Епоха невинності

           Butthecream-colouredhouse(supposedtobemodelledontheprivatehotelsoftheParisianaristocracy)wasthereasavisibleproofofhermoralcourage;andshethronedinit,amongpre-RevolutionaryfurnitureandsouvenirsoftheTuileriesofLouisNapoleon(whereshehadshoneinhermiddleage),asplacidlyasiftherewerenothingpeculiarinlivingaboveThirty-fourthStreet,orinhavingFrenchwindowsthatopenedlikedoorsinsteadofsashesthatpushedup.Everyone(includingMr.SillertonJackson)wasagreedthatoldCatherinehadneverhadbeauty—agiftwhich,intheeyesofNewYork,justifiedeverysuccess,andexcusedacertainnumberoffailings.Unkindpeoplesaidthat,likeherImperialnamesake,shehadwonherwaytosuccessbystrengthofwillandhardnessofheart,andakindofhaughtyeffronterythatwassomehowjustifiedbytheextremedecencyanddignityofherprivatelife.Mr.MansonMingotthaddiedwhenshewasonlytwenty-eight,andhad"tiedup"themoneywithanadditionalcautionbornofthegeneraldistrustoftheSpicers;buthisboldyoungwidowwentherwayfearlessly,mingledfreelyinforeignsociety,marriedherdaughtersinheavenknewwhatcorruptandfashionablecircles,hobnobbedwithDukesandAmbassadors,associatedfamiliarlywithPapists,entertainedOperasingers,andwastheintimatefriendofMme.Taglioni;andallthewhile(asSillertonJacksonwasthefirsttoproclaim)therehadneverbeenabreathonherreputation;theonlyrespect,healwaysadded,inwhichshedifferedfromtheearlierCatherine.Mrs.