Chapter 32

           "AtthecourtoftheTuileries,"saidMr.SillertonJacksonwithhisreminiscentsmile,"suchthingswereprettyopenlytolerated."ThescenewasthevanderLuydens’blackwalnutdining-roominMadisonAvenue,andthetimetheeveningafterNewlandArcher’svisittotheMuseumofArt.Mr.andMrs.vanderLuydenhadcometotownforafewdaysfromSkuytercliff,whithertheyhadprecipitatelyfledattheannouncementofBeaufort’sfailure.Ithadbeenrepresentedtothemthatthedisarrayintowhichsocietyhadbeenthrownbythisdeplorableaffairmadetheirpresenceintownmorenecessarythanever.Itwasoneoftheoccasionswhen,asMrs.Archerputit,they"owedittosociety"toshowthemselvesattheOpera,andeventoopentheirowndoors."Itwillneverdo,mydearLouisa,toletpeoplelikeMrs.LemuelStruthersthinktheycanstepintoRegina’sshoes.Itisjustatsuchtimesthatnewpeoplepushinandgetafooting.Itwasowingtotheepidemicofchicken-poxinNewYorkthewinterMrs.Struthersfirstappearedthatthemarriedmenslippedawaytoherhousewhiletheirwiveswereinthenursery.YouanddearHenry,Louisa,muststandinthebreachasyoualwayshave."Mr.andMrs.vanderLuydencouldnotremaindeaftosuchacall,andreluctantlybutheroicallytheyhadcometotown,unmuffledthehouse,andsentoutinvitationsfortwodinnersandaneveningreception.OnthisparticulareveningtheyhadinvitedSillertonJackson,Mrs.ArcherandNewlandandhiswifetogowiththemtotheOpera,whereFaustwasbeingsungforthefirsttimethatwinter.