Chapter 2

           NewlandArcher,duringthisbriefepisode,hadbeenthrownintoastrangestateofembarrassment.ItwasannoyingthattheboxwhichwasthusattractingtheundividedattentionofmasculineNewYorkshouldbethatinwhichhisbetrothedwasseatedbetweenhermotherandaunt;andforamomenthecouldnotidentifytheladyintheEmpiredress,norimaginewhyherpresencecreatedsuchexcitementamongtheinitiated.Thenlightdawnedonhim,andwithitcameamomentaryrushofindignation.No,indeed;noonewouldhavethoughttheMingottswouldhavetriediton!Buttheyhad;theyundoubtedlyhad;forthelow-tonedcommentsbehindhimleftnodoubtinArcher’smindthattheyoungwomanwasMayWelland’scousin,thecousinalwaysreferredtointhefamilyas"poorEllenOlenska."ArcherknewthatshehadsuddenlyarrivedfromEuropeadayortwopreviously;hehadevenheardfromMissWelland(notdisapprovingly)thatshehadbeentoseepoorEllen,whowasstayingwitholdMrs.Mingott.Archerentirelyapprovedoffamilysolidarity,andoneofthequalitieshemostadmiredintheMingottswastheirresolutechampionshipofthefewblacksheepthattheirblamelessstockhadproduced.