Chapter 4

           Inthecourseofthenextdaythefirstoftheusualbetrothalvisitswereexchanged.TheNewYorkritualwaspreciseandinflexibleinsuchmatters;andinconformitywithitNewlandArcherfirstwentwithhismotherandsistertocallonMrs.Welland,afterwhichheandMrs.WellandandMaydroveouttooldMrs.MansonMingott’storeceivethatvenerableancestress’sblessing.AvisittoMrs.MansonMingottwasalwaysanamusingepisodetotheyoungman.Thehouseinitselfwasalreadyanhistoricdocument,thoughnot,ofcourse,asvenerableascertainotheroldfamilyhousesinUniversityPlaceandlowerFifthAvenue.Thosewereofthepurest1830,withagrimharmonyofcabbage-rose-garlandedcarpets,rosewoodconsoles,round-archedfire-placeswithblackmarblemantels,andimmenseglazedbook-casesofmahogany;whereasoldMrs.Mingott,whohadbuiltherhouselater,hadbodilycastoutthemassivefurnitureofherprime,andmingledwiththeMingottheirloomsthefrivolousupholsteryoftheSecondEmpire.Itwasherhabittositinawindowofhersitting-roomonthegroundfloor,asifwatchingcalmlyforlifeandfashiontoflownorthwardtohersolitarydoors.Sheseemedinnohurrytohavethemcome,forherpatiencewasequalledbyherconfidence.