Chapter 26

           EveryyearonthefifteenthofOctoberFifthAvenueopeneditsshutters,unrolleditscarpetsandhungupitstriplelayerofwindow-curtains.BythefirstofNovemberthishouseholdritualwasover,andsocietyhadbeguntolookaboutandtakestockofitself.Bythefifteenththeseasonwasinfullblast,Operaandtheatreswereputtingforththeirnewattractions,dinner-engagementswereaccumulating,anddatesfordancesbeingfixed.AndpunctuallyataboutthistimeMrs.ArcheralwayssaidthatNewYorkwasverymuchchanged.Observingitfromtheloftystand-pointofanon-participant,shewasable,withthehelpofMr.SillertonJacksonandMissSophy,totraceeachnewcrackinitssurface,andallthestrangeweedspushingupbetweentheorderedrowsofsocialvegetables.IthadbeenoneoftheamusementsofArcher’syouthtowaitforthisannualpronouncementofhismother’s,andtohearherenumeratetheminutesignsofdisintegrationthathiscarelessgazehadoverlooked.ForNewYork,toMrs.Archer’smind,neverchangedwithoutchangingfortheworse;andinthisviewMissSophyJacksonheartilyconcurred.Mr.SillertonJackson,asbecameamanoftheworld,suspendedhisjudgmentandlistenedwithanamusedimpartialitytothelamentationsoftheladies.ButevenheneverdeniedthatNewYorkhadchanged;andNewlandArcher,inthewinterofthesecondyearofhismarriage,washimselfobligedtoadmitthatifithadnotactuallychangeditwascertainlychanging.Thesepointshadbeenraised,asusual,atMrs.Archer’sThanksgivingdinner.