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It would never have occurred to Grandmamma Spicer...
Posted on 7/6/2010 at 7:46 PM
It would never have occurred to Grandmamma Spicer to ask the family to 'countenance' her, as I understand Regina calls it; though a private disgrace is nothing compared to the scandal of ruining hundreds of innocent people
"Yes, it would be more becoming in Regina to hide her own countenance than to talk about other people's," MrsLovell Mingott agreed"I understand that the emerald necklace she wore at the Opera last Friday had been sent on approval from Ball and Black's in the afternoonI wonder if they'll ever get it back?"
Archer listened unmoved to the relentless chorusThe idea of absolute financial probity as the first law of a gentleman's code was too deeply ingrained in him for sentimental considerations to weaken itAn adventurer like Lemuel Struthers might build up the millions of his Shoe Polish on any number of shady dealings; but unblemished honesty was the noblesse oblige of old financial New YorkBeaufort's fate greatly move ArcherHe felt, no doubt, more sorry for her prada borse than her indignant relatives; but it seemed to him that the tie between husband and wife, even if breakable in prosperity, should be indissoluble in misfortuneLetterblair had said, a wife's place was at her husband's side when he was in trouble; but society's place was not at his side, and MrsBeaufort's cool assumption that it was seemed almost to make her his accompliceThe mere idea of a woman's appealing to her family to screen her husband's business dishonour was inadmissible, since it was the one thing that the Family, as an institution, could not do
The mulatto maid called MrsLovell Mingott into the hall, and the latter came back in a moment with a frowning brow
"She wants me to telegraph for Ellen OlenskaI had written to Ellen, of course, and to Medora; but now it seems that's not enoughI'm to telegraph to her immediately, and to tell her that she's to come alone
The announcement was received in silenceWelland sighed resignedly, and May rose from her seat and went to gather necklace pearl chanel up some newspapers that had been scattered on the floor
"I suppose it must be done," MrsLovell Mingott continued, as if hoping to be contradicted; and May turned back toward the middle of the room
"Of course it must be done," she said"Granny knows what she wants, and we must carry out all her wishesShall I write the telegram for you, Auntie? If it goes at once Ellen can probably catch tomorrow morning's train She pronounced the syllables of the name with a peculiar clearness, as if she had tapped on two silver bells
"Well, it can't go at onceJasper and the pantry-boy are both out with notes and telegrams
May turned to her husband with a smile"But here's Newland, ready to do anythingWill you take the telegram, Newland? There'll be just time before luncheon
Archer rose with a murmur of readiness, and she seated herself at old Catherine's rosewood "Bonheur du Jour," and wrote out the message in her large immature handWhen it was written she blotted it neatly and handed it to gucci clearance Archer
"What a pity," she said, "that you and Ellen will cross each other on the way!?Newland," she added, turning to her mother and aunt, "is obliged to go to Washington about a patent law-suit that is coming up before the Supreme CourtI suppose Uncle Lovell will be back by tomorrow night, and with Granny improving so much it doesn't seem right to ask Newland to give up an important engagement for the firm?does it?"
She paused, as if for an answer, and MrsWelland hastily declared: "Oh, of course not, darlingYour Granny would be the last person to wish it As Archer left the room with the telegram, he heard his mother-in-law add, presumably to MrsLovell Mingott: "But why on earth she should make you telegraph for Ellen Olenska?" and May's clear voice rejoin: "Perhaps it's to urge on her again that after all her duty is with her husband
The outer door closed on Archer and he walked hastily away toward the telegraph office
"Ol-ol?howjer spell it, anyhow?" asked the tart young lady fake birkin to whom Archer had pushed his wife's telegram across the brass ledge of the Western Union office
"Olenska?O-len-ska," he repeated, drawing back the message in order to print out the foreign syllables above May's rambling script
"It's an unlikely name for a New York telegraph office; at least in this quarter," an unexpected voice observed; and turning around Archer saw Lawrence Lefferts at his elbow, pulling an imperturbable moustache and affecting not to glance at the message
"Hallo, Newland: thought I'd catch you hereI've just heard of old MrsMingott's stroke; and as I was on my way to the house I saw you turning down this street and nipped after youI suppose you've come from there?"
Archer nodded, and pushed his telegram under the lattice
"Very bad, eh?" Lefferts continued"Wiring to the family, I supposeI gather it IS bad, if you're including Countess Olenska
Archer's lips stiffened; he felt a savage impulse to dash his fist into the long vain handsome face at his chanel cc logo earrings side
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