Епоха невинності

           WhenonewasrelatedtotheMansonsandtheRushworthsonehada"droitdecite"(asMr.SillertonJackson,whohadfrequentedtheTuileries,calledit)inNewYorksociety;butdidonenotforfeititinmarryingJuliusBeaufort?Thequestionwas:whowasBeaufort?HepassedforanEnglishman,wasagreeable,handsome,ill-tempered,hospitableandwitty.HehadcometoAmericawithlettersofrecommendationfromoldMrs.MansonMingott’sEnglishson-in-law,thebanker,andhadspeedilymadehimselfanimportantpositionintheworldofaffairs;buthishabitsweredissipated,histonguewasbitter,hisantecedentsweremysterious;andwhenMedoraMansonannouncedhercousin’sengagementtohimitwasfelttobeonemoreactoffollyinpoorMedora’slongrecordofimprudences.Butfollyisasoftenjustifiedofherchildrenaswisdom,andtwoyearsafteryoungMrs.Beaufort’smarriageitwasadmittedthatshehadthemostdistinguishedhouseinNewYork.Nooneknewexactlyhowthemiraclewasaccomplished.Shewasindolent,passive,thecausticevencalledherdull;butdressedlikeanidol,hungwithpearls,growingyoungerandblonderandmorebeautifuleachyear,shethronedinMr.Beaufort’sheavybrown-stonepalace,anddrewalltheworldtherewithoutliftingherjewelledlittlefinger.TheknowingpeoplesaiditwasBeauforthimselfwhotrainedtheservants,taughtthechefnewdishes,toldthegardenerswhathot-houseflowerstogrowforthedinner-tableandthedrawing-rooms,selectedtheguests,brewedtheafter-dinnerpunchanddictatedthelittlenoteshiswifewrotetoherfriends.