Епоха невинності
Chapter 1
"HeknewalltheramificationsofNewYork’scousinships;andcouldnotonlyelucidatesuchcomplicatedquestionsasthatoftheconnectionbetweentheMingotts(throughtheThorleys)withtheDallasesofSouthCarolina,andthatoftherelationshipoftheelderbranchofPhiladelphiaThorleystotheAlbanyChiverses(onnoaccounttobeconfusedwiththeMansonChiversesofUniversityPlace),butcouldalsoenumeratetheleadingcharacteristicsofeachfamily:as,forinstance,thefabulousstinginessoftheyoungerlinesofLeffertses(theLongIslandones);orthefataltendencyoftheRushworthstomakefoolishmatches;ortheinsanityrecurringineverysecondgenerationoftheAlbanyChiverses,withwhomtheirNewYorkcousinshadalwaysrefusedtointermarry—withthedisastrousexceptionofpoorMedoraManson,who,aseverybodyknew...butthenhermotherwasaRushworth.Inadditiontothisforestoffamilytrees,Mr.SillertonJacksoncarriedbetweenhisnarrowhollowtemples,andunderhissoftthatchofsilverhair,aregisterofmostofthescandalsandmysteriesthathadsmoulderedundertheunruffledsurfaceofNewYorksocietywithinthelastfiftyyears.Sofarindeeddidhisinformationextend,andsoacutelyretentivewashismemory,thathewassupposedtobetheonlymanwhocouldhavetoldyouwhoJuliusBeaufort,thebanker,reallywas,andwhathadbecomeofhandsomeBobSpicer,oldMrs
