Епоха невинності

           Atthedatewhenshewasofficiallyenjoinedtogivethanksfortheblessingsoftheyearitwasherhabittotakeamournfulthoughnotembitteredstockofherworld,andwonderwhattherewastobethankfulfor.Atanyrate,notthestateofsociety;society,ifitcouldbesaidtoexist,wasratheraspectacleonwhichtocalldownBiblicalimprecations—andinfact,everyoneknewwhattheReverendDr.AshmoremeantwhenhechoseatextfromJeremiah(chap.ii.,verse25)forhisThanksgivingsermon.Dr.Ashmore,thenewRectorofSt.Matthew’s,hadbeenchosenbecausehewasvery"advanced":hissermonswereconsideredboldinthoughtandnovelinlanguage.Whenhefulminatedagainstfashionablesocietyhealwaysspokeofits"trend";andtoMrs.Archeritwasterrifyingandyetfascinatingtofeelherselfpartofacommunitythatwastrending."There’snodoubtthatDr.Ashmoreisright:thereISamarkedtrend,"shesaid,asifitweresomethingvisibleandmeasurable,likeacrackinahouse."Itwasodd,though,topreachaboutitonThanksgiving,"MissJacksonopined;andherhostessdrilyrejoined:"Oh,hemeansustogivethanksforwhat’sleft."Archerhadbeenwonttosmileattheseannualvaticinationsofhismother’s;butthisyearevenhewasobligedtoacknowledge,ashelistenedtoanenumerationofthechanges,thatthe"trend"wasvisible."Theextravaganceindress—"MissJacksonbegan."SillertontookmetothefirstnightoftheOpera,andIcanonlytellyouthatJaneMerry’sdresswastheonlyoneIrecognisedfromlastyear;andeventhathadhadthefrontpanelchanged.