Епоха невинності
Chapter 8
Buttherewasaboutherthemysteriousauthorityofbeauty,asurenessinthecarriageofthehead,themovementoftheeyes,which,withoutbeingintheleasttheatrical,struckhisashighlytrainedandfullofaconsciouspower.Atthesametimeshewassimplerinmannerthanmostoftheladiespresent,andmanypeople(asheheardafterwardfromJaney)weredisappointedthatherappearancewasnotmore"stylish"—forstylishnesswaswhatNewYorkmostvalued.Itwas,perhaps,Archerreflected,becauseherearlyvivacityhaddisappeared;becauseshewassoquiet—quietinhermovements,hervoice,andthetonesofherlow-pitchedvoice.NewYorkhadexpectedsomethingagooddealmorereasonantinayoungwomanwithsuchahistory.Thedinnerwasasomewhatformidablebusiness.DiningwiththevanderLuydenswasatbestnolightmatter,anddiningtherewithaDukewhowastheircousinwasalmostareligioussolemnity.ItpleasedArchertothinkthatonlyanoldNewYorkercouldperceivetheshadeofdifference(toNewYork)betweenbeingmerelyaDukeandbeingthevanderLuydens’Duke.NewYorktookstraynoblemencalmly,andeven(exceptintheStruthersset)withacertaindistrustfulhauteur;butwhentheypresentedsuchcredentialsasthesetheywerereceivedwithanold-fashionedcordialitythattheywouldhavebeengreatlymistakeninascribingsolelytotheirstandinginDebrett.ItwasforjustsuchdistinctionsthattheyoungmancherishedhisoldNewYorkevenwhilehesmiledatit.ThevanderLuydenshaddonetheirbesttoemphasisetheimportanceoftheoccasion.
