Эпоха невинности

           TheBeaufortshadbeenamongthefirstpeopleinNewYorktoowntheirownredvelvetcarpetandhaveitrolleddownthestepsbytheirownfootmen,undertheirownawning,insteadofhiringitwiththesupperandtheball-roomchairs.Theyhadalsoinauguratedthecustomoflettingtheladiestaketheircloaksoffinthehall,insteadofshufflinguptothehostess’sbedroomandrecurlingtheirhairwiththeaidofthegas-burner;Beaufortwasunderstoodtohavesaidthathesupposedallhiswife’sfriendshadmaidswhosawtoitthattheywereproperlycoiffeeswhentheylefthome.Thenthehousehadbeenboldlyplannedwithaball-room,sothat,insteadofsqueezingthroughanarrowpassagetogettoit(asattheChiverses’)onemarchedsolemnlydownavistaofenfiladeddrawing-rooms(thesea-green,thecrimsonandtheboutond’or),seeingfromafarthemany-candledlustresreflectedinthepolishedparquetry,andbeyondthatthedepthsofaconservatorywherecamelliasandtree-fernsarchedtheircostlyfoliageoverseatsofblackandgoldbamboo.NewlandArcher,asbecameayoungmanofhisposition,strolledinsomewhatlate.Hehadlefthisovercoatwiththesilk-stockingedfootmen(thestockingswereoneofBeaufort’sfewfatuities),haddawdledawhileinthelibraryhungwithSpanishleatherandfurnishedwithBuhlandmalachite,whereafewmenwerechattingandputtingontheirdancing-gloves,andhadfinallyjoinedthelineofguestswhomMrs.Beaufortwasreceivingonthethresholdofthecrimsondrawing-room.Archerwasdistinctlynervous.