Епоха невинності
Chapter 2
MansonMingotthadlongsincesucceededinuntyingherhusband’sfortune,andhadlivedinaffluenceforhalfacentury;butmemoriesofherearlystraitshadmadeherexcessivelythrifty,andthough,whensheboughtadressorapieceoffurniture,shetookcarethatitshouldbeofthebest,shecouldnotbringherselftospendmuchonthetransientpleasuresofthetable.Therefore,fortotallydifferentreasons,herfoodwasaspoorasMrs.Archer’s,andherwinesdidnothingtoredeemit.HerrelativesconsideredthatthepenuryofhertablediscreditedtheMingottname,whichhadalwaysbeenassociatedwithgoodliving;butpeoplecontinuedtocometoherinspiteofthe"madedishes"andflatchampagne,andinreplytotheremonstrancesofhersonLovell(whotriedtoretrievethefamilycreditbyhavingthebestchefinNewYork)sheusedtosaylaughingly:"What’stheuseoftwogoodcooksinonefamily,nowthatI’vemarriedthegirlsandcan’teatsauces?"NewlandArcher,ashemusedonthesethings,hadoncemoreturnedhiseyestowardtheMingottbox.HesawthatMrs.Wellandandhersister-in-lawwerefacingtheirsemicircleofcriticswiththeMingottianAPLOMBwhicholdCatherinehadinculcatedinallhertribe,andthatonlyMayWellandbetrayed,byaheightenedcolour(perhapsduetotheknowledgethathewaswatchingher)asenseofthegravityofthesituation.
