Епоха невинності

           Whatwasleftofthelittleworldhehadgrownupin,andwhosestandardshadbentandboundhim?HerememberedasneeringprophecyofpoorLawrenceLefferts’s,utteredyearsagointhatveryroom:"Ifthingsgoonatthisrate,ourchildrenwillbemarryingBeaufort’sbastards."ItwasjustwhatArcher’seldestson,theprideofhislife,wasdoing;andnobodywonderedorreproved.Eventheboy’sAuntJaney,whostilllookedsoexactlyassheusedtoinherelderlyyouth,hadtakenhermother’semeraldsandseed-pearlsoutoftheirpinkcotton-wool,andcarriedthemwithherowntwitchinghandstothefuturebride;andFannyBeaufort,insteadoflookingdisappointedatnotreceivinga"set"fromaParisjeweller,hadexclaimedattheirold-fashionedbeauty,anddeclaredthatwhensheworethemsheshouldfeellikeanIsabeyminiature.FannyBeaufort,whohadappearedinNewYorkateighteen,afterthedeathofherparents,hadwonitsheartmuchasMadameOlenskahadwonitthirtyyearsearlier;onlyinsteadofbeingdistrustfulandafraidofher,societytookherjoyfullyforgranted.Shewaspretty,amusingandaccomplished:whatmoredidanyonewant?Nobodywasnarrow-mindedenoughtorakeupagainstherthehalf-forgottenfactsofherfather’spastandherownorigin.OnlytheolderpeoplerememberedsoobscureanincidentinthebusinesslifeofNewYorkasBeaufort’sfailure,orthefactthatafterhiswife’sdeathhehadbeenquietlymarriedtothenotoriousFannyRing,andhadleftthecountrywithhisnewwife,andalittlegirlwhoinheritedherbeauty.