Chapter 7

           Mrs.HenryvanderLuydenlistenedinsilencetohercousinMrs.Archer’snarrative.ItwasallverywelltotellyourselfinadvancethatMrs.vanderLuydenwasalwayssilent,andthat,thoughnon-committalbynatureandtraining,shewasverykindtothepeopleshereallyliked.Evenpersonalexperienceofthesefactswasnotalwaysaprotectionfromthechillthatdescendedononeinthehigh-ceilingedwhite-walledMadisonAvenuedrawing-room,withthepalebrocadedarmchairssoobviouslyuncoveredfortheoccasion,andthegauzestillveilingtheormolumantelornamentsandthebeautifuloldcarvedframeofGainsborough’s"LadyAngelicaduLac."Mrs.vanderLuyden’sportraitbyHuntington(inblackvelvetandVenetianpoint)facedthatofherlovelyancestress.Itwasgenerallyconsidered"asfineasaCabanel,"and,thoughtwentyyearshadelapsedsinceitsexecution,wasstill"aperfectlikeness."IndeedtheMrs.vanderLuydenwhosatbeneathitlisteningtoMrs.Archermighthavebeenthetwin-sisterofthefairandstillyoungishwomandroopingagainstagiltarmchairbeforeagreenrepcurtain.Mrs.vanderLuydenstillworeblackvelvetandVenetianpointwhenshewentintosociety—orrather(sincesheneverdinedout)whenshethrewopenherowndoorstoreceiveit.Herfairhair,whichhadfadedwithoutturninggrey,wasstillpartedinflatoverlappingpointsonherforehead,andthestraightnosethatdividedherpaleblueeyeswasonlyalittlemorepinchedaboutthenostrilsthanwhentheportraithadbeenpainted.