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On a January evening of the early seventies, the high society of New York gathered at the Academy of Music in New York.
Conservatives cherished it for being small and inconvenient,and thus keeping out the “new people” whom New York was beginning to dread and yet be drawn to; the sentimental clung to it for its historic associations ; and the musical for its excellent acoustics , always a problem in halls built for the hearing of music.
When Newland Archer opened the door at the back of the club box the curtain had just gone up on the garden scene.There was no reason why the young man should not have come earlier, for he had dined at seven, along with his mother and sister, and had lingered afterward over a cigar. But, New York was a major city, and people were perfectly aware that in major cities it was “not the thing” to arrive early at the opera; and what was or was not “the thing” played quite an important part in Newland Archer’s New York.
Newland Archer, leaning against the wall at the back of the club box, turned his eyes from the stage and scanned the opposite side of the house. Directly facing him was the box of old Mrs. Manson Mingott, whose monstrous size had long since made it impossible for her to attend the opera, but who was always represented on fashionable nights by some of the younger members of the family.
On this occasion, the front of the box was filled by her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Lovell Mingott, and her daughter, Mrs.Welland; behind these older women sat a young girl in white with eyes ecstatically fixed on the lovers on stage.
“The darling!” thought Newland Archer as he watched her. “She doesn’t even guess what the play is all about.” And he contemplated her absorbed young face with a thrill of ownership in which pride in his own masculine initiation was mingled with a tender reverence for her purity.
It was only that afternoon that May Welland had let him guess that she “cared” (New York’s sacred phrase of a maiden’s consent to marry), and his imagination was already leaping ahead to the engagement ring, the wedding kiss and the honeymoon .
He did not in the least wish the future Mrs. Archer to be ignorant . He meant her (thanks to his enlightening companionship ) to develop a social tact and readiness of wit , enabling her to hold her own with the most popular married women of the “younger set,” in which it was the recognised custom to attract masculine homage while playfully discouraging it. If he had probed to the bottom of his vanity (as he sometimes nearly did) he would have found the wish that his wife should be as worldly-wise and as eager to please as the married lady whose charms had held his fancy through two mildly agitated years; without, of course, any hint of the frailty which had so nearly marred that unhappy being’s life, and had disarranged his own plans for a whole winter after their love affair ended.
In intellectual and artistic matters, Newland Archer felt himself distinctly the superior of these chosen specimens of old New York manners; he had probably read more, thought more,and even seen a good deal more of the world, than any other man of the number. Singly they betrayed their inferiority ; but grouped together they represented “New York,” and the habit of masculine solidarity made him accept their doctrine on all the issues called moral. He instinctively felt that in this respect it would be troublesome — and also rather bad form — to strike out for himself.
“Well — upon my soul!” exclaimed Lawrence Lefferts,turning his head abruptly away from the stage. Lawrence Lefferts was, on the whole, the foremost authority on “form”in New York. He had probably devoted more time than any one else to the study of this intricate and fascinating question;but study alone could not account for his complete and easy competence . “My God!” he said, silently tapping old Sillerton Jackson on the shoulder.
Newland Archer, following Lefferts’ glance, saw with surprise that his exclamation had been occasioned by the entry of a new figure into old Mrs. Mingott’s box. It was that of a slim young woman, a little less tall than May Welland, with brown hair growing in close curls about her temples and held in place by a narrow band of diamonds, wearing quite a revealing velvet gown . She stood for a moment at the center of the box before taking a seat next to Mrs. Lovell Mingott.
Mr. Sillerton Jackson then turned his eyes away from the box. The whole of the club turned instinctively, waiting to hear what the old man was to say; for old Mr. Jackson was as great an authority on “family” as Lawrence Lefferts was on “form.”He knew all relationships between New York’s aristocratic families, including each family’s leading characteristics and certain family secrets within the past fifty years.
So far indeed did his information extend , and so acutely retentive was his memory, that he was supposed to be the only man who could have told you who Julius Beaufort, the banker,really was. But this mystery, and many others, were closely locked in Mr. Jackson’s breast ; for not only did his keen sense of honor forbid his repeating anything privately imparted, but he was fully aware that his reputation for discretion increased his opportunities of finding out what he wanted to know.
The club box, therefore, waited for Mr. Sillerton Jackson to speak. For a moment he silently observed the attentive group,and simply said, “I didn’t think the Mingotts would have tried it.”
Newland Archer, during this brief episode , had been thrown into a strange state of embarrassment .
It was annoying that the box which was thus attracting the undivided attention of masculine New Yorkers should be that in which his fiancée was seated between her mother and aunt; and for a moment he could not identify the lady in the unusual dress,nor imagine why her presence created such excitement among the initiated . Then light dawned on him, and with it came a momentary rush of indignation . No, indeed; no one would have thought the Mingotts would have tried it!
But they had; they undoubtedly had; for the low- toned comments behind him left no doubt in Archer’s mind that the young woman was May Welland’s cousin, the cousin always referred to in the family as “poor Ellen Olenska.” Archer knew that she had suddenly arrived from Europe a day or two previously; he had even heard from Miss Welland (not disapprovingly) that she had been to see poor Ellen, who was staying with old Mrs. Mingott. Archer entirely approved of family solidarity, and one of the qualities he most admired in the Mingotts was their resolute championship of the few black sheep that their blameless stock had produced.
He was certainly glad that his future wife should not be restrained from being kind (in private) to her unhappy cousin;but to receive Countess Olenska in the family circle was a different thing from producing her in public, at the opera of all places, and in the very box with the young girl whose engagement to him, Newland Archer, was to be announced within a few weeks. No, he felt as old Sillerton Jackson felt; he did not think the Mingotts would have tried it!
He knew, of course, that old Mrs. Manson Mingott, the female head of the line, would dare. He had always admired the high and mighty old lady, who, with a father mysteriously discredited, and neither money nor position enough to make people forget it, had allied herself with the head of the wealthy Mingott line and married two of her daughters to “foreigners”(an Italian aristocrat and an English banker).
Everyone (including Mr. Sillerton Jackson) was agreed that old Catherine had never had beauty — a gift which, in the eyes of New Yorkers, justified every success, and excused a certain number of failings . Unkind people said that she had won her way to success by strength of will and hardness of heart,and a kind of proud confidence that was somehow justified by the extreme decency and dignity of her private life. Mr. Manson Mingott had died when she was only twenty-eight, and had “tied up” the money with an additional caution born of the general distrust of his wife’s family; but his bold young widow went her way fearlessly , mingled freely in foreign society, married her daughters in unknown social circles and entertained opera singers.
Mrs. Manson Mingott had long since succeeded in untying her husband’s fortune, and had lived in affluence for half a century; but memories of her early straits had made her excessively thrifty , and though, when she bought a dress or a piece of furniture, she took care that it should be of the best, she could not bring herself to spend much on her table.Therefore, for totally different reasons, her food was as poor as Mrs. Archer’s, and her wines did nothing to redeem it.
Newland Archer once more turned his eyes toward Mrs.Mingott’s box. He saw that Mrs. Welland and her sister-inlaw were facing their critics with confidence, and that only May Welland betrayed, by a heightened colour (perhaps due to the knowledge that he was watching her), a sense of the gravity of the situation. As for the cause of the commotion, she sat gracefully in her corner of the box, her eyes fixed on the stage, revealing, as she leaned forward, a little more shoulder and bosom than New York was accustomed to seeing, at least in ladies who had reasons for wishing to pass unnoticed. Archer hated to think of May Welland being exposed to the influence of a young woman so careless with her reputation.
“After all,” he heard one of the younger men begin behind him, “just what happened?”
“Well — she left him; nobody attempts to deny that.”
“He’s an awful brute , isn’t he?” continued the younger.
“The very worst; I knew him in France,” said Lawrence Lefferts with authority.
“Well, I’ll tell you that when he wasn’t with women, he was collecting art. Paying any price for both, I understand.”
There was a general laugh.
“Well, then,” continued Lefferts, “she bolted with his secretary. It didn’t last long, though. I heard of her a few months later living alone in Venice. She was desperately unhappy, so the family sent for her. That’s all right — but this parading of her at the opera is another thing.”
The act was ending, and there was a general stir in the box.Suddenly Newland Archer felt himself obligated to a decisive action. He desired to be the first man to enter Mrs. Mingott’s box, to proclaim to the waiting world his engagement to May Welland, and to see her through whatever difficulties her cousin’s peculiar situation might involve her in.
As he entered the box his eyes met Miss Welland’s, and he saw that she had instantly understood his motive , though the family dignity which both considered so high a virtue would not permit her to tell him so. The persons of their world lived in an atmosphere of faint implications and pale delicacies , and the fact that he and she understood each other without a word seemed to the young man to bring them nearer than any explanation would have done. Her eyes said, “You see why Mama brought me,” and his eyes answered, “I would not for the world have had you stay away.”
After making formal introductions, Archer sat down beside Miss Welland, saying in a low tone , “I hope you’ve told Madame Olenska that we’re engaged. I want everybody to know — I want you to let me announce it this evening at the ball.”
Miss Welland’s face grew rosy as the dawn, and she looked at him with radiant eyes. “If you can persuade Mama,” she said,“but why should we change what is already settled?”
He made no answer but that which his eyes returned,and she added, still more confidently smiling, “Tell my cousin yourself. I give you permission. She says she used to play with you when you were children.”
Archer then went to Madame Olenska, and sat with her for a few moments, rather astonished at the immediate friendliness of her manner and speech.
“Yes, you have been away for a very long time,” he mentioned reflectivel .
“Oh, centuries and centuries; so long,” she said, “that I’m sure I’m dead and buried, and this dear old place is heaven.”This, for reasons which he could not define, struck Newland Archer as a disrespectful way of describing New York society.
It invariably happened in the same way each year. Mrs.Julius Beaufort, on the night of her annual ball, never failed to appear at the opera; indeed, she always gave her ball on an opera night in order to emphasize her complete superiority to household cares, and her possession of a staff of servants competent to organize every detail of the entertainment in her absence .
The Beauforts’ house was one of the few in New York that possessed a ballroom ; this undoubted superiority was felt to compensate for whatever mysterious secret in the Beaufort past.
Mrs. Beaufort belonged indeed to one of America’s most honored families; she had been the lovely Regina Dallas (of the South Carolina branch), a penniless beauty introduced to New York society by her cousin, the imprudent Medora Manson, who was always doing the wrong thing from the right motive.
The question was: who was Beaufort? He, passed for an Englishman, was agreeable, handsome, ill-tempered, hospitable and witty . He had come to America with letters of recommendation from old Mrs. Manson Mingott’s English sonin-law, the banker, and had speedily made himself an important position in the world of affairs; but his habits were dissipated , his tongue was bitter, his past history was mysterious; and when Medora Manson announced her cousin’s engagement to him it was felt to be one more act of foolishness in poor Medora’s long record of ignorance .
But two years after young Mrs. Beaufort’s marriage, it was admitted that she had the most distinguished house in New York. No one knew exactly how the miracle was accomplished .She was lazy and passive, and some even called her dull;but dressed like an idol , hung with pearls, growing younger and blonder and more beautiful each year, she ruled in Mr.Beaufort’s palace. The knowing people said it was Beaufort himself who trained the servants, taught the chef new dishes,selected the guests and dictated the little notes his wife wrote to her friends. If he did, these domestic activities were privately performed, and he presented to the world the appearance of a careless and hospitable millionaire, strolling into his own drawing room with the detachment of an invited guest.
Mr. Beaufort’s secret, people were agreed, was the way he carried things off. It was all very well to whisper that he had been “helped” to leave England by the international banking house in which he had been employed; he carried off that rumor as easily as the rest — though New York’s business conscience was no less sensitive than its moral standard — he carried everything before him, and all New Yorkers into his drawing room, and for over twenty years now people had said they were“going to the Beaufort’s” with dignity and satisfaction.
The Beaufort house was one that New York residents were proud to show to foreigners, especially on the night of the annual ball. The Beauforts had been among the first people in New York to own their own red velvet carpet and have it rolled down the steps. Then the house had been boldly planned with a ballroom, so that, instead of squeezing through a narrow passage to get to it, one marched solemnly down a series of drawing rooms and a garden room.
Newland Archer, as a young man of his position, strolled in somewhat late. He was distinctly nervous. He had not gone back to his club after the opera (as the young aristocrats usually did),but, the night being fine, had walked for some distance up Fifth Avenue before turning back in the direction of the Beaufort’s.He was definitely afraid that the Mingotts might be going too far; that, in fact, they might have Old Mrs. Mingott’s orders to bring the Countess Olenska to the ball.
From the tone of the club box he had perceived how grave a mistake that would be; and, though he was more than ever determined to “see the thing through,” he felt less eager to champion his fiancée’s cousin than before their brief talk at the opera.
Wandering to one of the drawing rooms, Archer found Mrs. Welland and her daughter standing near the ballroom door. Couples were already gliding over the floor beyond.Miss Welland, evidently about to join the dancers, hung on the threshold , her face a little pale, her eyes burning with an honest excitement. A group of young men and girls were gathered about her, and there was much hand- clasping and laughing, on which Mrs. Welland, standing slightly apart, shed the beam of a qualified approval. It was evident that Miss Welland was in the act of announcing her engagement, while her mother affected the air of parental reluctance considered suitable to the occasion.
Archer paused for a moment. It was at his express wish that the announcement had been made, and yet it was not thus that he would have wished to have his happiness known. To proclaim it in the heat and noise of a crowded ballroom was to rob it of the fine bloom of privacy which should belong to things nearest to the heart. His joy was so deep that this blurring of the surface left its essence untouched; but he would have liked to keep the surface pure too. It was something of a satisfaction to find that May Welland shared this feeling. Her eyes fled to his, and their look said, “Remember, we’re doing this because it’s right.”
No appeal could have found a more immediate response in Archer’s breast; but he wished that the necessity of their action had been represented by some ideal reason, and not simply by poor Ellen Olenska.
May’s lips trembled into a smile, but the eyes remained distant and serious, as if bent on some indescribable vision .
“Dear,” Archer whispered, pressing her to him; it was borne in on him that the first hours of being engaged, even if spent in a ballroom, had in them something grave. What a new life it was going to be, with this whiteness, radiance , goodness at one’s side!
The dance over, the two, as an engaged couple, wandered into the conservatory .
“You see, I did as you asked me to,” she said.
“Yes, I couldn’t wait,” he answered smiling. After a moment he added, “Only I wish it hadn’t had to be at a ball.”
“Yes, I know.” She met his glance comprehendingly . “But after all — even here we’re alone together, aren’t we?”
“Oh, dearest — always!” Archer cried.
Evidently she was always going to understand; she was always going to say the right thing. The discovery made the cup of his bliss overflow, and he went on gaily , “The worst of it is that I want to kiss you and I can’t.”
As he spoke he took a swift glance about the conservatory,assured himself of their momentary privacy, and catching her to him laid his lips on hers.
“Did you tell my cousin Ellen?” she asked presently, as if she spoke through a dream.
He roused himself, and remembered that he had not done so. Some unshakable disgust to speak of such things to the strange foreign woman had checked the words on his lips.
“No — I hadn’t the chance,” he said, lying hastily .
“Ah,” she looked disappointed, but gently resolved on gaining her point. “You must, then, for I didn’t either; and I shouldn’t like her to think —”
“Of course not. But aren’t you, after all, the person to do it?”
She pondered on this. “If I’d done it at the right time, yes;but now that there’s been a delay, I think you must explain that I’d asked you to tell her at the opera, before our speaking about it to everybody here. Otherwise she might think I had forgotten her. You see, she’s one of the family, and she’s been away so long that she’s rather sensitive.”
“Dear and great angel ! Of course I’ll tell her.” He glanced a trifle apprehensively toward the crowded ballroom. “But I haven’t seen her yet. Has she come?”
“No; at the last minute she decided not to.”
“At the last minute?” he echoed , betraying his surprise that she should ever have considered the alternative possible.
“Yes. She’s awfully fond of dancing,” the young girl answered simply. “But suddenly she made up her mind that her dress wasn’t fit for a ball, though we thought it so lovely; and so my aunt had to take her home.”
“Oh, well —” said Archer with happy indifference.Nothing about his fiancée pleased him more than her resolute determination to carry to its utmost limit that ritual of ignoring the “unpleasant” in which they had both been brought up.
“She knows as well as I do,” he reflecte , “the real reason of her cousin’s staying away; but I shall never let her see by the least sign that I am conscious of there being a shadow on poor Ellen Olenska’s reputation.”
cherish /ˈtʃerɪʃ/ vt. 珍爱，怀有（希望等）
dread /dred/ vt. 惧怕，担心
sentimental /ˌsentɪˈmentəl/ adj. 感伤的，感情脆弱的
cling /klɪŋ/ vi. 粘紧，附着，紧贴，坚持（意见），墨守（习惯）
historic /hɪˈstɒrɪk/ adj. 历史上著名的，有历史性的
association /əˌsəʊsɪˈeɪʃən/ n. 联系，联想，联合
acoustics /əˈku:stɪks/ n. 声学，音响
linger /ˈlɪŋ ɡ ə/ vi. 逗留，闲荡，拖延
aware /əˈweə/ adj. 知道的，明白的，意识到的
lean /li:n/ vi. 倚靠，倾斜，依赖
scan /sk æ n/ vt. 细看，审视，浏览，扫描
monstrous /ˈmɒnstrəs/ adj. 巨大的，畸形的，怪异的
ecstatically /ɪkˈst æ tɪklɪ/ adv. 心醉神迷地，入神地
contemplate /ˈkɒntempleɪt/ vt. 凝视，沉思
absorbed /əbˈsɔ:bd/ adj. 全神贯注的，一心一意的
thrill /θrɪl/ n. 兴奋，激动
masculine /ˈm æ skjʊlɪn/ adj. 男性的，有男子气概的
initiation /ɪˌnɪʃɪˈeɪʃən/ n. 开始
mingle /ˈmɪŋɡl/ vt. （使）混合
reverence /ˈrevərəns/ n. 尊敬，敬重
sacred /ˈseɪkrɪd/ adj. 崇敬的，庄严的
imagination /ɪˌm æ dʒɪˈneɪʃən/ n. 想象，空想
leap /li:p/ vi. 跳，跳跃
honeymoon /ˈhʌnɪmu:n/ n. 蜜月
ignorant /ˈɪɡnərənt/ adj. 无知的
enlightening /ɪnˈl a ɪtənɪŋ/ adj. 启发的，启蒙的
companionship /kəmˈp æ nɪənʃɪp/ n. 交谊，友谊
tact /t æ kt/ n. 机智，手法，老练
readiness /ˈredɪnɪs/ n. 敏捷，迅速
wit /wɪt/ n. 智力，才智，智慧
enable /ɪˈneɪbl/ vt. 使能够，授予权利或方法
homage /ˈhɒmɪdʒ/ n. 敬意
vanity /ˈv æ nətɪ/ n. 虚荣
worldly-wise /ˈwɜ:ldlɪˈw a ɪz/ adj. 老于世故的
agitated /ˈ æ dʒɪteɪtɪd/ adj. 激动的，表现不安的
hint /hɪnt/ n. 暗示，提示，线索
frailty /ˈfreɪltɪ/ n. 虚弱，脆弱，品德上的弱点
mar /mɑ:/ vt. 弄坏，毁坏，损害
intellectual /ˌɪntɪˈlektjʊəl/ adj. 智力的，有智力的，显示智力的
distinctly /dɪˈstɪŋktlɪ/ adv. 清楚地，显然
superior /sju:ˈpɪərɪə/ adj. 高级的
specimen /ˈspesɪmɪn/ n. 范例，标本，样品，样本
betray /bɪˈtreɪ/ vt. 泄露（秘密），露出……迹象
inferiority /ɪnˌfɪərɪˈɒrətɪ/ n. 自卑，次等
solidarity /ˌsɒlɪˈd æ rətɪ/ n. 团结
doctrine /ˈdɒktrɪn/ n. 教条，学说
instinctively /ɪnˈstɪŋktɪvlɪ/ adv. 本能地
exclaim /ɪkˈskleɪm/ vt. 呼喊，惊叫，大声叫
abruptly /əˈbrʌptlɪ/ adv. 突然地，唐突地
intricate /ˈɪntrɪkət/ adj. 复杂的，错综的，难以理解的
fascinating /ˈf æ sɪneɪtɪŋ/ adj. 迷人的，醉人的，着魔的
competence /ˈkɒmpɪtəns/ n. 能力
exclamation /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/ n. 惊叹，感叹
curl /kɜ:l/ n. 卷状物，一缕卷发
temple /ˈtempl/ n. 太阳穴（前额两侧）
band /b æ nd/ n. 带，条
revealing /rɪˈvi:lɪŋ/ adj. 显露的
velvet /ˈvelvɪt/ n. 天鹅绒
gown / ɡa ʊn/ n. 衣服
characteristic /ˌk æ rəktəˈrɪstɪk/ n. 特性，特点
extend /ɪkˈstend/ vi. 扩充
acutely /əˈkju:tlɪ/ adv. 尖锐地
retentive /rɪˈtentɪv/ adj. 记忆力强的
breast /brest/ n. 胸部
keen /ki:n/ adj. 强烈的，浓厚的
reputation /ˌrepjʊˈteɪʃən/ n. 名誉
discretion /dɪˈskreʃən/ n. 慎重
attentive /əˈtentɪv/ adj. 注意的，专心的，留意的
episode /ˈepɪsəʊd/ n. 插曲
embarrassment /ɪmˈb æ rəsmənt/ n. 尴尬
identify / a ɪˈdentɪf a ɪ/ vt. 识别
initiate /ɪˈnɪʃɪeɪt/ vt. 开始，接纳，吸收
indignation /ˌɪndɪ ɡ ˈneɪʃən/ n. 愤怒
undoubtedly /ʌnˈd a ʊtɪdlɪ/ adv. 无疑地
toned /təʊnd/ adj. 有声调的
resolute /ˈrezəlju:t/ adj. 坚决的
stock /stɒk/ n. 世系，家世
restrain /rɪˈstreɪn/ vt. 抑制
mighty /ˈm a ɪtɪ/ adj. 有势力的
ally /ˈ æ l a ɪ/ vt. 联盟
aristocrat /ˈ æ rɪstəkr æ t/ n. 贵族
justify /ˈdʒʌstɪf a ɪ/ vt. 证明
failing /ˈfeɪlɪŋ/ n. 失败
confidenc /ˈkɒnfɪdəns/ n. 信心
somehow /ˈsʌmh a ʊ/ adv. 在某种程度上
extreme /ɪkˈstri:m/ adj. 极端的
decency /ˈdi:sənsɪ/ n. 正派，得体
dignity /ˈdɪ ɡ nətɪ/ n. 尊严
caution /ˈkɔ:ʃən/ n. 条款
bold /bəʊld/ adj. 大胆的
widow /ˈwɪdəʊ/ n. 寡妇
fearlessly /ˈfɪəlɪslɪ/ adv. 无畏地
entertain /ˌentəˈteɪn/ vt. 招待，款待
affluenc /ˈ æ flʊəns/n. 富裕
excessively /ɪkˈsesɪvlɪ/ adv. 过度地
thrifty /ˈθrɪftɪ/ adj. 节俭的
redeem /rɪˈdi:m/ vt. 弥补，补救
critic /ˈkrɪtɪk/ n. 批评家
heighten /ˈh a ɪtən/ vt. 增高
gravity /ˈɡr æ vətɪ/ n. 严重，严峻
bosom /ˈbʊzəm/ n. 胸部
accustomed /əˈkʌstəmd/ adj. 习惯的
awful /ˈɔ:fʊl/ adj. 可怕的
brute /bru:t/ n. 畜生
bolt /bəʊlt/ vi. 逃跑
desperately /ˈdespərətlɪ/ adv. 强烈地
parade / pəˈreɪd/ vi. 招摇过市
stir /stɜ:/ n. 搅动，骚动
obligated /ˈɒblɪ ɡ eɪtɪd/ adj. 有责任的，有义务的
decisive /dɪˈs a ɪsɪv/ adj. 决定性的
proclaim /prəˈkleɪm/ vt. 宣布
peculiar /pɪˈkju:lɪə/ adj. 奇特的，异常的
motive /ˈməʊtɪv/ n. 动机
faint /feɪnt/ adj. 微弱的
implication /ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃən/ n. 含意，暗示
delicacy /ˈdelɪkəsɪ/ n. 精致，纤细
tone /təʊn/ n. 声调
rosy /ˈrəʊzɪ/ adj. 红润的，红粉色的
radiant /ˈreɪdɪənt/ adj. （指人、人的眼睛等）容光焕发的，喜形于色的
confidently /ˈkɒnfɪdəntlɪ/ adv. 自信地
reflectivel /rɪˈflektɪvlɪ/adv. 沉思地
invariably /ɪnˈveərɪəblɪ/ adv. 不变化地
annual /ˈ æ njʊəl/ adj. 一年一度的
emphasize /ˈemfəs a ɪz/ vt. 强调
superiority /sju:ˌpɪərɪˈɒrətɪ/ n. 优越
household /ˈh a ʊshəʊld/ adj. 家庭的
staff /stɑ:f/ n. 全体职员
competent /ˈkɒmpɪtənt/ adj. 能干的
absence /ˈ æ bsəns/ n. 缺席
ballroom /ˈbɔ:lrʊm/ n. 舞厅
compensate /ˈkɒmpenseɪt/ vi. 补偿
penniless /ˈpenɪlɪs/ adj. 一文不名的，穷困的
imprudent /ɪmˈpru:dənt/ adj. 轻率的
hospitable /ˈhɒspɪtəbl/ adj. 好客的
witty /ˈwɪtɪ/ adj. 机智的，诙谐的
speedily /ˈspiːdəlɪ/ adv. 快速地
dissipated /ˈdɪsɪpeɪtɪd/ adj. 沉迷于酒色的
ignorance /ˈɪ ɡ nərəns/ n. 无知
distinguished /dɪsˈtɪŋ ɡ wɪʃt/ adj. 卓著的
miracle /ˈmɪrəkl/ n. 奇迹
accomplish /əˈkʌmplɪʃ/ vt. 完成
idol /ˈ a ɪdəl/ n. 偶像
chef /ʃef/ n. 主厨
dictate /dɪkˈteɪt/ vt. 口述
domestic /dəʊˈmestɪk/ adj. 家庭的
stroll /strəʊl/ vi. 漫步，闲逛
detachment /dɪˈt æ tʃmənt/ n. 冷静，超然
rumor /ˈru:mə/ n. 谣言
resident /ˈrezɪdənt/ n. 居民
boldly /ˈbəʊldlɪ/ adv. 大胆地
squeeze /skwi:z/ vi. 推挤
solemnly /ˈsɒləmlɪ/ adv. 严肃地
series /ˈsɪəri:z/ n. 系列
somewhat /ˈsʌmhwɒt/ adv. 略微
avenue /ˈ æ vɪnju:/ n. 大街
definitel /ˈdefɪnɪtlɪ/ adv. 一定
perceive /pəˈsi:v/ vt. 感觉，察觉，明目
grave /ɡreɪv/ adj. 严重的
glide /ɡl a ɪd/ vi. 滑动
threshold /ˈθreʃhəʊld/ n. 门槛
clasp /klɑ:sp/ vi. 扣紧
shed /ʃed/ vt. 流露
qualifie /ˈkwɒlɪf a ɪd/ adj. 合格的
reluctance /rɪˈlʌktəns/ n. 不愿
privacy /ˈprɪvəsɪ/ n. 隐私
blur /blɜ:/ vi. 沾上污迹，变模糊
essence /ˈesəns/ n. 本质
appeal /əˈpi:l/ n. 恳求，申诉
necessity /nɪˈsesətɪ/ n. 需要
ideal / a ɪˈdɪəl/ adj. 理想的
indescribable /ˌɪndɪˈskr a ɪbəbl/ adj. 不能用语言表达的
vision /ˈvɪʒən/ n. 幻象
radiance /ˈreɪdɪəns/ n. 容光焕发
conservatory /kənˈsɜ:vətrɪ/ n. 温室
comprehendingly /kɒmprɪˈhendɪŋlɪ/ adv. 会意地
bliss /blɪs/ n. 巨大的幸福，极乐
gaily /ˈ ɡ eɪlɪ/ adv. 高兴地
rouse /r a ʊz/ vt. 唤醒
unshakable /ˌʌnˈʃeɪkəbl/ adj. 无法改变的
disgust /dɪsˈ ɡ ʌst/ n. 厌恶
hastily /ˈheɪstɪlɪ/ adv. 匆忙地
resolved /rɪˈzɒlvd/ adj. 下定决心的
ponder /ˈpɒndə/ vi. 沉思
angel /ˈeɪndʒəl/ n. 天使
trifl /ˈtr a ɪfl/n. 稍微，有点儿
apprehensively /ˌ æ prɪˈhensɪvlɪ/adv. 惴惴不安地
echo /ˈekəʊ/ vt. 重复，发出回声
alternative /ɔ:lˈtɜ:nətɪv/ adj. 可供替代的
awfully /ˈɔ:fʊlɪ/ adv. 非常
utmost /ˈʌtməʊst/ adj. 极限的
ritual /ˈrɪtjʊəl/ n. 仪式
ignore /ɪ ɡ ˈnɔ:/ vt. 不理睬
reflec /rɪˈflekt/vt. 思索
conscious /ˈkɒnʃəs/ adj. 有意识的
在70年代初一月的一个晚上，纽约社会上流阶层人士聚集于纽约音乐学院。
保守派的人们钟情于纽约音乐学院的窄小不便，这样便可把纽约社会开始畏惧继而又被其吸引的“新人”拒之门外；多愁善感的人们流连忘返于此，皆因其勾起了无限往事；而音乐爱好者则陶醉于其精美的音响效果，毕竟，在专为欣赏音乐而修建的厅堂中，要取得精美的音响效果的确不易。
当纽兰·阿切尔打开俱乐部包厢的后门时，关于花园的那场戏的帷幕刚刚拉开。这位年轻人七点钟便和母亲与妹妹一起用了餐，随后又慢慢悠悠地抽了支雪茄。照理说他完全可以早一点到，可是，纽约是一个大都市，人们都十分清楚，在大都市听歌剧，早到是“不合适”的。而且是否“合适”在纽兰·阿切尔时代的纽约尤为重要。
纽兰·阿切尔靠在包厢后面的墙上，将目光从舞台移开，扫视着剧场对面。正对着他的是曼森·明戈特老太太的包厢。过度肥胖早已使她无缘去歌剧院，不过在有社交活动的晚上，她总是要求某些年轻一点的家庭成员代表她出席。
此时，坐在包厢前排的是她的儿媳洛弗尔·明戈特太太和她的女儿韦兰太太。在这两位夫人身后坐着一位身着白衣的年轻姑娘，她正出神地注视着舞台上的那对恋人。
“我心爱的人啊！”纽兰·阿切尔一边看着她，一边想着，“她甚至猜不出这个剧在讲什么。”他忘情地凝视着她那张全神贯注且青春洋溢的面孔，一股占有欲从心底涌起，同时还有对自己开始萌芽的男子气概的自豪，并融和了对她的纯洁无瑕的温婉敬意。
就在那天下午，梅·韦兰才让他猜出她对他有“好感”（纽约人尊崇的未婚少女暗许芳心的用语），而他早已对订婚戒指、婚礼之吻，以及他们的蜜月浮想联翩。
他压根不希望未来的阿切尔太太愚昧无知。他要让她（由于他朝夕相伴的启蒙）练就社交能力和机敏才智，能与那些“青年一代”最受欢迎的已婚女子平起平坐。在那些人中间，有一条公认的习俗，那就是既要赢得男性的敬意，同时，又要逗得他们神气不起来。假如他能对其虚荣心进行深入探究（有时他几乎已经做到），他可能早已发现在这虚荣里有一个愿望，即自己的妻子应该跟那些已婚女士一样世故圆滑，一样渴望取悦他人。那些太太们的妩媚曾使他心醉神迷，让他有些焦虑不安地度过了两个年头。当然，他没有露出任何弱点，这种弱点险些毁了他这位不幸者的生活，而且在风流韵事告终之后，搅乱了他整整一个冬天的计划。
在智力与艺术方面，纽兰·阿切尔觉得自己明显要比老纽约上流阶层这些精挑细选的典范技高一筹。大概他读的书更多，思考问题更深入，甚至对这个社会的见识更广。单个来看，他们都处于劣势，但这帮人一旦拧到一起，就代表着“纽约”，而且男性团结一致的惯例使他在所有道德问题上都接受了他们的原则。他本能地感到，在这方面他若一个人标新立异，肯定会招致麻烦，而且也很失礼。
“哎哟——我的天！”劳伦斯·莱弗茨惊叹道，突然将目光从舞台的方向移开。总的来说，劳伦斯·莱弗茨在“礼节”问题上是纽约的最高权威，他在这个既错综复杂又耐人寻味的问题上投入的研究时间或许比任何人都多。但仅凭研究还不能说明他游刃有余的能力。“我的上帝！”他说，接着轻轻地拍了拍老西勒顿·杰克逊的肩膀。
纽兰·阿切尔顺着莱弗茨的目光望去，惊讶地发现他的感叹原来是因为一个陌生的身影进入明戈特老太太的包厢而发出的。那是一位身材苗条的年轻女子，比梅·韦兰略矮一点，她棕色的头发在前额两侧汇成两缕浓密的卷发，由一条钻石窄带固定住，身上穿着一身袒胸露肩的天鹅绒衣服。她在包厢中间站了一会儿，便紧挨着洛弗尔·明戈特太太坐了下来。
西勒顿·杰克逊先生的目光不再注视着包厢。全俱乐部的人都本能地转过身，等着听这位老者说些什么。因为正如劳伦斯·莱弗茨在“礼节”问题上那样，杰克逊老先生在“家族”问题上是最高权威。他对纽约贵族家庭间所有的关系都了如指掌，包括每个家族的主要特点，以及最近五十年间家族中一些鲜为人知的秘密。
他的信息确实多且宽泛，他的记忆也确实精确无误，所以大家认为唯有他才能说出银行家朱利叶斯·博福特到底是何许人也。不过这个秘密，还有许多其他的秘密都牢牢地锁在杰克逊先生的心中。不仅是因为强烈的荣誉感不许他把别人私下里透露给他的任何事情透露出去，也是因为他非常清楚，谨小慎微的名声会给他更多的机会去探究他想知道的一切。
因此，整个俱乐部包厢的人都在等待着西勒顿·杰克逊先生说话。而他默默地审视了这群专注的人，只说了一句：“我没想到明戈特家的人会这么做。”
伴随着这个短暂的插曲，纽兰·阿切尔陷入了一种奇怪的尴尬处境。
令人心烦的是，纽约男士们的全部注意力都集中于他未婚妻所在的那个包厢，她坐在她母亲与舅妈中间。阿切尔一时竟未认出那位穿着奇特的女士，也想象不出为什么她的出现会让成员如此兴奋。接着，他便明白过来，并随之产生一阵愤慨。的确，没有人会想到明戈特家的人会这么做！
然而他们还是这样做了。毫无疑问，他们这样做了；因为纽兰·阿切尔身后低声的评论使他确信那位年轻女子就是梅·韦兰的表姐，这一家子一向称她为“可怜的埃伦·奥兰斯卡”。阿切尔知道她前一两天突然从欧洲回来了，甚至还从韦兰小姐（并非不满地）那得知，她已经去看过可怜的埃伦了。埃伦和明戈特老太太住在一起。阿切尔完全拥护家族的团结，明戈特家族中，他最崇拜的品德之一就是即使是无可指责的家族中出的几个败家子，他们也会坚决支持。
他未来的妻子能够做到豁达开朗，（私下）善待自己不幸的表姐，这当然使他高兴不已。然而，在家庭圈子里接受奥兰斯卡伯爵夫人是一回事；让她在所有像歌剧院这样的公共场所露面就是另外一回事了。而且恰恰就在那位年轻姑娘的包厢里，那位姑娘与他订婚的消息几周之内就要被公之于众了。是的，他的感觉与老西勒顿·杰克逊一样：他没有想到明戈特家的人会这样做！
当然，他知道曼森·明戈特老太太这位家族的女首领敢这样做。他一向敬仰这位高大刚毅的老太太，其父神神秘秘又声名狼藉，无论是金钱还是权势都难以抹去人们关于那件事的记忆。然而她却与富有的明戈特家族的领头人联了姻，把两个女儿嫁给了“外国人”（一个意大利贵族，一个英国银行家）。
人人（包括西勒顿·杰克逊先生）都认为，老凯瑟琳从未拥有过美貌，而在纽约人看来，美貌是成功的有力砝码，也可充当某些失败的借口。那些不友善的人们认为，她获得成功靠的是意志力和铁石心肠，还有某种程度上由于她个人生活绝对正派并且举止端庄所造就的那种傲慢。曼森·明戈特先生去世时她才28岁。出于对妻子家族的普遍不信任，他用一条附加条款“冻结”了自己的钱财。他那位干练又年轻的遗孀无所畏惧地走着自己的路，悠闲自在地出入外国的社交界，把女儿嫁到那些闻所未闻的社交圈子里，并且款待歌剧演员。
曼森·明戈特太太早已成功解冻了丈夫的财产，过了半个世纪的富足生活。早年身处困境的记忆使她格外节俭，虽然每当买衣服或添置家具时，她总是交代需买最好的，却舍不得在餐桌上破费。因此，虽然是由于完全不同的原因，但她的伙食跟阿切尔太太家一样差，她的美酒也未能弥补这一点。
纽兰·阿切尔又一次将目光转向了明戈特太太的包厢。他见韦兰太太与她的嫂嫂正沉着地面对那些批评者，只有梅·韦兰面色绯红（也许是由于知道他在看她），流露出事态严峻的感觉。至于引起骚动的那一位，她依然落落大方地坐在包厢角落里，两眼凝视着舞台。由于身体前倾，她肩膀和胸部露出些许，比纽约社会习惯看到的更为暴露，至少在那些有理由希望不引起注意的女士们中是如此。阿切尔不愿设想梅·韦兰正受到一个如此不顾自己名声的年轻女子的影响。
“究竟，”他听到身后一个年轻人开口说，“刚才发生了什么事？”
“哦——她离开了他；谁也不想否认这件事。”
“他是个可怕的畜生，不是吗？”年轻人接着说道。
“一个糟糕透顶的家伙；我在法国了解过他。”劳伦斯·莱弗茨用权威的口吻说。
“哦，我告诉你，他不是跟女人在一起，就是在收集艺术品。据我所知，他对两者都不惜任何代价。”
一语既出，众人哄堂大笑。
“唔，可是，”莱弗茨继续说道，“她和他的秘书逃跑了，尽管这并没有持续多久。我听说几个月后她就独自一人住在威尼斯，她很可怜，因此她的家人去找她。现在没事了——不过她在歌剧院里这样招摇就是另外一码事了。”
这一幕结束了，包厢里一片骚动。纽兰·阿切尔突然觉得他必须采取果断的行动。他想要第一个进入明戈特太太的包厢，向等待着的人群宣布他与梅·韦兰订婚的消息，并承诺无论她表姐的特殊处境给她带来什么样的困难，他都会帮助她。
进入包厢的时候，阿切尔和韦兰小姐的目光不期而遇，他发现她立即明白了他的来意，尽管家族的尊严不允许她对他如实道来——双方都认为这是一种很高尚的美德。他们这个圈子的人都生活在一种含而不露、稍显矜持的气氛中。年轻人觉得，他们之间无须任何言语就能理解彼此，拉近他们之间的距离，这不是任何解释能做到的。她的眼睛仿佛在说：“你知道妈妈为什么带我来。”他的眼睛则回答：“无论如何我都不能让你离开这儿。”
做完正式介绍后，阿切尔在韦兰小姐的身旁坐下，低声说：“我希望你已经告诉奥兰斯卡夫人我们订婚了。我想让每一个人都知道——我要你允许我今晚在舞会上宣布。”
韦兰小姐的脸红润得如曙光一般，她面露喜色地看着他。“如果你能说服妈妈的话。”她说，“不过，已经定下来的事，为什么要改变呢？”
他沉默不语，只是用眼神做了回答。她信心十足地笑着补充说：“我允许你自己告诉我表姐。她说你们孩提时代常一起玩耍。”
阿切尔走到奥兰斯卡夫人身边，挨着她坐了一会儿，她言行举止间流露出的热情大方使他大为惊讶。
他若有所思地说道：“是啊，你已经离开这儿很久了。”
“啊，好像有好几个世纪了。太久了，”她说，“让我觉得自己已经死了，被埋掉了，而这方亲切的故土就是天堂。”说不出为什么，纽兰·阿切尔只觉得这样描述纽约社会未免有失敬意。
年复一年，一切依然如故。在举办年度舞会的这天晚上，朱利叶斯·博福特太太都会去歌剧院露露面。的确，为了突出她执掌家务的全能与高明，炫耀她的仆人团队能够在她不在时把招待活动的每个细节安排妥当，她总是在有歌剧演出的晚上举办舞会。
博福特家的住宅可是纽约为数不多的设有舞厅的住宅之一。这种毋庸置疑的优越性足以弥补博福特历史上任何神秘的秘密。
博福特太太确实属于美国最有名望的家族之一，她曾是活泼可爱的里吉纳·达拉斯（属于南卡罗来纳的一个家族分支）——一位分文不名的美人，由她那位轻率的表姐梅多拉·曼森引荐到了纽约社交界。而梅多拉·曼森总是好心做错事。
问题在于：博福特是何许人也？他被误认为是个英国人，彬彬有礼，仪表堂堂，虽脾气暴躁，却诙谐好客。他来到美国，由于有曼森·明戈特老太太那位英国银行家女婿的推荐信，很快便在社交界赢得了重要地位；然而他生性放荡，言辞尖刻，他的过去也神秘莫测。当梅多拉·曼森宣布她表妹与他订婚的消息时，人们认定，这将在可怜的梅多拉所做的众多蠢事中添上一笔。
年轻的博福特太太结婚两年之后，人们一致认为她拥有了纽约最豪华的住宅。无人知晓这一奇迹究竟是如何发生的。她懒散冷淡，有人甚至说她呆笨，但她打扮得像个偶像，珠光宝气，一年比一年年轻，一年比一年白皙，一年比一年漂亮。显然她就是博福特先生宫殿的主人。知情人说博福特亲自训练仆人，教厨师制作新的菜肴，并且他还亲自筛选宾客，口授妻子写给她朋友的便函。若真是如此，那么这些家务也都是私下完成的。因为在社交界看到的他却是一位漫不经心、热情好客的百万富翁，像贵宾一样怡然自得地进入自己的客厅。
人们一致认可，博福特先生的秘密是他的处事之道。虽然的确有传闻说，他是凭借雇用他的国际银行的“帮助”离开英国的，但他对这一传闻能够泰然处之，和对待其他传闻一样。尽管纽约的商业良知和其道德准则一样敏感，但他将这一切摆在了他面前，把全纽约的人都请进了他的客厅。二十多年来，人们说起“要去博福特家”，语气中就满是自豪和满足。
纽约人会很自豪地向外国人展示博福特的住宅，特别是在年度舞会的晚上。博福特夫妇是纽约第一批拥有红丝绒地毯的人，就连家中的楼梯也铺上了此类地毯。而且，那幢住宅设有舞厅，其设计可谓别具一格，人们不必穿过狭窄的过道，便可昂首阔步地沿着客厅和园艺室走进舞厅。
纽兰·阿切尔来得稍微晚了些，这与他年轻人的身份是相符的。他显然有些紧张不安。歌剧结束后他没有回俱乐部（回俱乐部是年轻贵族的惯常做法），而是趁着夜色正好，沿第五大街走了一段，然后才回过头朝博福特家的方向走去。他一定是在担心明戈特家的人可能会把事情做过头，生怕他们会按照明戈特老太太的指示，把奥兰斯卡伯爵夫人带到舞会上来。
从俱乐部包厢的气氛中，他已经察觉到那将是多么严重的错误。而且，虽然他无比坚决地要“坚持到底”，但他觉得，他要保护未婚妻的表姐的那股热情，不如在歌剧院与她简短交谈之前那么高涨了。
阿切尔漫步来到一间客厅，只见韦兰太太和她的女儿正站在舞厅门口旁。成双成对的舞伴们已经在那边的地板上滑步。显然韦兰小姐正准备加入跳舞的人群，她待在门口，脸色有些苍白，目光中闪烁的是那种真真切切的兴奋。一群男青年和小姑娘聚在她的四周，不少人与她握手，笑着与她寒暄。韦兰太太稍稍站开了一点，她笑容满面，得体地对这一切表示赞赏。很明显，韦兰小姐正在宣布她订婚的消息，而她母亲则装出一副身为家长不情愿的模样，与这场合十分相称。
阿切尔犹豫了一会儿。订婚消息正是按他的意愿宣布的，但他的本意却不是以这种方式将自己的幸福公之于众。在拥挤喧闹的舞厅里宣布订婚之喜犹如强行剥开个人隐私的保护层，那是最贴近心灵的东西。他的喜悦藏在内心深处，这种表面的污迹并未触及根本，不过他还是想让表面也一样纯洁。使他满意的是，他发现梅·韦兰也有同样的感受。她朝他看过来，仿佛是在说：“别忘了，我们这样做是因为它符合常理。”
任何恳求都不会在阿切尔心中得到比这更快的回应了，然而他仍希望他们在此宣布订婚消息是因为某个合适的理由，而不单单是为了可怜的埃伦·奥兰斯卡。
梅的嘴角露出一丝微笑，但眼神依然庄重淡漠，仿佛正凝神于一种无法描述的幻象。
“亲爱的。”阿切尔低声说，并用力把她拉向自己。他坚信，订婚最初的几个小时即便是在舞厅里度过，也蕴含着庄严和神圣。有这样一位纯洁、美丽、善良的佳人相伴，将是一种怎样的新生活啊！
舞会结束了，这对刚订婚的爱人，漫步来到温室。
“你瞧，我照你说的做了。”她说。
“是的，我不能再等待了。”他笑着说。过了一会儿又补充道：“我只是不希望在舞会上宣布。”
“是的，我知道，”她会意地看着他的眼睛说，“但毕竟——即使是在这儿，我们也是单独在一起的，不是吗？”
“噢，最亲爱的——永远！”阿切尔喊道。
显然，她将永远理解他，永远言语得体，这一发现使得他心花怒放。他兴高采烈地继续说道：“最糟糕的是，我想吻你却不能吻。”
说着，他迅速朝温室四周瞥了一眼，确定他们暂时处于隐蔽之中，便把她揽在怀里，吻了一下她的双唇。
“你告诉我的表姐埃伦了吗？”过了一会她问道，仿佛是在梦境中说话。
他醒悟过来，想起他还没有告诉埃伦。要向这位陌生的外籍女子讲述这种事，有一种无法克服的反感使他欲言又止。
“没——我一直没有机会。”他急急忙忙扯了一个小谎。
“噢，”她看上去很失望，但决意温和地实施她的主张，“那么，你一定要讲，因为我也没讲，我不愿让她以为——”
“当然。不过，不应该由你去告诉她吗？”
她沉思片刻后说：“假如之前有适当的时机，确实应该由我来告诉她。不过现在已经晚了，我想你必须向她说明，我曾经让你在歌剧院，在我们在这儿向大家公布之前告诉她。否则她会以为我忘记她了。你知道她是家族的一员，又在外面待了很久，因而她非常敏感。”
“我亲爱的天使！我当然会告诉她的。”他略带忧虑地朝喧闹的舞厅瞥了一眼。“不过我还没见着她呢。她来了吗？”
“没有，她在最后一刻决定不来了。”
“最后一刻？”他重复道，她居然会改变主意，这使他十分震惊。
“是呀，她可喜欢跳舞了，”姑娘坦率地回答说，“可是她突然认定那衣服不适合在舞会上穿，尽管我们觉得那衣服很漂亮，所以我舅妈只得把她送回家。”
“噢——”阿切尔表面冷静地说道，内心却欣喜无比。他的未婚妻竭力避免谈及他们俩在长大成人的过程中的那次“不愉快”，没有什么比这更使他高兴了。
他心想：“她跟我一样清楚她表姐避不露面的真正原因，不过我绝不能露出一丁点迹象，让她看出我已经知道可怜的埃伦·奥兰斯卡名声不好。”