Скорбь сатаны

Chapter 35

           Asanexampleofthis,Irememberawoman,ugly,passéeandsquint-eyed,whoduringherfather’slifewasonlyallowedabouthalf-a-crownaweekaspocket-moneyuptoherfortiethyear—andwho,whenthatfatherdied,leavingherinpossessionofhalfhisfortune,(theotherhalfgoingtoillegitimatechildrenofwhomshehadneverheard,hehavingalwaysposedasapatternofimmaculatevirtue)suddenlyblossomedoutasa‘leader’offashion,andsucceeded,throughcautiousschemingandungrudgingtoadyism,inassemblingsomeofthehighestpeopleinthelandunderherroof.Uglyandpasséethoughshewas,andvergingtowardsfifty,withneithergrace,wit,norintelligence,throughthepowerofhercashalonesheinvitedRoyaldukesand‘titles’generallytoherdinnersanddances—anditistotheirshamethattheyactuallyacceptedherinvitations.Suchvoluntarydegradationsonthepartofreallywell-connectedpeopleIhaveneverbeenabletounderstand—itisnotasiftheywereactuallyinwantoffoodoramusement,fortheyhaveasurfeitofbotheveryseason—anditseemstomethattheyoughttoshowabetterexamplethantoflockincrowdstotheentertainmentsofamereuninterestinganduglynobodyjustbecauseshehappenstohavemoney.Ineverenteredherhousemyselfthoughshehadtheaudacitytoinviteme—Ilearnedmoreover,thatshehadpromisedafriendofmineahundredguineasifshecouldpersuademetomakeoneappearanceinherrooms.

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