it"

rea!i"ation. Thi" &a" e"+ecia!!y the ca"e &hen the +!ea"ure &a" a

de!icate one# a" hi" +!ea"ure" (o"t!y &ere/ and on thi" occa"ion the

(o(ent he !ooked for&ard to &a" "o rare and e0ui"ite in 0ua!ity

that55&e!!# if he had ti(ed hi" arria! in accord &ith the +ri(a

donna" "tage5(anager he cou!d not hae entered the Acade(y at a (ore

"igni2cant (o(ent than u"t a" "he &a" "inging ,-e !oe" (e55he

!oe" (e not55-E LO:E; )E


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a" a!! the other conention" on &hich hi" !ife &a" (ou!ded "uch a" the

duty of u"ing t&o "i!er5backed bru"he" &ith hi" (onogra( in b!ue

ena(e! to +art hi" hair# and of neer a++earing in "ociety &ithout a

=o&er 3+referab!y a gardenia4 in hi" buttonho!e.

,)a(a ... non (a(a ..., the +ri(a donna "ang# and ,)a(airect!y facing hi( &a" the bo of o!d )r". )an"on )ingott#

&ho"e (on"trou" obe"ity had !ong "ince (ade it i(+o""ib!e for her to

attend the O+era# but &ho &a" a!&ay" re+re"ented on fa"hionab!e night"

by "o(e of the younger (e(ber" of the fa(i!y. On thi" occa"ion# the

front of the bo &a" 2!!ed by her daughter5in5!a )r". Loe!!

)ingott# and her daughter# )r". We!!and/ and "!ight!y &ithdra&n behind

the"e brocaded (atron" "at a young gir! in &hite &ith eye" ec"tatica!!y

2ed on the "tage!oer". A" )ada(e %i!""on" ,)a(a


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"ing!e gardenia. ;he dro++ed her eye" to the i((en"e bou0uet of

!i!ie"5of5the5a!!ey on her knee# and %e&!and Archer "a& her

&hite5g!oed 2nger5ti+" touch the =o&er" "oft!y. -e dre& a breath of

"ati"2ed anity and hi" eye" returned to the "tage.

%o e+en"e had been "+ared on the "etting# &hich &a" ackno&!edged to be

ery beautifu! een by +eo+!e &ho "hared hi" ac0uaintance &ith the

O+era hou"e" of @ari" and :ienna. The foreground# to the foot!ight"#

&a" coered &ith e(era!d green c!oth. In the (idd!e di"tance

"y((etrica! (ound" of &oo!!y green (o"" bounded by cro0uet hoo+" for(ed

the ba"e of "hrub" "ha+ed !ike orange5tree" but "tudded &ith !arge +ink

and red ro"e". 7igantic +an"ie"# con"iderab!y !arger than the ro"e"#

and c!o"e!y re"e(b!ing the =ora! +en5&i+er" (ade by fe(a!e

+ari"hioner" for fa"hionab!e c!ergy(en# "+rang fro( the (o"" beneath

the ro"e5tree"/ and here and there a dai"y grafted on a ro"e5branch

=o&ered &ith a !uuriance +ro+hetic of )r. Luther Burbank" far5o?

+rodigie".

In the centre of thi" enchanted garden )ada(e %i!""on# in &hite

ca"h(ere "!a"hed &ith +a!e b!ue "atin# a reticu!e dang!ing fro( a b!ue

gird!e# and !arge ye!!o& braid" carefu!!y di"+o"ed on each "ide of her

(u"!in che(i"ette# !i"tened &ith do&nca"t eye" to ). $a+ou!"

i(+a""ioned &ooing# and a?ected a gui!e!e"" inco(+rehen"ion of hi"

de"ign" &heneer# by &ord or g!ance# he +er"ua"ie!y indicated the

ground =oor &indo& of the neat brick i!!a +roecting ob!i0ue!y fro(

the right &ing.


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,The dar!ing


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&ho!e &inter.

-o& thi" (irac!e of 2re and ice &a" to be created# and to "u"tain

it"e!f in a har"h &or!d# he had neer taken the ti(e to think out/ but

he &a" content to ho!d hi" ie& &ithout ana!y"ing it# "ince he kne& it

&a" that of a!! the carefu!!y5bru"hed# &hite5&ai"tcoated#

button5ho!e5=o&ered gent!e(en &ho "ucceeded each other in the c!ub

bo# echanged friend!y greeting" &ith hi(# and turned their

o+era5g!a""e" critica!!y on the circ!e of !adie" &ho &ere the +roduct

of the "y"te(. In (atter" inte!!ectua! and arti"tic %e&!and Archer

fe!t hi("e!f di"tinct!y the "u+erior of the"e cho"en "+eci(en" of o!d

%e& *ork genti!ity/ he had +robab!y read (ore# thought (ore# and een

"een a good dea! (ore of the &or!d# than any other (an of the nu(ber.

;ing!y they betrayed their inferiority/ but grou+ed together they

re+re"ented ,%e& *ork#, and the habit of (a"cu!ine "o!idarity (ade hi(

acce+t their doctrine on a!! the i""ue" ca!!ed (ora!. -e in"tinctie!y

fe!t that in thi" re"+ect it &ou!d be troub!e"o(e55and a!"o rather bad

for(55to "trike out for hi("e!f.

,We!!55u+on (y "ou!


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(ou"tache to the !ong +atent5!eather feet at the other end of hi" !ean

and e!egant +er"on# to fee! that the kno&!edge of ,for(, (u"t be

congenita! in any one &ho kne& ho& to &ear "uch good c!othe" "o

care!e""!y and carry "uch height &ith "o (uch !ounging grace. A" a

young ad(irer had once "aid of hi( ,If anybody can te!! a fe!!o& u"t

&hen to &ear a b!ack tie &ith eening c!othe" and &hen not to# it"

Larry Le?ert"., And on the 0ue"tion of +u(+" er"u" +atent5!eather

,Oford", hi" authority had neer been di"+uted.

,)y 7od


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o++o"ite corner.

)r. ;i!!erton Jack"on had returned the o+era5g!a"" to La&rence

Le?ert". The &ho!e of the c!ub turned in"tinctie!y# &aiting to hear

&hat the o!d (an had to "ay/ for o!d )r. Jack"on &a" a" great an

authority on ,fa(i!y, a" La&rence Le?ert" &a" on ,for(., -e kne& a!!

the ra(i2cation" of %e& *ork" cou"in"hi+"/ and cou!d not on!y

e!ucidate "uch co(+!icated 0ue"tion" a" that of the connection bet&een

the )ingott" 3through the Thor!ey"4 &ith the >a!!a"e" of ;outh

$aro!ina# and that of the re!ation"hi+ of the e!der branch of

@hi!ade!+hia Thor!ey" to the A!bany $hier"e" 3on no account to be

confu"ed &ith the )an"on $hier"e" of nier"ity @!ace4# but cou!d a!"o

enu(erate the !eading characteri"tic" of each fa(i!y a"# for in"tance#

the fabu!ou" "tingine"" of the younger !ine" of Le?ert"e" 3the Long

I"!and one"4/ or the fata! tendency of the u"h&orth" to (ake foo!i"h

(atche"/ or the in"anity recurring in eery "econd generation of the

A!bany $hier"e"# &ith &ho( their %e& *ork cou"in" had a!&ay" refu"ed

to inter(arry55&ith the di"a"trou" ece+tion of +oor )edora )an"on#

&ho# a" eerybody kne& ... but then her (other &a" a u"h&orth.

In addition to thi" fore"t of fa(i!y tree"# )r. ;i!!erton Jack"on

carried bet&een hi" narro& ho!!o& te(+!e"# and under hi" "oft thatch of

"i!er hair# a regi"ter of (o"t of the "canda!" and (y"terie" that had

"(ou!dered under the unruCed "urface of %e& *ork "ociety &ithin the

!a"t 2fty year". ;o far indeed did hi" infor(ation etend# and "o

acute!y retentie &a" hi" (e(ory# that he &a" "u++o"ed to be the on!y


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(an &ho cou!d hae to!d you &ho Ju!iu" Beaufort# the banker# rea!!y

&a"# and &hat had beco(e of hand"o(e Bob ;+icer# o!d )r". )an"on

)ingott" father# &ho had di"a++eared "o (y"teriou"!y 3&ith a !arge "u(

of tru"t (oney4 !e"" than a year after hi" (arriage# on the ery day

that a beautifu! ;+ani"h dancer &ho had been de!ighting thronged

audience" in the o!d O+era5hou"e on the Battery had taken "hi+ for

$uba. But the"e (y"terie"# and (any other"# &ere c!o"e!y !ocked in )r.

Jack"on" brea"t/ for not on!y did hi" keen "en"e of honour forbid hi"

re+eating anything +riate!y i(+arted# but he &a" fu!!y a&are that hi"

re+utation for di"cretion increa"ed hi" o++ortunitie" of 2nding out

&hat he &anted to kno&.

The c!ub bo# therefore# &aited in i"ib!e "u"+en"e &hi!e )r. ;i!!erton

Jack"on handed back La&rence Le?ert"" o+era5g!a"". 'or a (o(ent he

"i!ent!y "crutini"ed the attentie grou+ out of hi" 2!(y b!ue eye"

oerhung by o!d eined !id"/ then he gae hi" (ou"tache a thoughtfu!

t&i"t# and "aid "i(+!y ,I didnt think the )ingott" &ou!d hae tried

it on.,

II.

%e&!and Archer# during thi" brief e+i"ode# had been thro&n into a

"trange "tate of e(barra""(ent.


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It &a" annoying that the bo &hich &a" thu" attracting the undiided

attention of (a"cu!ine %e& *ork "hou!d be that in &hich hi" betrothed

&a" "eated bet&een her (other and aunt/ and for a (o(ent he cou!d not

identify the !ady in the E(+ire dre""# nor i(agine &hy her +re"ence

created "uch ecite(ent a(ong the initiated. Then !ight da&ned on hi(#

and &ith it ca(e a (o(entary ru"h of indignation. %o# indeed/ no one

&ou!d hae thought the )ingott" &ou!d hae tried it onI> u"e to +!ay together# didnt &eD, "he a"ked# turning her grae

eye" to hi". ,*ou &ere a horrid boy# and ki""ed (e once behind a door/

but it &a" your cou"in :andie %e&!and# &ho neer !ooked at (e# that I

&a" in !oe &ith., -er g!ance "&e+t the hor"e5"hoe cure of boe".

,Ah# ho& thi" bring" it a!! back to (e55I "ee eerybody here in

knickerbocker" and +anta!ette"#, "he "aid# &ith her trai!ing "!ight!y

foreign accent# her eye" returning to hi" face.

Agreeab!e a" their e+re""ion &a"# the young (an &a" "hocked that they

"hou!d re=ect "o un"ee(!y a +icture of the augu"t tribuna! before

&hich# at that ery (o(ent# her ca"e &a" being tried. %othing cou!d be

in &or"e ta"te than (i"+!aced =i++ancy/ and he an"&ered "o(e&hat

"tiCy ,*e"# you hae been a&ay a ery !ong ti(e.,

,Oh# centurie" and centurie"/ "o !ong#, "he "aid# ,that I( "ure I(

dead and buried# and thi" dear o!d +!ace i" heaen/, &hich# for rea"on"

he cou!d not de2ne# "truck %e&!and Archer a" an een (ore

di"re"+ectfu! &ay of de"cribing %e& *ork "ociety.

III.


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It inariab!y ha++ened in the "a(e &ay.

)r". Ju!iu" Beaufort# on the night of her annua! ba!!# neer fai!ed to

a++ear at the O+era/ indeed# "he a!&ay" gae her ba!! on an O+era night

in order to e(+ha"i"e her co(+!ete "u+eriority to hou"eho!d care"# and

her +o""e""ion of a "ta? of "erant" co(+etent to organi"e eery

detai! of the entertain(ent in her ab"ence.

The Beaufort" hou"e &a" one of the fe& in %e& *ork that +o""e""ed a

ba!!5roo( 3it antedated een )r". )an"on )ingott" and the -ead!y

$hier"e"4/ and at a ti(e &hen it &a" beginning to be thought

,+roincia!, to +ut a ,cra"h, oer the dra&ing5roo( =oor and (oe the

furniture u+"tair"# the +o""e""ion of a ba!!5roo( that &a" u"ed for no

other +ur+o"e# and !eft for three5hundred5and5"ity5four day" of the

year to "huttered darkne""# &ith it" gi!t chair" "tacked in a corner

and it" chande!ier in a bag/ thi" undoubted "u+eriority &a" fe!t to

co(+en"ate for &hateer &a" regrettab!e in the Beaufort +a"t.

)r". Archer# &ho &a" fond of coining her "ocia! +hi!o"o+hy into aio("#

had once "aid ,We a!! hae our +et co((on +eo+!e55, and though the

+hra"e &a" a daring one# it" truth &a" "ecret!y ad(itted in (any an

ec!u"ie bo"o(. But the Beaufort" &ere not eact!y co((on/ "o(e

+eo+!e "aid they &ere een &or"e. )r". Beaufort be!onged indeed to one

of A(erica" (o"t honoured fa(i!ie"/ "he had been the !oe!y egina

>a!!a" 3of the ;outh $aro!ina branch4# a +enni!e"" beauty introduced to


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%e& *ork "ociety by her cou"in# the i(+rudent )edora )an"on# &ho &a"

a!&ay" doing the &rong thing fro( the right (otie. When one &a"

re!ated to the )an"on" and the u"h&orth" one had a ,droit de cite, 3a"

)r. ;i!!erton Jack"on# &ho had fre0uented the Tui!erie"# ca!!ed it4 in

%e& *ork "ociety/ but did one not forfeit it in (arrying Ju!iu"

BeaufortD

The 0ue"tion &a" &ho &a" BeaufortD -e +a""ed for an Eng!i"h(an# &a"

agreeab!e# hand"o(e# i!!5te(+ered# ho"+itab!e and &itty. -e had co(e

to A(erica &ith !etter" of reco((endation fro( o!d )r". )an"on

)ingott" Eng!i"h "on5in5!a the banker# and had "+eedi!y (ade hi("e!f

an i(+ortant +o"ition in the &or!d of a?air"/ but hi" habit" &ere

di""i+ated# hi" tongue &a" bitter# hi" antecedent" &ere (y"teriou"/ and

&hen )edora )an"on announced her cou"in" engage(ent to hi( it &a" fe!t

to be one (ore act of fo!!y in +oor )edora" !ong record of i(+rudence".

But fo!!y i" a" often u"ti2ed of her chi!dren a" &i"do(# and t&o

year" after young )r". Beaufort" (arriage it &a" ad(itted that "he had

the (o"t di"tingui"hed hou"e in %e& *ork. %o one kne& eact!y ho& the

(irac!e &a" acco(+!i"hed. ;he &a" indo!ent# +a""ie# the cau"tic een

ca!!ed her du!!/ but dre""ed !ike an ido!# hung &ith +ear!"# gro&ing

younger and b!onder and (ore beautifu! each year# "he throned in )r.

Beaufort" heay bro&n5"tone +a!ace# and dre& a!! the &or!d there

&ithout !ifting her e&e!!ed !itt!e 2nger. The kno&ing +eo+!e "aid it

&a" Beaufort hi("e!f &ho trained the "erant"# taught the chef ne&

di"he"# to!d the gardener" &hat hot5hou"e =o&er" to gro& for the


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dinner5tab!e and the dra&ing5roo("# "e!ected the gue"t"# bre&ed the

after5dinner +unch and dictated the !itt!e note" hi" &ife &rote to her

friend". If he did# the"e do(e"tic actiitie" &ere +riate!y

+erfor(ed# and he +re"ented to the &or!d the a++earance of a care!e""

and ho"+itab!e (i!!ionaire "tro!!ing into hi" o&n dra&ing5roo( &ith the

detach(ent of an inited gue"t# and "aying ,)y &ife" g!oinia" are a

(are!# arent theyD I be!iee "he get" the( out fro( Fe&.,

)r. Beaufort" "ecret# +eo+!e &ere agreed# &a" the &ay he carried

thing" o?. It &a" a!! ery &e!! to &hi"+er that he had been ,he!+ed,

to !eae Eng!and by the internationa! banking5hou"e in &hich he had

been e(+!oyed/ he carried o? that ru(our a" ea"i!y a" the re"t55though

%e& *ork" bu"ine"" con"cience &a" no !e"" "en"itie than it" (ora!

"tandard55he carried eerything before hi(# and a!! %e& *ork into hi"

dra&ing5roo("# and for oer t&enty year" no& +eo+!e had "aid they &ere

,going to the Beaufort", &ith the "a(e tone of "ecurity a" if they had

"aid they &ere going to )r". )an"on )ingott"# and &ith the added

"ati"faction of kno&ing they &ou!d get hot cana"5back duck" and

intage &ine"# in"tead of te+id :eue $!ic0uot &ithout a year and

&ar(ed5u+ cro0uette" fro( @hi!ade!+hia.

)r". Beaufort# then# had a" u"ua! a++eared in her bo u"t before the

Je&e! ;ong/ and &hen# again a" u"ua!# "he ro"e at the end of the third

act# dre& her o+era c!oak about her !oe!y "hou!der"# and di"a++eared#

%e& *ork kne& that (eant that ha!f an hour !ater the ba!! &ou!d begin.


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The Beaufort hou"e &a" one that %e& *orker" &ere +roud to "ho& to

foreigner"# e"+ecia!!y on the night of the annua! ba!!. The Beaufort"

had been a(ong the 2r"t +eo+!e in %e& *ork to o&n their o&n red e!et

car+et and hae it ro!!ed do&n the "te+" by their o&n foot(en# under

their o&n a&ning# in"tead of hiring it &ith the "u++er and the

ba!!5roo( chair". They had a!"o inaugurated the cu"to( of !etting the

!adie" take their c!oak" o? in the ha!!# in"tead of "huCing u+ to

the ho"te""" bedroo( and recur!ing their hair &ith the aid of the

ga"5burner/ Beaufort &a" under"tood to hae "aid that he "u++o"ed a!!

hi" &ife" friend" had (aid" &ho "a& to it that they &ere +ro+er!y

coi?ee" &hen they !eft ho(e.

Then the hou"e had been bo!d!y +!anned &ith a ba!!5roo(# "o that#

in"tead of "0ueeing through a narro& +a""age to get to it 3a" at the

$hier"e"4 one (arched "o!e(n!y do&n a i"ta of en2!aded

dra&ing5roo(" 3the "ea5green# the cri("on and the bouton dor4# "eeing

fro( afar the (any5cand!ed !u"tre" re=ected in the +o!i"hed +ar0uetry#

and beyond that the de+th" of a con"eratory &here ca(e!!ia" and

tree5fern" arched their co"t!y fo!iage oer "eat" of b!ack and go!d

ba(boo.

%e&!and Archer# a" beca(e a young (an of hi" +o"ition# "tro!!ed in

"o(e&hat !ate. -e had !eft hi" oercoat &ith the "i!k5"tockinged

foot(en 3the "tocking" &ere one of Beaufort" fe& fatuitie"4# had

da&d!ed a &hi!e in the !ibrary hung &ith ;+ani"h !eather and furni"hed

&ith Buh! and (a!achite# &here a fe& (en &ere chatting and +utting on


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their dancing5g!oe"# and had 2na!!y oined the !ine of gue"t" &ho(

)r". Beaufort &a" receiing on the thre"ho!d of the cri("on

dra&ing5roo(.

Archer &a" di"tinct!y nerou". -e had not gone back to hi" c!ub after

the O+era 3a" the young b!ood" u"ua!!y did4# but# the night being 2ne#

had &a!ked for "o(e di"tance u+ 'ifth Aenue before turning back in the

direction of the Beaufort" hou"e. -e &a" de2nite!y afraid that the

)ingott" (ight be going too far/ that# in fact# they (ight hae 7ranny

)ingott" order" to bring the $ounte"" O!en"ka to the ba!!.

'ro( the tone of the c!ub bo he had +erceied ho& grae a (i"take that

&ou!d be/ and# though he &a" (ore than eer deter(ined to ,"ee the

thing through#, he fe!t !e"" chia!rou"!y eager to cha(+ion hi"

betrothed" cou"in than before their brief ta!k at the O+era.

Wandering on to the bouton dor dra&ing5roo( 3&here Beaufort had had

the audacity to hang ,Loe :ictoriou"#, the (uch5di"cu""ed nude of

Bouguereau4 Archer found )r". We!!and and her daughter "tanding near

the ba!!5roo( door. $ou+!e" &ere a!ready g!iding oer the =oor

beyond the !ight of the &a cand!e" fe!! on reo!ing tu!!e "kirt"# on

gir!i"h head" &reathed &ith (ode"t b!o""o("# on the da"hing aigrette"

and orna(ent" of the young (arried &o(en" coi?ure"# and on the

g!itter of high!y g!aed "hirt5front" and fre"h g!ace g!oe".

)i"" We!!and# eident!y about to oin the dancer"# hung on the


24/444

thre"ho!d# her !i!ie"5of5the5a!!ey in her hand 3"he carried no other

bou0uet4# her face a !itt!e +a!e# her eye" burning &ith a candid

ecite(ent. A grou+ of young (en and gir!" &ere gathered about her#

and there &a" (uch hand5c!a"+ing# !aughing and +!ea"antry on &hich )r".

We!!and# "tanding "!ight!y a+art# "hed the bea( of a 0ua!i2ed

a++roa!. It &a" eident that )i"" We!!and &a" in the act of

announcing her engage(ent# &hi!e her (other a?ected the air of

+arenta! re!uctance con"idered "uitab!e to the occa"ion.

Archer +au"ed a (o(ent. It &a" at hi" e+re"" &i"h that the

announce(ent had been (ade# and yet it &a" not thu" that he &ou!d hae

&i"hed to hae hi" ha++ine"" kno&n. To +roc!ai( it in the heat and

noi"e of a cro&ded ba!!5roo( &a" to rob it of the 2ne b!oo( of +riacy

&hich "hou!d be!ong to thing" neare"t the heart. -i" oy &a" "o dee+

that thi" b!urring of the "urface !eft it" e""ence untouched/ but he

&ou!d hae !iked to kee+ the "urface +ure too. It &a" "o(ething of a

"ati"faction to 2nd that )ay We!!and "hared thi" fee!ing. -er eye"

=ed to hi" be"eeching!y# and their !ook "aid ,e(e(ber# &ere doing

thi" becau"e it" right.,

%o a++ea! cou!d hae found a (ore i((ediate re"+on"e in Archer"

brea"t/ but he &i"hed that the nece""ity of their action had been

re+re"ented by "o(e idea! rea"on# and not "i(+!y by +oor E!!en O!en"ka.

The grou+ about )i"" We!!and (ade &ay for hi( &ith "igni2cant "(i!e"#

and after taking hi" "hare of the fe!icitation" he dre& hi" betrothed

into the (idd!e of the ba!!5roo( =oor and +ut hi" ar( about her &ai"t.


25/444

,%o& &e "hant hae to ta!k#, he "aid# "(i!ing into her candid eye"# a"

they =oated a&ay on the "oft &ae" of the B!ue >anube.

;he (ade no an"&er. -er !i+" tre(b!ed into a "(i!e# but the eye"

re(ained di"tant and "eriou"# a" if bent on "o(e ine?ab!e i"ion.

,>ear#, Archer &hi"+ered# +re""ing her to hi( it &a" borne in on hi(

that the 2r"t hour" of being engaged# een if "+ent in a ba!!5roo(#

had in the( "o(ething grae and "acra(enta!. What a ne& !ife it &a"

going to be# &ith thi" &hitene""# radiance# goodne"" at one" "ideear and great ange!< Of cour"e I!!

te!! her., -e g!anced a tri=e a++rehen"ie!y to&ard the cro&ded

ba!!5roo(. ,But I haent "een her yet. -a" "he co(eD,

,%o/ at the !a"t (inute "he decided not to.,

,At the !a"t (inuteD, he echoed# betraying hi" "ur+ri"e that "he "hou!d

eer hae con"idered the a!ternatie +o""ib!e.

,*e". ;he" a&fu!!y fond of dancing#, the young gir! an"&ered "i(+!y.

,But "udden!y "he (ade u+ her (ind that her dre"" &a"nt "(art enough

for a ba!!# though &e thought it "o !oe!y/ and "o (y aunt had to take

her ho(e.,

,Oh# &e!!55, "aid Archer &ith ha++y indi?erence. %othing about hi"

betrothed +!ea"ed hi( (ore than her re"o!ute deter(ination to carry to

it" ut(o"t !i(it that ritua! of ignoring the ,un+!ea"ant, in &hich they

had both been brought u+.

,;he kno&" a" &e!! a" I do#, he re=ected# ,the rea! rea"on of her


28/444

cou"in" "taying a&ay/ but I "ha!! neer !et her "ee by the !ea"t "ign

that I a( con"ciou" of there being a "hado& of a "hade on +oor E!!en

O!en"ka" re+utation.,

I:.

In the cour"e of the net day the 2r"t of the u"ua! betrotha! i"it"

&ere echanged. The %e& *ork ritua! &a" +reci"e and in=eib!e in "uch

(atter"/ and in confor(ity &ith it %e&!and Archer 2r"t &ent &ith hi"

(other and "i"ter to ca!! on )r". We!!and# after &hich he and )r".

We!!and and )ay droe out to o!d )r". )an"on )ingott" to receie that

enerab!e ance"tre""" b!e""ing.

A i"it to )r". )an"on )ingott &a" a!&ay" an a(u"ing e+i"ode to the

young (an. The hou"e in it"e!f &a" a!ready an hi"toric docu(ent#

though not# of cour"e# a" enerab!e a" certain other o!d fa(i!y hou"e"

in nier"ity @!ace and !o&er 'ifth Aenue. Tho"e &ere of the +ure"t

18GH# &ith a gri( har(ony of cabbage5ro"e5gar!anded car+et"# ro"e&ood

con"o!e"# round5arched 2re5+!ace" &ith b!ack (arb!e (ante!"# and

i((en"e g!aed book5ca"e" of (ahogany/ &herea" o!d )r". )ingott# &ho

had bui!t her hou"e !ater# had bodi!y ca"t out the (a""ie furniture of

her +ri(e# and (ing!ed &ith the )ingott heir!oo(" the frio!ou"

u+ho!"tery of the ;econd E(+ire. It &a" her habit to "it in a &indo&

of her "itting5roo( on the ground =oor# a" if &atching ca!(!y for !ife


29/444

and fa"hion to =o& north&ard to her "o!itary door". ;he "ee(ed in no

hurry to hae the( co(e# for her +atience &a" e0ua!!ed by her

con2dence. ;he &a" "ure that +re"ent!y the hoarding"# the 0uarrie"#

the one5"tory "a!oon"# the &ooden green5hou"e" in ragged garden"# and

the rock" fro( &hich goat" "ureyed the "cene# &ou!d ani"h before the

adance of re"idence" a" "tate!y a" her o&n55+erha+" 3for "he &a" an

i(+artia! &o(an4 een "tate!ier/ and that the cobb!e5"tone" oer &hich

the o!d c!attering o(nibu"e" bu(+ed &ou!d be re+!aced by "(ooth

a"+ha!t# "uch a" +eo+!e re+orted haing "een in @ari". )ean&hi!e# a"

eery one "he cared to "ee ca(e to -E 3and "he cou!d 2!! her roo(" a"

ea"i!y a" the Beaufort"# and &ithout adding a "ing!e ite( to the (enu

of her "u++er"4# "he did not "u?er fro( her geogra+hic i"o!ation.

The i((en"e accretion of =e"h &hich had de"cended on her in (idd!e

!ife !ike a =ood of !aa on a doo(ed city had changed her fro( a +!u(+

actie !itt!e &o(an &ith a neat!y5turned foot and ank!e into "o(ething

a" a"t and augu"t a" a natura! +heno(enon. ;he had acce+ted thi"

"ub(ergence a" +hi!o"o+hica!!y a" a!! her other tria!"# and no in

etre(e o!d age# &a" re&arded by +re"enting to her (irror an a!(o"t

un&rink!ed e+an"e of 2r( +ink and &hite =e"h# in the centre of &hich

the trace" of a "(a!! face "uried a" if a&aiting ecaation. A

=ight of "(ooth doub!e chin" !ed do&n to the diy de+th" of a

"ti!!5"no&y bo"o( ei!ed in "no&y (u"!in" that &ere he!d in +!ace by a

(iniature +ortrait of the !ate )r. )ingott/ and around and be!o &ae

after &ae of b!ack "i!k "urged a&ay oer the edge" of a ca+aciou"

ar(chair# &ith t&o tiny &hite hand" +oi"ed !ike gu!!" on the "urface of


30/444

the bi!!o&".

The burden of )r". )an"on )ingott" =e"h had !ong "ince (ade it

i(+o""ib!e for her to go u+ and do&n "tair"# and &ith characteri"tic

inde+endence "he had (ade her rece+tion roo(" u+"tair" and e"tab!i"hed

her"e!f 3in =agrant io!ation of a!! the %e& *ork +ro+rietie"4 on the

ground =oor of her hou"e/ "o that# a" you "at in her "itting5roo(

&indo& &ith her# you caught 3through a door that &a" a!&ay" o+en# and a

!oo+ed5back ye!!o& da(a"k +ortiere4 the une+ected i"ta of a bedroo(

&ith a huge !o& bed u+ho!"tered !ike a "ofa# and a toi!et5tab!e &ith

frio!ou" !ace =ounce" and a gi!t5fra(ed (irror.

-er i"itor" &ere "tart!ed and fa"cinated by the foreignne"" of thi"

arrange(ent# &hich reca!!ed "cene" in 'rench 2ction# and architectura!

incentie" to i((ora!ity "uch a" the "i(+!e A(erican had neer drea(ed

of. That &a" ho& &o(en &ith !oer" !ied in the &icked o!d "ocietie"#

in a+art(ent" &ith a!! the roo(" on one =oor# and a!! the indecent

+ro+in0uitie" that their noe!" de"cribed. It a(u"ed %e&!and Archer

3&ho had "ecret!y "ituated the !oe5"cene" of ,)on"ieur de $a(or", in

)r". )ingott" bedroo(4 to +icture her b!a(e!e"" !ife !ed in the

"tage5"etting of adu!tery/ but he "aid to hi("e!f# &ith con"iderab!e

ad(iration# that if a !oer had been &hat "he &anted# the intre+id

&o(an &ou!d hae had hi( too.

To the genera! re!ief the $ounte"" O!en"ka &a" not +re"ent in her

grand(other" dra&ing5roo( during the i"it of the betrothed cou+!e.


31/444

)r". )ingott "aid "he had gone out/ &hich# on a day of "uch g!aring

"un!ight# and at the ,"ho++ing hour#, "ee(ed in it"e!f an inde!icate

thing for a co(+ro(i"ed &o(an to do. But at any rate it "+ared the(

the e(barra""(ent of her +re"ence# and the faint "hado& that her

unha++y +a"t (ight "ee( to "hed on their radiant future. The i"it

&ent o? "ucce""fu!!y# a" &a" to hae been e+ected. O!d )r". )ingott

&a" de!ighted &ith the engage(ent# &hich# being !ong fore"een by

&atchfu! re!atie"# had been carefu!!y +a""ed u+on in fa(i!y counci!/

and the engage(ent ring# a !arge thick "a++hire "et in ini"ib!e c!a&"#

(et &ith her un0ua!i2ed ad(iration.

,It" the ne& "etting of cour"e it "ho&" the "tone beautifu!!y# but it

!ook" a !itt!e bare to o!d5fa"hioned eye"#, )r". We!!and had e+!ained#

&ith a conci!iatory "ide5g!ance at her future "on5in5!a&.

,O!d5fa"hioned eye"D I ho+e you dont (ean (ine# (y dearD I !ike a!!

the noe!tie"#, "aid the ance"tre""# !ifting the "tone to her "(a!!

bright orb"# &hich no g!a""e" had eer di"2gured. ,:ery hand"o(e#,

"he added# returning the e&e!/ ,ery !ibera!. In (y ti(e a ca(eo "et

in +ear!" &a" thought "ucient. But it" the hand that "et" o? the

ring# i"nt it# (y dear )r. ArcherD, and "he &aed one of her tiny

hand"# &ith "(a!! +ointed nai!" and ro!!" of aged fat encirc!ing the

&ri"t !ike iory brace!et". ,)ine &a" (ode!!ed in o(e by the great

'errigiani. *ou "hou!d hae )ay" done no doubt he!! hae it done#

(y chi!d. -er hand i" !arge55it" the"e (odern "+ort" that "+read the

oint"55but the "kin i" &hite.55And &hen" the &edding to beD, "he


32/444

broke o?# 2ing her eye" on Archer" face.

,Oh55, )r". We!!and (ur(ured# &hi!e the young (an# "(i!ing at hi"

betrothed# re+!ied ,A" "oon a" eer it can# if on!y you!! back (e

u+# )r". )ingott.,

,We (u"t gie the( ti(e to get to kno& each other a !itt!e better#

(a((a#, )r". We!!and inter+o"ed# &ith the +ro+er a?ectation of

re!uctance/ to &hich the ance"tre"" reoined ,Fno& each otherD

'idd!e"tick"< Eerybody in %e& *ork ha" a!&ay" kno&n eerybody. Let

the young (an hae hi" &ay# (y dear/ dont &ait ti!! the bubb!e" o?

the &ine. )arry the( before Lent/ I (ay catch +neu(onia any &inter

no and I &ant to gie the &edding5breakfa"t.,

The"e "ucce""ie "tate(ent" &ere receied &ith the +ro+er e+re""ion"

of a(u"e(ent# incredu!ity and gratitude/ and the i"it &a" breaking u+

in a ein of (i!d +!ea"antry &hen the door o+ened to ad(it the $ounte""

O!en"ka# &ho entered in bonnet and (ant!e fo!!o&ed by the une+ected

2gure of Ju!iu" Beaufort.

There &a" a cou"in!y (ur(ur of +!ea"ure bet&een the !adie"# and )r".

)ingott he!d out 'errigiani" (ode! to the banker. ,-a< Beaufort#

thi" i" a rare faour


33/444

arrogant &ay. ,I( genera!!y "o tied do&n/ but I (et the $ounte""

E!!en in )adi"on ;0uare# and "he &a" good enough to !et (e &a!k ho(e

&ith her.,

,Ah55I ho+e the hou"e &i!! be gayer# no& that E!!en" here


34/444

,Of cour"e you kno& a!ready55about )ay and (e#, he "aid# an"&ering her

!ook &ith a "hy !augh. ,;he "co!ded (e for not giing you the ne&"

!a"t night at the O+era I had her order" to te!! you that &e &ere

engaged55but I cou!dnt# in that cro&d.,

The "(i!e +a""ed fro( $ounte"" O!en"ka" eye" to her !i+" "he !ooked

younger# (ore !ike the bo!d bro&n E!!en )ingott of hi" boyhood. ,Of

cour"e I kno&/ ye". And I( "o g!ad. But one doe"nt te!! "uch thing"

2r"t in a cro&d., The !adie" &ere on the thre"ho!d and "he he!d out

her hand.

,7ood5bye/ co(e and "ee (e "o(e day#, "he "aid# "ti!! !ooking at Archer.

In the carriage# on the &ay do&n 'ifth Aenue# they ta!ked +ointed!y of

)r". )ingott# of her age# her "+irit# and a!! her &onderfu! attribute".

%o one a!!uded to E!!en O!en"ka/ but Archer kne& that )r". We!!and &a"

thinking ,It" a (i"take for E!!en to be "een# the ery day after her

arria!# +arading u+ 'ifth Aenue at the cro&ded hour &ith Ju!iu"

Beaufort55, and the young (an hi("e!f (enta!!y added ,And "he ought

to kno& that a (an &ho" u"t engaged doe"nt "+end hi" ti(e ca!!ing on

(arried &o(en. But I dare"ay in the "et "he" !ied in they do55they

neer do anything e!"e., And# in "+ite of the co"(o+o!itan ie&" on

&hich he +rided hi("e!f# he thanked heaen that he &a" a %e& *orker#

and about to a!!y hi("e!f &ith one of hi" o&n kind.


35/444

:.

The net eening o!d )r. ;i!!erton Jack"on ca(e to dine &ith the

Archer".

)r". Archer &a" a "hy &o(an and "hrank fro( "ociety/ but "he !iked to

be &e!!5infor(ed a" to it" doing". -er o!d friend )r. ;i!!erton

Jack"on a++!ied to the ine"tigation of hi" friend" a?air" the

+atience of a co!!ector and the "cience of a natura!i"t/ and hi"

"i"ter# )i"" ;o+hy Jack"on# &ho !ied &ith hi(# and &a" entertained by

a!! the +eo+!e &ho cou!d not "ecure her (uch5"ought5after brother#

brought ho(e bit" of (inor go""i+ that 2!!ed out u"efu!!y the ga+" in

hi" +icture.

Therefore# &heneer anything ha++ened that )r". Archer &anted to kno&

about# "he a"ked )r. Jack"on to dine/ and a" "he honoured fe& +eo+!e

&ith her initation"# and a" "he and her daughter Janey &ere an

ece!!ent audience# )r. Jack"on u"ua!!y ca(e hi("e!f in"tead of "ending

hi" "i"ter. If he cou!d hae dictated a!! the condition"# he &ou!d

hae cho"en the eening" &hen %e&!and &a" out/ not becau"e the young

(an &a" uncongenia! to hi( 3the t&o got on ca+ita!!y at their c!ub4 but

becau"e the o!d anecdoti"t "o(eti(e" fe!t# on %e&!and" +art# a

tendency to &eigh hi" eidence that the !adie" of the fa(i!y neer

"ho&ed.


36/444

)r. Jack"on# if +erfection had been attainab!e on earth# &ou!d a!"o

hae a"ked that )r". Archer" food "hou!d be a !itt!e better. But then

%e& *ork# a" far back a" the (ind of (an cou!d trae!# had been diided

into the t&o great funda(enta! grou+" of the )ingott" and )an"on" and

a!! their c!an# &ho cared about eating and c!othe" and (oney# and the

Archer5%e&!and5an5der5Luyden tribe# &ho &ere deoted to trae!#

horticu!ture and the be"t 2ction# and !ooked do&n on the gro""er for("

of +!ea"ure.

*ou cou!dnt hae eerything# after a!!. If you dined &ith the Loe!!

)ingott" you got cana"5back and terra+in and intage &ine"/ at Ade!ine

Archer" you cou!d ta!k about A!+ine "cenery and ,The )arb!e 'aun,/ and

!ucki!y the Archer )adeira had gone round the $a+e. Therefore &hen a

friend!y "u((on" ca(e fro( )r". Archer# )r. Jack"on# &ho &a" a true

ec!ectic# &ou!d u"ua!!y "ay to hi" "i"ter ,Ie been a !itt!e gouty

"ince (y !a"t dinner at the Loe!! )ingott"55it &i!! do (e good to

diet at Ade!ine".,

)r". Archer# &ho had !ong been a &ido !ied &ith her "on and daughter

in We"t T&enty5eighth ;treet. An u++er =oor &a" dedicated to %e&!and#

and the t&o &o(en "0ueeed the("e!e" into narro&er 0uarter" be!o&. In

an unc!ouded har(ony of ta"te" and intere"t" they cu!tiated fern" in

Wardian ca"e"# (ade (acra(e !ace and &oo! e(broidery on !inen#

co!!ected A(erican reo!utionary g!aed &are# "ub"cribed to ,7ood

Word"#, and read Ouida" noe!" for the "ake of the Ita!ian at(o"+here.

3They +referred tho"e about +ea"ant !ife# becau"e of the de"cri+tion"


37/444

of "cenery and the +!ea"anter "enti(ent"# though in genera! they !iked

noe!" about +eo+!e in "ociety# &ho"e (otie" and habit" &ere (ore

co(+rehen"ib!e# "+oke "eere!y of >icken"# &ho ,had neer dra&n a

gent!e(an#, and con"idered Thackeray !e"" at ho(e in the great &or!d

than Bu!&er55&ho# ho&eer# &a" beginning to be thought o!d5fa"hioned.4

)r". and )i"" Archer &ere both great !oer" of "cenery. It &a" &hat

they +rinci+a!!y "ought and ad(ired on their occa"iona! trae!" abroad/

con"idering architecture and +ainting a" "ubect" for (en# and chie=y

for !earned +er"on" &ho read u"kin. )r". Archer had been born a

%e&!and# and (other and daughter# &ho &ere a" !ike a" "i"ter"# &ere

both# a" +eo+!e "aid# ,true %e&!and",/ ta!!# +a!e# and "!ight!y

round5"hou!dered# &ith !ong no"e"# "&eet "(i!e" and a kind of droo+ing

di"tinction !ike that in certain faded eyno!d" +ortrait". Their

+hy"ica! re"e(b!ance &ou!d hae been co(+!ete if an e!der!y e(bon+oint

had not "tretched )r". Archer" b!ack brocade# &hi!e )i"" Archer"

bro&n and +ur+!e +o+!in" hung# a" the year" &ent on# (ore and (ore

"!ack!y on her irgin fra(e.

)enta!!y# the !ikene"" bet&een the(# a" %e&!and &a" a&are# &a" !e""

co(+!ete than their identica! (anneri"(" often (ade it a++ear. The

!ong habit of !iing together in (utua!!y de+endent inti(acy had gien

the( the "a(e ocabu!ary# and the "a(e habit of beginning their +hra"e"

,)other think", or ,Janey think"#, according a" one or the other &i"hed

to adance an o+inion of her o&n/ but in rea!ity# &hi!e )r". Archer"

"erene uni(aginatiene"" re"ted ea"i!y in the acce+ted and fa(i!iar#

Janey &a" "ubect to "tart" and aberration" of fancy &e!!ing u+ fro(


38/444

"+ring" of "u++re""ed ro(ance.

)other and daughter adored each other and reered their "on and

brother/ and Archer !oed the( &ith a tenderne"" (ade co(+unctiou" and

uncritica! by the "en"e of their eaggerated ad(iration# and by hi"

"ecret "ati"faction in it. After a!!# he thought it a good thing for a

(an to hae hi" authority re"+ected in hi" o&n hou"e# een if hi" "en"e

of hu(our "o(eti(e" (ade hi( 0ue"tion the force of hi" (andate.

On thi" occa"ion the young (an &a" ery "ure that )r. Jack"on &ou!d

rather hae had hi( dine out/ but he had hi" o&n rea"on" for not doing

"o.

Of cour"e o!d Jack"on &anted to ta!k about E!!en O!en"ka# and of cour"e

)r". Archer and Janey &anted to hear &hat he had to te!!. A!! three

&ou!d be "!ight!y e(barra""ed by %e&!and" +re"ence# no& that hi"

+ro"+ectie re!ation to the )ingott c!an had been (ade kno&n/ and the

young (an &aited &ith an a(u"ed curio"ity to "ee ho& they &ou!d turn

the dicu!ty.

They began# ob!i0ue!y# by ta!king about )r". Le(ue! ;truther".

,It" a +ity the Beaufort" a"ked her#, )r". Archer "aid gent!y. ,But

then egina a!&ay" doe" &hat he te!!" her/ and BEA'OT55,

,$ertain nuance" e"ca+e Beaufort#, "aid )r. Jack"on# cautiou"!y


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in"+ecting the broi!ed "had# and &ondering for the thou"andth ti(e &hy

)r". Archer" cook a!&ay" burnt the roe to a cinder. 3%e&!and# &ho had

!ong "hared hi" &onder# cou!d a!&ay" detect it in the o!der (an"

e+re""ion of (e!ancho!y di"a++roa!.4

,Oh# nece""ari!y/ Beaufort i" a u!gar (an#, "aid )r". Archer. ,)y

grandfather %e&!and a!&ay" u"ed to "ay to (y (other Whateer you do#

dont !et that fe!!o& Beaufort be introduced to the gir!". But at

!ea"t he" had the adantage of a""ociating &ith gent!e(en/ in Eng!and

too# they "ay. It" a!! ery (y"teriou"55, ;he g!anced at Janey and

+au"ed. ;he and Janey kne& eery fo!d of the Beaufort (y"tery# but in

+ub!ic )r". Archer continued to a""u(e that the "ubect &a" not one for

the un(arried.

,But thi" )r". ;truther"#, )r". Archer continued/ ,&hat did you "ay ;-E

&a"# ;i!!ertonD,

,Out of a (ine or rather out of the "a!oon at the head of the +it.

Then &ith Liing Wa5Work"# touring %e& Eng!and. After the +o!ice

broke T-AT u+# they "ay "he !ied55, )r. Jack"on in hi" turn g!anced

at Janey# &ho"e eye" began to bu!ge fro( under her +ro(inent !id".

There &ere "ti!! hiatu"e" for her in )r". ;truther"" +a"t.

,Then#, )r. Jack"on continued 3and Archer "a& he &a" &ondering &hy no

one had to!d the but!er neer to "!ice cucu(ber" &ith a "tee! knife4#

,then Le(ue! ;truther" ca(e a!ong. They "ay hi" aderti"er u"ed the


40/444

gir!" head for the "hoe5+o!i"h +o"ter"/ her hair" inten"e!y b!ack#

you kno&55the Egy+tian "ty!e. Anyho he55eentua!!y55(arried her.,

There &ere o!u(e" of innuendo in the &ay the ,eentua!!y, &a" "+aced#

and each "y!!ab!e gien it" due "tre"".

,Oh# &e!!55at the +a"" &ee co(e to no&aday"# it doe"nt (atter#, "aid

)r". Archer indi?erent!y. The !adie" &ere not rea!!y intere"ted in

)r". ;truther" u"t then/ the "ubect of E!!en O!en"ka &a" too fre"h

and too ab"orbing to the(. Indeed# )r". ;truther"" na(e had been

introduced by )r". Archer on!y that "he (ight +re"ent!y be ab!e to "ay

,And %e&!and" ne& cou"in55$ounte"" O!en"kaD Wa" ;-E at the ba!! tooD,

There &a" a faint touch of "arca"( in the reference to her "on# and

Archer kne& it and had e+ected it. Een )r". Archer# &ho &a" "e!do(

undu!y +!ea"ed &ith hu(an eent"# had been a!together g!ad of her "on"

engage(ent. 3,E"+ecia!!y after that "i!!y bu"ine"" &ith )r".

u"h&orth#, a" "he had re(arked to Janey# a!!uding to &hat had once

"ee(ed to %e&!and a tragedy of &hich hi" "ou! &ou!d a!&ay" bear the

"car.4

There &a" no better (atch in %e& *ork than )ay We!!and# !ook at the

0ue"tion fro( &hateer +oint you cho"e. Of cour"e "uch a (arriage &a"

on!y &hat %e&!and &a" entit!ed to/ but young (en are "o foo!i"h and

inca!cu!ab!e55and "o(e &o(en "o en"naring and un"cru+u!ou"55that it &a"

nothing "hort of a (irac!e to "ee one" on!y "on "afe +a"t the ;iren

I"!e and in the haen of a b!a(e!e"" do(e"ticity.


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A!! thi" )r". Archer fe!t# and her "on kne& "he fe!t/ but he kne& a!"o

that "he had been +erturbed by the +re(ature announce(ent of hi"

engage(ent# or rather by it" cau"e/ and it &a" for that rea"on55becau"e

on the &ho!e he &a" a tender and indu!gent (a"ter55that he had "tayed

at ho(e that eening. ,It" not that I dont a++roe of the )ingott"

e"+rit de cor+"/ but &hy %e&!and" engage(ent "hou!d be (ied u+ &ith

that O!en"ka &o(an" co(ing" and going" I dont "ee#, )r". Archer

gru(b!ed to Janey# the on!y &itne"" of her "!ight !a+"e" fro( +erfect

"&eetne"".

;he had behaed beautifu!!y55and in beautifu! behaiour "he &a"

un"ur+a""ed55during the ca!! on )r". We!!and/ but %e&!and kne& 3and hi"

betrothed doubt!e"" gue""ed4 that a!! through the i"it "he and Janey

&ere nerou"!y on the &atch for )ada(e O!en"ka" +o""ib!e intru"ion/

and &hen they !eft the hou"e together "he had +er(itted her"e!f to "ay

to her "on ,I( thankfu! that Augu"ta We!!and receied u" a!one.,

The"e indication" of in&ard di"turbance (oed Archer the (ore that he

too fe!t that the )ingott" had gone a !itt!e too far. But# a" it &a"

again"t a!! the ru!e" of their code that the (other and "on "hou!d eer

a!!ude to &hat &a" u++er(o"t in their thought"# he "i(+!y re+!ied ,Oh#

&e!!# there" a!&ay" a +ha"e of fa(i!y +artie" to be gone through &hen

one get" engaged# and the "ooner it" oer the better., At &hich hi"

(other (ere!y +ur"ed her !i+" under the !ace ei! that hung do&n fro(

her grey e!et bonnet tri((ed &ith fro"ted gra+e".


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-er reenge# he fe!t55her !a&fu! reenge55&ou!d be to ,dra&, )r.

Jack"on that eening on the $ounte"" O!en"ka/ and# haing +ub!ic!y done

hi" duty a" a future (e(ber of the )ingott c!an# the young (an had no

obection to hearing the !ady di"cu""ed in +riate55ece+t that the

"ubect &a" a!ready beginning to bore hi(.

)r. Jack"on had he!+ed hi("e!f to a "!ice of the te+id 2!et &hich the

(ournfu! but!er had handed hi( &ith a !ook a" "ce+tica! a" hi" o&n# and

had reected the (u"hroo( "auce after a "carce!y +erce+tib!e "ni?. -e

!ooked baCed and hungry# and Archer re=ected that he &ou!d +robab!y

2ni"h hi" (ea! on E!!en O!en"ka.

)r. Jack"on !eaned back in hi" chair# and g!anced u+ at the cand!e!it

Archer"# %e&!and" and an der Luyden" hanging in dark fra(e" on the

dark &a!!".

,Ah# ho& your grandfather Archer !oed a good dinner# (y dear %e&!and


43/444

,Ah55, )r". Archer (ur(ured# in a tone that i(+!ied ,;he had that

decency.,

,@erha+" the Beaufort" dont kno& her#, Janey "ugge"ted# &ith her

art!e"" (a!ice.

)r. Jack"on gae a faint "i+# a" if he had been ta"ting ini"ib!e

)adeira. ,)r". Beaufort (ay not55but Beaufort certain!y doe"# for "he

&a" "een &a!king u+ 'ifth Aenue thi" afternoon &ith hi( by the &ho!e

of %e& *ork.,

,)ercy55, (oaned )r". Archer# eident!y +erceiing the u"e!e""ne"" of

trying to a"cribe the action" of foreigner" to a "en"e of de!icacy.

,I &onder if "he &ear" a round hat or a bonnet in the afternoon#, Janey

"+ecu!ated. ,At the O+era I kno& "he had on dark b!ue e!et#

+erfect!y +!ain and =at55!ike a night5go&n.,

,Janey


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decided that the dre"" in 0ue"tion &a"nt "(art enough.,

)r". Archer "(i!ed at thi" con2r(ation of her inference. ,@oor

E!!en#, "he "i(+!y re(arked/ adding co(+a""ionate!y ,We (u"t a!&ay"

bear in (ind &hat an eccentric bringing5u+ )edora )an"on gae her.

What can you e+ect of a gir! &ho &a" a!!o&ed to &ear b!ack "atin at

her co(ing5out ba!!D,

,Ah55dont I re(e(ber her in it


45/444

certain!y# becau"e "he had the bad !uck to (ake a &retched (arriage/

but I dont "ee that that" a rea"on for hiding her head a" if "he &ere

the cu!+rit.,

,That# I "u++o"e#, "aid )r. Jack"on# "+ecu!atie!y# ,i" the !ine the

)ingott" (ean to take.,

The young (an reddened. ,I didnt hae to &ait for their cue# if

that" &hat you (ean# "ir. )ada(e O!en"ka ha" had an unha++y !ife

that doe"nt (ake her an outca"t.,

,There are ru(our"#, began )r. Jack"on# g!ancing at Janey.

,Oh# I kno& the "ecretary#, the young (an took hi( u+. ,%on"en"e#

(other/ Janey" gro&n5u+. They "ay# dont they#, he &ent on# ,that the

"ecretary he!+ed her to get a&ay fro( her brute of a hu"band# &ho ke+t

her +ractica!!y a +ri"onerD We!!# &hat if he didD I ho+e there i"nt

a (an a(ong u" &ho &ou!dnt hae done the "a(e in "uch a ca"e.,

)r. Jack"on g!anced oer hi" "hou!der to "ay to the "ad but!er

,@erha+" ... that "auce ... u"t a !itt!e# after a!!55,/ then# haing

he!+ed hi("e!f# he re(arked ,I( to!d "he" !ooking for a hou"e. ;he

(ean" to !ie here.,

,I hear "he (ean" to get a diorce#, "aid Janey bo!d!y.


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,I ho+e "he &i!!


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%e&!and reddened. ,Liing togetherD We!!# &hy notD Who had the right

to (ake her !ife oer if "he hadntD I( "ick of the hy+ocri"y that

&ou!d bury a!ie a &o(an of her age if her hu"band +refer" to !ie &ith

har!ot".,

-e "to++ed and turned a&ay angri!y to !ight hi" cigar. ,Wo(en ought to

be free55a" free a" &e are#, he dec!ared# (aking a di"coery of &hich

he &a" too irritated to (ea"ure the terri2c con"e0uence".

)r. ;i!!erton Jack"on "tretched hi" ank!e" nearer the coa!" and e(itted

a "ardonic &hi"t!e.

,We!!#, he "aid after a +au"e# ,a++arent!y $ount O!en"ki take" your

ie&/ for I neer heard of hi" haing !ifted a 2nger to get hi" &ife

back.,

:I.

That eening# after )r. Jack"on had taken hi("e!f a&ay# and the !adie"

had retired to their chint5curtained bedroo(# %e&!and Archer (ounted

thoughtfu!!y to hi" o&n "tudy. A igi!ant hand had# a" u"ua!# ke+t the

2re a!ie and the !a(+ tri((ed/ and the roo(# &ith it" ro&" and ro&"

of book"# it" brone and "tee! "tatuette" of ,The 'encer", on the

(ante!+iece and it" (any +hotogra+h" of fa(ou" +icture"# !ooked


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"ingu!ar!y ho(e5!ike and &e!co(ing.

A" he dro++ed into hi" ar(chair near the 2re hi" eye" re"ted on a

!arge +hotogra+h of )ay We!!and# &hich the young gir! had gien hi( in

the 2r"t day" of their ro(ance# and &hich had no& di"+!aced a!! the

other +ortrait" on the tab!e. With a ne& "en"e of a&e he !ooked at the

frank forehead# "eriou" eye" and gay innocent (outh of the young

creature &ho"e "ou!" cu"todian he &a" to be. That terrifying +roduct

of the "ocia! "y"te( he be!onged to and be!ieed in# the young gir! &ho

kne& nothing and e+ected eerything# !ooked back at hi( !ike a

"tranger through )ay We!!and" fa(i!iar feature"/ and once (ore it &a"

borne in on hi( that (arriage &a" not the "afe anchorage he had been

taught to think# but a oyage on uncharted "ea".

The ca"e of the $ounte"" O!en"ka had "tirred u+ o!d "ett!ed coniction"

and "et the( drifting dangerou"!y through hi" (ind. -i" o&n

ec!a(ation ,Wo(en "hou!d be free55a" free a" &e are#, "truck to the

root of a +rob!e( that it &a" agreed in hi" &or!d to regard a"

non5ei"tent. ,%ice, &o(en# ho&eer &ronged# &ou!d neer c!ai( the

kind of freedo( he (eant# and generou"5(inded (en !ike hi("e!f &ere

therefore55in the heat of argu(ent55the (ore chia!rou"!y ready to

concede it to the(. ;uch erba! genero"itie" &ere in fact on!y a

hu(bugging di"gui"e of the ineorab!e conention" that tied thing"

together and bound +eo+!e do&n to the o!d +attern. But here he &a"

+!edged to defend# on the +art of hi" betrothed" cou"in# conduct that#

on hi" o&n &ife" +art# &ou!d u"tify hi( in ca!!ing do&n on her a!!


49/444

the thunder" of $hurch and ;tate. Of cour"e the di!e((a &a" +ure!y

hy+othetica!/ "ince he &a"nt a b!ackguard @o!i"h nob!e(an# it &a"

ab"urd to "+ecu!ate &hat hi" &ife" right" &ou!d be if he WEE. But

%e&!and Archer &a" too i(aginatie not to fee! that# in hi" ca"e and

)ay"# the tie (ight ga!! for rea"on" far !e"" gro"" and +a!+ab!e.

What cou!d he and "he rea!!y kno& of each other# "ince it &a" hi" duty#

a" a ,decent, fe!!o to concea! hi" +a"t fro( her# and her"# a" a

(arriageab!e gir!# to hae no +a"t to concea!D What if# for "o(e one

of the "ubt!er rea"on" that &ou!d te!! &ith both of the(# they "hou!d

tire of each other# (i"under"tand or irritate each otherD -e reie&ed

hi" friend" (arriage"55the "u++o"ed!y ha++y one"55and "a& none that

an"&ered# een re(ote!y# to the +a""ionate and tender co(rade"hi+ &hich

he +ictured a" hi" +er(anent re!ation &ith )ay We!!and. -e +erceied

that "uch a +icture +re"u++o"ed# on her +art# the e+erience# the

er"ati!ity# the freedo( of udg(ent# &hich "he had been carefu!!y

trained not to +o""e""/ and &ith a "hier of foreboding he "a& hi"

(arriage beco(ing &hat (o"t of the other (arriage" about hi( &ere a

du!! a""ociation of (ateria! and "ocia! intere"t" he!d together by

ignorance on the one "ide and hy+ocri"y on the other. La&rence

Le?ert" occurred to hi( a" the hu"band &ho had (o"t co(+!ete!y

rea!i"ed thi" eniab!e idea!. A" beca(e the high5+rie"t of for(# he

had for(ed a &ife "o co(+!ete!y to hi" o&n conenience that# in the

(o"t con"+icuou" (o(ent" of hi" fre0uent !oe5a?air" &ith other (en"

&ie"# "he &ent about in "(i!ing uncon"ciou"ne""# "aying that ,La&rence

&a" "o frightfu!!y "trict,/ and had been kno&n to b!u"h indignant!y#

and aert her gae# &hen "o(e one a!!uded in her +re"ence to the fact


50/444

that Ju!iu" Beaufort 3a" beca(e a ,foreigner, of doubtfu! origin4 had

&hat &a" kno&n in %e& *ork a" ,another e"tab!i"h(ent.,

Archer tried to con"o!e hi("e!f &ith the thought that he &a" not 0uite

"uch an a"" a" Larry Le?ert"# nor )ay "uch a "i(+!eton a" +oor

7ertrude/ but the di?erence &a" after a!! one of inte!!igence and not

of "tandard". In rea!ity they a!! !ied in a kind of hierog!y+hic

&or!d# &here the rea! thing &a" neer "aid or done or een thought# but

on!y re+re"ented by a "et of arbitrary "ign"/ a" &hen )r". We!!and# &ho

kne& eact!y &hy Archer had +re""ed her to announce her daughter"

engage(ent at the Beaufort ba!! 3and had indeed e+ected hi( to do no

!e""4# yet fe!t ob!iged to "i(u!ate re!uctance# and the air of haing

had her hand forced# 0uite a"# in the book" on @ri(itie )an that

+eo+!e of adanced cu!ture &ere beginning to read# the "aage bride i"

dragged &ith "hriek" fro( her +arent" tent.

The re"u!t# of cour"e# &a" that the young gir! &ho &a" the centre of

thi" e!aborate "y"te( of (y"ti2cation re(ained the (ore in"crutab!e

for her ery frankne"" and a""urance. ;he &a" frank# +oor dar!ing#

becau"e "he had nothing to concea!# a""ured becau"e "he kne& of nothing

to be on her guard again"t/ and &ith no better +re+aration than thi"#

"he &a" to be +!unged oernight into &hat +eo+!e ea"ie!y ca!!ed ,the

fact" of !ife.,

The young (an &a" "incere!y but +!acid!y in !oe. -e de!ighted in the

radiant good !ook" of hi" betrothed# in her hea!th# her hor"e(an"hi+#


51/444

her grace and 0uickne"" at ga(e"# and the "hy intere"t in book" and

idea" that "he &a" beginning to dee!o+ under hi" guidance. 3;he had

adanced far enough to oin hi( in ridicu!ing the Idy!" of the Fing#

but not to fee! the beauty of !y""e" and the Lotu" Eater".4 ;he &a"

"traightfor&ard# !oya! and brae/ "he had a "en"e of hu(our 3chie=y

+roed by her !aughing at -I; oke"4/ and he "u"+ected# in the de+th"

of her innocent!y5gaing "ou!# a g!o& of fee!ing that it &ou!d be a oy

to &aken. But &hen he had gone the brief round of her he returned

di"couraged by the thought that a!! thi" frankne"" and innocence &ere

on!y an arti2cia! +roduct. ntrained hu(an nature &a" not frank and

innocent/ it &a" fu!! of the t&i"t" and defence" of an in"tinctie

gui!e. And he fe!t hi("e!f o++re""ed by thi" creation of factitiou"

+urity# "o cunning!y (anufactured by a con"+iracy of (other" and aunt"

and grand(other" and !ong5dead ance"tre""e"# becau"e it &a" "u++o"ed to

be &hat he &anted# &hat he had a right to# in order that he (ight

eerci"e hi" !ord!y +!ea"ure in "(a"hing it !ike an i(age (ade of "no&.

There &a" a certain tritene"" in the"e re=ection" they &ere tho"e

habitua! to young (en on the a++roach of their &edding day. But they

&ere genera!!y acco(+anied by a "en"e of co(+unction and "e!f5aba"e(ent

of &hich %e&!and Archer fe!t no trace. -e cou!d not de+!ore 3a"

Thackeray" heroe" "o often ea"+erated hi( by doing4 that he had not a

b!ank +age to o?er hi" bride in echange for the unb!e(i"hed one "he

&a" to gie to hi(. -e cou!d not get a&ay fro( the fact that if he had

been brought u+ a" "he had they &ou!d hae been no (ore 2t to 2nd

their &ay about than the Babe" in the Wood/ nor cou!d he# for a!! hi"


52/444

aniou" cogitation"# "ee any hone"t rea"on 3any# that i"# unconnected

&ith hi" o&n (o(entary +!ea"ure# and the +a""ion of (a"cu!ine anity4

&hy hi" bride "hou!d not hae been a!!o&ed the "a(e freedo( of

e+erience a" hi("e!f.

;uch 0ue"tion"# at "uch an hour# &ere bound to drift through hi" (ind/

but he &a" con"ciou" that their unco(fortab!e +er"i"tence and +reci"ion

&ere due to the ino++ortune arria! of the $ounte"" O!en"ka. -ere he

&a"# at the ery (o(ent of hi" betrotha!55a (o(ent for +ure thought"

and c!oud!e"" ho+e"55+itchforked into a coi! of "canda! &hich rai"ed

a!! the "+ecia! +rob!e(" he &ou!d hae +referred to !et !ie. ,-ang

E!!en O!en"ka


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54/444

it" re"ource"# for eery one in it 3inc!uding !iery5"tab!e5kee+er"#

but!er" and cook"4 not to kno& eact!y on &hich eening" +eo+!e &ere

free/ and it &a" thu" +o""ib!e for the reci+ient" of )r". Loe!!

)ingott" initation" to (ake crue!!y c!ear their deter(ination not to

(eet the $ounte"" O!en"ka.

The b!o& &a" une+ected/ but the )ingott"# a" their &ay &a"# (et it

ga!!ant!y. )r". Loe!! )ingott con2ded the ca"e to )r". We!!and# &ho

con2ded it to %e&!and Archer/ &ho# a=a(e at the outrage# a++ea!ed

+a""ionate!y and authoritatie!y to hi" (other/ &ho# after a +ainfu!

+eriod of in&ard re"i"tance and out&ard te(+ori"ing# "uccu(bed to hi"

in"tance" 3a" "he a!&ay" did4# and i((ediate!y e(bracing hi" cau"e &ith

an energy redoub!ed by her +reiou" he"itation"# +ut on her grey e!et

bonnet and "aid ,I!! go and "ee Loui"a an der Luyden.,

The %e& *ork of %e&!and Archer" day &a" a "(a!! and "!i++ery +yra(id#

in &hich# a" yet# hard!y a 2""ure had been (ade or a footho!d gained.

At it" ba"e &a" a 2r( foundation of &hat )r". Archer ca!!ed ,+!ain

+eo+!e,/ an honourab!e but ob"cure (aority of re"+ectab!e fa(i!ie" &ho

3a" in the ca"e of the ;+icer" or the Le?ert"e" or the Jack"on"4 had

been rai"ed aboe their !ee! by (arriage &ith one of the ru!ing c!an".

@eo+!e# )r". Archer a!&ay" "aid# &ere not a" +articu!ar a" they u"ed to

be/ and &ith o!d $atherine ;+icer ru!ing one end of 'ifth Aenue# and

Ju!iu" Beaufort the other# you cou!dnt e+ect the o!d tradition" to

!a"t (uch !onger.


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'ir(!y narro&ing u+&ard fro( thi" &ea!thy but incon"+icuou" "ub"tratu(

&a" the co(+act and do(inant grou+ &hich the )ingott"# %e&!and"#

$hier"e" and )an"on" "o actie!y re+re"ented. )o"t +eo+!e i(agined

the( to be the ery a+e of the +yra(id/ but they the("e!e" 3at !ea"t

tho"e of )r". Archer" generation4 &ere a&are that# in the eye" of the

+rofe""iona! genea!ogi"t# on!y a "ti!! "(a!!er nu(ber of fa(i!ie" cou!d

!ay c!ai( to that e(inence.

,>ont te!! (e#, )r". Archer &ou!d "ay to her chi!dren# ,a!! thi"

(odern ne&"+a+er rubbi"h about a %e& *ork ari"tocracy. If there i"

one# neither the )ingott" nor the )an"on" be!ong to it/ no# nor the

%e&!and" or the $hier"e" either. Our grandfather" and

great5grandfather" &ere u"t re"+ectab!e Eng!i"h or >utch (erchant"#

&ho ca(e to the co!onie" to (ake their fortune# and "tayed here becau"e

they did "o &e!!. One of your great5grandfather" "igned the

>ec!aration# and another &a" a genera! on Wa"hington" "ta?# and

receied 7enera! Burgoyne" "&ord after the batt!e of ;aratoga. The"e

are thing" to be +roud of# but they hae nothing to do &ith rank or

c!a"". %e& *ork ha" a!&ay" been a co((ercia! co((unity# and there are

not (ore than three fa(i!ie" in it &ho can c!ai( an ari"tocratic origin

in the rea! "en"e of the &ord.,

)r". Archer and her "on and daughter# !ike eery one e!"e in %e& *ork#

kne& &ho the"e +rii!eged being" &ere the >agonet" of Wa"hington

;0uare# &ho ca(e of an o!d Eng!i"h county fa(i!y a!!ied &ith the @itt"

and 'oe"/ the Lanning"# &ho had inter(arried &ith the de"cendant" of


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$ount de 7ra""e# and the an der Luyden"# direct de"cendant" of the

2r"t >utch goernor of )anhattan# and re!ated by +re5reo!utionary

(arriage" to "eera! (e(ber" of the 'rench and Briti"h ari"tocracy.

The Lanning" "uried on!y in the +er"on of t&o ery o!d but !ie!y

)i"" Lanning"# &ho !ied cheerfu!!y and re(ini"cent!y a(ong fa(i!y

+ortrait" and $hi++enda!e/ the >agonet" &ere a con"iderab!e c!an#

a!!ied to the be"t na(e" in Ba!ti(ore and @hi!ade!+hia/ but the an der

Luyden"# &ho "tood aboe a!! of the(# had faded into a kind of

"u+er5terre"tria! t&i!ight# fro( &hich on!y t&o 2gure" i(+re""ie!y

e(erged/ tho"e of )r. and )r". -enry an der Luyden.

)r". -enry an der Luyden had been Loui"a >agonet# and her (other had

been the granddaughter of $o!one! du Lac# of an o!d $hanne! I"!and

fa(i!y# &ho had fought under $orn&a!!i" and had "ett!ed in )ary!and#

after the &ar# &ith hi" bride# Lady Ange!ica Treenna# 2fth daughter

of the Ear! of ;t. Au"trey. The tie bet&een the >agonet"# the du Lac"

of )ary!and# and their ari"tocratic $orni"h kin"fo!k# the Treenna"#

had a!&ay" re(ained c!o"e and cordia!. )r. and )r". an der Luyden had

(ore than once +aid !ong i"it" to the +re"ent head of the hou"e of

Treenna# the >uke of ;t. Au"trey# at hi" country5"eat in $orn&a!! and

at ;t. Au"trey in 7!ouce"ter"hire/ and hi" 7race had fre0uent!y

announced hi" intention of "o(e day returning their i"it 3&ithout the

>uche""# &ho feared the At!antic4.

)r. and )r". an der Luyden diided their ti(e bet&een Treenna# their


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+!ace in )ary!and# and ;kuyterc!i?# the great e"tate on the -ud"on

&hich had been one of the co!onia! grant" of the >utch goern(ent to

the fa(ou" 2r"t 7oernor# and of &hich )r. an der Luyden &a" "ti!!

,@atroon., Their !arge "o!e(n hou"e in )adi"on Aenue &a" "e!do(

o+ened# and &hen they ca(e to to&n they receied in it on!y their (o"t

inti(ate friend".

,I &i"h you &ou!d go &ith (e# %e&!and#, hi" (other "aid# "udden!y

+au"ing at the door of the Bro&n cou+e. ,Loui"a i" fond of you/ and of

cour"e it" on account of dear )ay that I( taking thi" "te+55and a!"o

becau"e# if &e dont a!! "tand together# there!! be no "uch thing a"

;ociety !eft.,

:II.

)r". -enry an der Luyden !i"tened in "i!ence to her cou"in )r".

Archer" narratie.

It &a" a!! ery &e!! to te!! your"e!f in adance that )r". an der

Luyden &a" a!&ay" "i!ent# and that# though non5co((itta! by nature and

training# "he &a" ery kind to the +eo+!e "he rea!!y !iked. Een

+er"ona! e+erience of the"e fact" &a" not a!&ay" a +rotection fro( the

chi!! that de"cended on one in the high5cei!inged &hite5&a!!ed )adi"on

Aenue dra&ing5roo(# &ith the +a!e brocaded ar(chair" "o obiou"!y


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uncoered for the occa"ion# and the gaue "ti!! ei!ing the or(o!u

(ante! orna(ent" and the beautifu! o!d cared fra(e of 7ain"borough"

,Lady Ange!ica du Lac.,

)r". an der Luyden" +ortrait by -untington 3in b!ack e!et and

:enetian +oint4 faced that of her !oe!y ance"tre"". It &a" genera!!y

con"idered ,a" 2ne a" a $abane!#, and# though t&enty year" had e!a+"ed

"ince it" eecution# &a" "ti!! ,a +erfect !ikene""., Indeed the )r".

an der Luyden &ho "at beneath it !i"tening to )r". Archer (ight hae

been the t&in5"i"ter of the fair and "ti!! youngi"h &o(an droo+ing

again"t a gi!t ar(chair before a green re+ curtain. )r". an der

Luyden "ti!! &ore b!ack e!et and :enetian +oint &hen "he &ent into

"ociety55or rather 3"ince "he neer dined out4 &hen "he thre& o+en her

o&n door" to receie it. -er fair hair# &hich had faded &ithout

turning grey# &a" "ti!! +arted in =at oer!a++ing +oint" on her

forehead# and the "traight no"e that diided her +a!e b!ue eye" &a"

on!y a !itt!e (ore +inched about the no"tri!" than &hen the +ortrait

had been +ainted. ;he a!&ay"# indeed# "truck %e&!and Archer a" haing

been rather grue"o(e!y +re"ered in the air!e"" at(o"+here of a

+erfect!y irre+roachab!e ei"tence# a" bodie" caught in g!acier" kee+

for year" a ro"y !ife5in5death.

Like a!! hi" fa(i!y# he e"tee(ed and ad(ired )r". an der Luyden/ but

he found her gent!e bending "&eetne"" !e"" a++roachab!e than the

gri(ne"" of "o(e of hi" (other" o!d aunt"# 2erce "+in"ter" &ho "aid

,%o, on +rinci+!e before they kne& &hat they &ere going to be a"ked.


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)r". an der Luyden" attitude "aid neither ye" nor no# but a!&ay"

a++eared to inc!ine to c!e(ency ti!! her thin !i+"# &aering into the

"hado& of a "(i!e# (ade the a!(o"t inariab!e re+!y ,I "ha!! 2r"t

hae to ta!k thi" oer &ith (y hu"band.,

;he and )r. an der Luyden &ere "o eact!y a!ike that Archer often

&ondered ho after forty year" of the c!o"e"t conuga!ity# t&o "uch

(erged identitie" eer "e+arated the("e!e" enough for anything a"

controer"ia! a" a ta!king5oer. But a" neither had eer reached a

deci"ion &ithout +refacing it by thi" (y"teriou" conc!ae# )r". Archer

and her "on# haing "et forth their ca"e# &aited re"igned!y for the

fa(i!iar +hra"e.

)r". an der Luyden# ho&eer# &ho had "e!do( "ur+ri"ed any one# no&

"ur+ri"ed the( by reaching her !ong hand to&ard the be!!5ro+e.

,I think#, "he "aid# ,I "hou!d !ike -enry to hear &hat you hae to!d

(e.,

A foot(an a++eared# to &ho( "he grae!y added ,If )r. an der Luyden

ha" 2ni"hed reading the ne&"+a+er# +!ea"e a"k hi( to be kind enough to

co(e.,

;he "aid ,reading the ne&"+a+er, in the tone in &hich a )ini"ter" &ife

(ight hae "aid ,@re"iding at a $abinet (eeting,55not fro( any


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arrogance of (ind# but becau"e the habit of a !ife5ti(e# and the

attitude of her friend" and re!ation"# had !ed her to con"ider )r. an

der Luyden" !ea"t ge"ture a" haing an a!(o"t "acerdota! i(+ortance.

-er +ro(+tne"" of action "ho&ed that "he con"idered the ca"e a"

+re""ing a" )r". Archer/ but# !e"t "he "hou!d be thought to hae

co((itted her"e!f in adance# "he added# &ith the "&eete"t !ook

,-enry a!&ay" enoy" "eeing you# dear Ade!ine/ and he &i!! &i"h to

congratu!ate %e&!and.,

The doub!e door" had "o!e(n!y reo+ened and bet&een the( a++eared )r.

-enry an der Luyden# ta!!# "+are and frock5coated# &ith faded fair

hair# a "traight no"e !ike hi" &ife" and the "a(e !ook of froen

gent!ene"" in eye" that &ere (ere!y +a!e grey in"tead of +a!e b!ue.

)r. an der Luyden greeted )r". Archer &ith cou"in!y a?abi!ity#

+ro?ered to %e&!and !o&5oiced congratu!ation" couched in the "a(e

!anguage a" hi" &ife"# and "eated hi("e!f in one of the brocade

ar(chair" &ith the "i(+!icity of a reigning "oereign.

,I had u"t 2ni"hed reading the Ti(e"#, he "aid# !aying hi" !ong

2nger5ti+" together. ,In to&n (y (orning" are "o (uch occu+ied that I

2nd it (ore conenient to read the ne&"+a+er" after !uncheon.,

,Ah# there" a great dea! to be "aid for that +!an55indeed I think (y

unc!e Eg(ont u"ed to "ay he found it !e"" agitating not to read the


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(orning +a+er" ti!! after dinner#, "aid )r". Archer re"+on"ie!y.

,*e" (y good father abhorred hurry. But no& &e !ie in a con"tant

ru"h#, "aid )r. an der Luyden in (ea"ured tone"# !ooking &ith +!ea"ant

de!iberation about the !arge "hrouded roo( &hich to Archer &a" "o

co(+!ete an i(age of it" o&ner".

,But I ho+e you -A> 2ni"hed your reading# -enryD, hi" &ife inter+o"ed.

,uite550uite#, he rea""ured her.

,Then I "hou!d !ike Ade!ine to te!! you55,

,Oh# it" rea!!y %e&!and" "tory#, "aid hi" (other "(i!ing/ and

+roceeded to rehear"e once (ore the (on"trou" ta!e of the a?ront

in=icted on )r". Loe!! )ingott.

,Of cour"e#, "he ended# ,Augu"ta We!!and and )ary )ingott both fe!t

that# e"+ecia!!y in ie& of %e&!and" engage(ent# you and -enry O7-T

TO F%OW.,

,Ah55, "aid )r. an der Luyden# dra&ing a dee+ breath.

There &a" a "i!ence during &hich the tick of the (onu(enta! or(o!u

c!ock on the &hite (arb!e (ante!+iece gre& a" !oud a" the boo( of a

(inute5gun. Archer conte(+!ated &ith a&e the t&o "!ender faded


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,It "ee(" "o to (e#, "aid hi" &ife# a" if "he &ere +roducing a ne&

thought.

,I had no idea#, )r. an der Luyden continued# ,that thing" had co(e to

"uch a +a""., -e +au"ed# and !ooked at hi" &ife again. ,It occur" to

(e# (y dear# that the $ounte"" O!en"ka i" a!ready a "ort of

re!ation55through )edora )an"on" 2r"t hu"band. At any rate# "he &i!!

be &hen %e&!and (arrie"., -e turned to&ard the young (an. ,-ae you

read thi" (orning" Ti(e"# %e&!andD,

,Why# ye"# "ir#, "aid Archer# &ho u"ua!!y to""ed o? ha!f a doen

+a+er" &ith hi" (orning co?ee.

-u"band and &ife !ooked at each other again. Their +a!e eye" c!ung

together in +ro!onged and "eriou" con"u!tation/ then a faint "(i!e

=uttered oer )r". an der Luyden" face. ;he had eident!y gue""ed

and a++roed.

)r. an der Luyden turned to )r". Archer. ,If Loui"a" hea!th a!!o&ed

her to dine out55I &i"h you &ou!d "ay to )r". Loe!! )ingott55"he and I

&ou!d hae been ha++y to55er552!! the +!ace" of the La&rence

Le?ert"e" at her dinner., -e +au"ed to !et the irony of thi" "ink in.

,A" you kno thi" i" i(+o""ib!e., )r". Archer "ounded a "y(+athetic

a""ent. ,But %e&!and te!!" (e he ha" read thi" (orning" Ti(e"/

therefore he ha" +robab!y "een that Loui"a" re!atie# the >uke of ;t.

Au"trey# arrie" net &eek on the u""ia. -e i" co(ing to enter hi"


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ne& "!oo+# the 7uineere# in net "u((er" Internationa! $u+ ace/ and

a!"o to hae a !itt!e cana"back "hooting at Treenna., )r. an der

Luyden +au"ed again# and continued &ith increa"ing beneo!ence

,Before taking hi( do&n to )ary!and &e are initing a fe& friend" to

(eet hi( here55on!y a !itt!e dinner55&ith a rece+tion after&ard. I a(

"ure Loui"a &i!! be a" g!ad a" I a( if $ounte"" O!en"ka &i!! !et u"

inc!ude her a(ong our gue"t"., -e got u+# bent hi" !ong body &ith a

"ti? friend!ine"" to&ard hi" cou"in# and added ,I think I hae

Loui"a" authority for "aying that "he &i!! her"e!f !eae the

initation to dine &hen "he drie" out +re"ent!y &ith our card"55of

cour"e &ith our card".,

)r". Archer# &ho kne& thi" to be a hint that the "eenteen5hand

che"tnut" &hich &ere neer ke+t &aiting &ere at the door# ro"e &ith a

hurried (ur(ur of thank". )r". an der Luyden bea(ed on her &ith the

"(i!e of E"ther interceding &ith Aha"ueru"/ but her hu"band rai"ed a

+rote"ting hand.

,There i" nothing to thank (e for# dear Ade!ine/ nothing &hateer.

Thi" kind of thing (u"t not ha++en in %e& *ork/ it "ha!! not# a" !ong

a" I can he!+ it#, he +ronounced &ith "oereign gent!ene"" a" he

"teered hi" cou"in" to the door.

T&o hour" !ater# eery one kne& that the great $5"+ring barouche in

&hich )r". an der Luyden took the air at a!! "ea"on" had been "een at

o!d )r". )ingott" door# &here a !arge "0uare ene!o+e &a" handed in/


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and that eening at the O+era )r. ;i!!erton Jack"on &a" ab!e to "tate

that the ene!o+e contained a card initing the $ounte"" O!en"ka to the

dinner &hich the an der Luyden" &ere giing the fo!!o&ing &eek for

their cou"in# the >uke of ;t. Au"trey.

;o(e of the younger (en in the c!ub bo echanged a "(i!e at thi"

announce(ent# and g!anced "ide&ay" at La&rence Le?ert"# &ho "at

care!e""!y in the front of the bo# +u!!ing hi" !ong fair (ou"tache#

and &ho re(arked &ith authority# a" the "o+rano +au"ed ,%o one but

@atti ought to atte(+t the ;onna(bu!a.,

:III.

It &a" genera!!y agreed in %e& *ork that the $ounte"" O!en"ka had ,!o"t

her !ook".,

;he had a++eared there 2r"t# in %e&!and Archer" boyhood# a" a

bri!!iant!y +retty !itt!e gir! of nine or ten# of &ho( +eo+!e "aid that

"he ,ought to be +ainted., -er +arent" had been continenta! &anderer"#

and after a roa(ing babyhood "he had !o"t the( both# and been taken in

charge by her aunt# )edora )an"on# a!"o a &anderer# &ho &a" her"e!f

returning to %e& *ork to ,"ett!e do&n.,

@oor )edora# re+eated!y &ido&ed# &a" a!&ay" co(ing ho(e to "ett!e do&n


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3each ti(e in a !e"" e+en"ie hou"e4# and bringing &ith her a ne&

hu"band or an ado+ted chi!d/ but after a fe& (onth" "he inariab!y

+arted fro( her hu"band or 0uarre!!ed &ith her &ard# and# haing got

rid of her hou"e at a !o""# "et out again on her &andering". A" her

(other had been a u"h&orth# and her !a"t unha++y (arriage had !inked

her to one of the cray $hier"e"# %e& *ork !ooked indu!gent!y on her

eccentricitie"/ but &hen "he returned &ith her !itt!e or+haned niece#

&ho"e +arent" had been +o+u!ar in "+ite of their regrettab!e ta"te for

trae!# +eo+!e thought it a +ity that the +retty chi!d "hou!d be in

"uch hand".

Eery one &a" di"+o"ed to be kind to !itt!e E!!en )ingott# though her

du"ky red cheek" and tight cur!" gae her an air of gaiety that "ee(ed

un"uitab!e in a chi!d &ho "hou!d "ti!! hae been in b!ack for her

+arent". It &a" one of the (i"guided )edora" (any +ecu!iaritie" to

=out the una!terab!e ru!e" that regu!ated A(erican (ourning# and &hen

"he "te++ed fro( the "tea(er her fa(i!y &ere "canda!i"ed to "ee that

the cra+e ei! "he &ore for her o&n brother &a" "een inche" "horter

than tho"e of her "i"ter"5in5!a &hi!e !itt!e E!!en &a" in cri("on

(erino and a(ber bead"# !ike a gi+"y found!ing.

But %e& *ork had "o !ong re"igned it"e!f to )edora that on!y a fe& o!d

!adie" "hook their head" oer E!!en" gaudy c!othe"# &hi!e her other

re!ation" fe!! under the char( of her high co!our and high "+irit".

;he &a" a fear!e"" and fa(i!iar !itt!e thing# &ho a"ked di"concerting

0ue"tion"# (ade +recociou" co((ent"# and +o""e""ed out!andi"h art"#


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&atched the $ounte"" O!en"ka enter the an der Luyden dra&ing5roo( on

the eening of the (o(entou" dinner. The occa"ion &a" a "o!e(n one#

and he &ondered a !itt!e nerou"!y ho& "he &ou!d carry it o?. ;he

ca(e rather !ate# one hand "ti!! ung!oed# and fa"tening a brace!et

about her &ri"t/ yet "he entered &ithout any a++earance of ha"te or

e(barra""(ent the dra&ing5roo( in &hich %e& *ork" (o"t cho"en co(+any

&a" "o(e&hat a&fu!!y a""e(b!ed.

In the (idd!e of the roo( "he +au"ed# !ooking about her &ith a grae

(outh and "(i!ing eye"/ and in that in"tant %e&!and Archer reected the

genera! erdict on her !ook". It &a" true that her ear!y radiance &a"

gone. The red cheek" had +a!ed/ "he &a" thin# &orn# a !itt!e

o!der5!ooking than her age# &hich (u"t hae been near!y thirty. But

there &a" about her the (y"teriou" authority of beauty# a "urene"" in

the carriage of the head# the (oe(ent of the eye"# &hich# &ithout

being in the !ea"t theatrica!# "truck hi" a" high!y trained and fu!! of

a con"ciou" +o&er. At the "a(e ti(e "he &a" "i(+!er in (anner than

(o"t of the !adie" +re"ent# and (any +eo+!e 3a" he heard after&ard fro(

Janey4 &ere di"a++ointed that her a++earance &a" not (ore

,"ty!i"h,55for "ty!i"hne"" &a" &hat %e& *ork (o"t a!ued. It &a"#

+erha+"# Archer re=ected# becau"e her ear!y iacity had di"a++eared/

becau"e "he &a" "o 0uiet550uiet in her (oe(ent"# her oice# and the

tone" of her !o&5+itched oice. %e& *ork had e+ected "o(ething a good

dea! (ore rea"onant in a young &o(an &ith "uch a hi"tory.

The dinner &a" a "o(e&hat for(idab!e bu"ine"". >ining &ith the an der


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Luyden" &a" at be"t no !ight (atter# and dining there &ith a >uke &ho

&a" their cou"in &a" a!(o"t a re!igiou" "o!e(nity. It +!ea"ed Archer

to think that on!y an o!d %e& *orker cou!d +erceie the "hade of

di?erence 3to %e& *ork4 bet&een being (ere!y a >uke and being the an

der Luyden" >uke. %e& *ork took "tray nob!e(en ca!(!y# and een

3ece+t in the ;truther" "et4 &ith a certain di"tru"tfu! hauteur/ but

&hen they +re"ented "uch credentia!" a" the"e they &ere receied &ith

an o!d5fa"hioned cordia!ity that they &ou!d hae been great!y (i"taken

in a"cribing "o!e!y to their "tanding in >ebrett. It &a" for u"t "uch

di"tinction" that the young (an cheri"hed hi" o!d %e& *ork een &hi!e

he "(i!ed at it.

The an der Luyden" had done their be"t to e(+ha"i"e the i(+ortance of

the occa"ion. The du Lac ;ere" and the Treenna 7eorge II +!ate &ere

out/ "o &a" the an der Luyden ,Lo&e"toft, 3Ea"t India $o(+any4 and the

>agonet $ro&n >erby. )r". an der Luyden !ooked (ore than eer !ike a

$abane!# and )r". Archer# in her grand(other" "eed5+ear!" and

e(era!d"# re(inded her "on of an I"abey (iniature. A!! the !adie" had

on their hand"o(e"t e&e!"# but it &a" characteri"tic of the hou"e and

the occa"ion that the"e &ere (o"t!y in rather heay o!d5fa"hioned

"etting"/ and o!d )i"" Lanning# &ho had been +er"uaded to co(e#

actua!!y &ore her (other" ca(eo" and a ;+ani"h b!onde "ha&!.

The $ounte"" O!en"ka &a" the on!y young &o(an at the dinner/ yet# a"

Archer "canned the "(ooth +!u(+ e!der!y face" bet&een their dia(ond

neck!ace" and to&ering o"trich feather"# they "truck hi( a" curiou"!y


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of anything to "ay "he had "trayed back to her origina! "ubect.

,)ay i" a dar!ing/ Ie "een no young gir! in %e& *ork "o hand"o(e and

"o inte!!igent. Are you ery (uch in !oe &ith herD,

%e&!and Archer reddened and !aughed. ,A" (uch a" a (an can be.,

;he continued to con"ider hi( thoughtfu!!y# a" if not to (i"" any "hade

of (eaning in &hat he "aid# ,>o you think# then# there i" a !i(itD,

,To being in !oeD If there i"# I haent found it


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then# had (entioned that he !ied. Win"ett did not inite +eo+!e to

hi" hou"e/ but he had once +ointed it out to Archer in the cour"e of a

nocturna! "tro!!# and the !atter had a"ked hi("e!f# &ith a !itt!e

"hier# if the hu(anitie" &ere "o (ean!y hou"ed in other ca+ita!".

)ada(e O!en"ka" o&n d&e!!ing &a" redee(ed fro( the "a(e a++earance

on!y by a !itt!e (ore +aint about the &indo&5fra(e"/ and a" Archer

(u"tered it" (ode"t front he "aid to hi("e!f that the @o!i"h $ount (u"t

hae robbed her of her fortune a" &e!! a" of her i!!u"ion".

The young (an had "+ent an un"ati"factory day. -e had !unched &ith the

We!!and"# ho+ing after&ard to carry o? )ay for a &a!k in the @ark. -e

&anted to hae her to hi("e!f# to te!! her ho& enchanting "he had

!ooked the night before# and ho& +roud he &a" of her# and to +re"" her

to ha"ten their (arriage. But )r". We!!and had 2r(!y re(inded hi(

that the round of fa(i!y i"it" &a" not ha!f oer# and# &hen he hinted

at adancing the date of the &edding# had rai"ed re+roachfu! eye5bro&"

and "ighed out ,T&e!e doen of eerything55hand5e(broidered55,

@acked in the fa(i!y !andau they ro!!ed fro( one triba! door"te+ to

another# and Archer# &hen the afternoon" round &a" oer# +arted fro(

hi" betrothed &ith the fee!ing that he had been "ho&n o? !ike a &i!d

ani(a! cunning!y tra++ed. -e "u++o"ed that hi" reading" in

anthro+o!ogy cau"ed hi( to take "uch a coar"e ie& of &hat &a" after

a!! a "i(+!e and natura! de(on"tration of fa(i!y fee!ing/ but &hen he

re(e(bered that the We!!and" did not e+ect the &edding to take +!ace


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cheerfu!!y to the +ur+!e "atin and ye!!o& tufting" of the We!!and

dra&ing5roo(# to it" "ha( Buh! tab!e" and gi!t itrine" fu!! of (odern

;ae. -e "a& no rea"on to "u++o"e that "he &ou!d &ant anything

di?erent in her o&n hou"e/ and hi" on!y co(fort &a" to re=ect that

"he &ou!d +robab!y !et hi( arrange hi" !ibrary a" he +!ea"ed55&hich

&ou!d be# of cour"e# &ith ,"incere, Ea"t!ake furniture# and the +!ain

ne& bookca"e" &ithout g!a"" door".

The round5bo"o(ed (aid ca(e in# dre& the curtain"# +u"hed back a !og#

and "aid con"o!ing!y ,:erra55erra., When "he had gone Archer "tood

u+ and began to &ander about. ;hou!d he &ait any !ongerD -i" +o"ition

&a" beco(ing rather foo!i"h. @erha+" he had (i"under"tood )ada(e

O!en"ka55+erha+" "he had not inited hi( after a!!.

>o&n the cobb!e"tone" of the 0uiet "treet ca(e the ring of a "te++er"

hoof"/ they "to++ed before the hou"e# and he caught the o+ening of a

carriage door. @a

vitsta inocentei

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