the ways of men-第39章
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〃Indeed；〃 he murmured incredulously。 〃When I was passing through New York last winter a lady was pointed out to me as the owner of marvellous jewels and vast wealth； but with absolutely no social position。 My informant added that no well…born woman would receive her or her husband。
〃It's foolish； of course； but the handsome woman with the crown on sitting in the centre of that circle； looks very like the woman I mean。 Am I right？〃
〃It's the same lady；〃 I answered； wearily。 〃You are speaking of last year。 No one could be induced to call on the couple then。 Now we all go to their house； and entertain them in return。〃
〃They have doubtless done some noble action； or the reports about the husband have been proved false？〃
〃Nothing of the kind has taken place。 She's a success； and no one asks any questions！ In spite of that； you are in a society where the standard of conduct is held higher than in any country of Europe； by a race of women more virtuous； in all probability； than has yet been seen。 There is not a man present；〃 I added； 〃who would presume to take； or a woman who would permit； a liberty so slight even as the resting of a youth's arm across the back of her chair。〃
While I was speaking； an invisible orchestra began to sigh out the first passionate bars of a waltz。 A dozen couples rose； the men clasping in their arms the slender matrons； whose smiling faces sank to their partners' shoulders。 A blond mustache brushed the forehead of a girl as she swept by us to the rhythm of the music； and other cheeks seemed about to touch as couples glided on in unison。
The sleepy Oriental eyes of my new acquaintance opened wide with astonishment。
〃This； you must understand；〃 I continued； hastily； 〃is quite another matter。 Those people are waltzing。 It is considered perfectly proper； when the musicians over there play certain measures； for men to take apparent liberties。 Our women are infinitely self…respecting； and a man who put his arm around a woman （in public） while a different measure was being played； or when there was no music； would be ostracized from polite society。〃
〃I am beginning to understand；〃 replied the Turk。 〃The husbands and brothers of these women guard them very carefully。 Those men I see out there in the dark are doubtless with their wives and sisters； protecting them from the advances of other men。 Am I right？〃
〃Of course you're not right；〃 I snapped out； beginning to lose my temper at his obtuseness。 〃No husband would dream of talking to his wife in public； or of sitting with her in a corner。 Every one would be laughing at them。 Nor could a sister be induced to remain away from the ball…room with her brother。 Those girls are ‘sitting out' with young men they like； indulging in a little innocent flirtation。〃
〃What is that？〃 he asked。 〃Flirtation？〃
〃An American custom rather difficult to explain。 It may； however； be roughly defined as the art of leading a man a long way on the road to … nowhere！〃
〃Women flirt with friends or acquaintances； never with members of their family？〃
〃The husbands are those dejected individuals wandering aimlessly about over there like lost souls。 They are mostly rich men； who； having married beautiful girls for love； wear themselves out maintaining elaborate and costly establishments for them。 In return for his labor a husband； however； enjoys but little of his wife's society； for a really fashionable woman can rarely be induced to go home until she has collapsed with fatigue。 In consequence； she contributes little but ‘nerves' and temper to the household。 Her sweetest smiles； like her freshest toilets； are kept for the public。 The husband is the last person considered in an American household。 If you doubt what I say； look behind you。 There is a newly married man speaking with his wife； and trying to persuade her to leave before the cotillion begins。 Notice his apologetic air！ He knows he is interrupting a tender conversation and taking an unwarrantable liberty。 Nothing short of extreme fatigue would drive him to such an extremity。 The poor millionnaire has hardly left his desk in Wall Street during the week； and only arrived this evening in time to dress for dinner。 He would give a fair slice of his income for a night's rest。 See！ He has failed； and is lighting another cigar； preparing； with a sigh； for a long wait。 It will be three before my lady is ready to leave。〃
After a silence of some minutes； during which he appeared to be turning these remarks over in his mind； the young Oriental resumed： 〃The single men who absorb so much of your women's time and attention are doubtless the most distinguished of the nation； … writers； poets； and statesmen？〃
I was obliged to confess that this was not the case； that； on the contrary； the dancing bachelors were for the most part impecunious youths of absolutely no importance； asked by the hostess to fill in； and so lightly considered that a woman did not always recognize in the street her guests of the evening before。
At this moment my neighbor's expression changed from bewilderment to admiration； as a young and very lovely matron threw herself； panting； into a low chair at his side。 Her decollete was so daring that the doubts of half an hour before were evidently rising afresh in his mind。 Hastily resuming my task of mentor； I explained that a decollete corsage was an absolute rule for evening gatherings。 A woman who appeared in a high bodice or with her neck veiled would be considered lacking in politeness to her hostess as much if she wore a bonnet。
〃With us； women go into the world to shine and charm。 It is only natural they should use all the weapons nature has given them。〃
〃Very good！〃 exclaimed the astonished Ottoman。 〃But where will all this end？ You began by allowing your women to appear in public with their faces unveiled； then you suppressed the fichu and the collarette； and now you rob them of half their corsage。 Where； O Allah； will you stop？〃
〃Ah！〃 I answered； laughing； 〃the tendency of civilization is to simplify； many things may yet disappear。〃
〃I understand perfectly。 You have no prejudice against women wearing in public toilets that we consider fitted only for strict intimacy。 In that case your ladies may walk about the streets in these costumes？〃
〃Not at all！〃 I cried。 〃It would provoke a scandal if a woman were to be seen during the daytime in such attire； either at home or abroad。 The police and the law courts would interfere。 Evening dress is intended only for reunions in private houses； or at most； to be worn at entertainments where the company is carefully selected and the men asked from lists prepared by the ladies themselves。 No lady would wear a ball costume or her jewels in a building where the general public was admitted。 In London great ladies dine at restaurants in full evening dress； but we Americans； like the French； consider that vulgar。〃
〃Yet； last winter；〃 he said； 〃when passing through New York； I went to a great theatre； where there were an orchestra and many singing people。 Were not those respectable women I saw in the boxes？ There were no MOUCHARABIES to screen them from the eyes of the public。 Were all the men in that building asked by special invitation？ That could hardly be possible； for I paid an entrance fee at the door。 From where I sat I could see that； as each lady entered her box； opera…glasses were fixed on her； and her ‘points；' as you say； discussed by the crowd of men in the corridors； who； apparently； belonged to quite the middle class。〃
〃My poor； innocent Padischa； you do not understand at all。 That was the opera； which makes all the difference。 The husbands of those women pay enormous prices； expressly that their wives may exhibit themselves in public； decked in jewels and suggestive toilets。 You could buy a whole harem of fair Circassians for what one of those little square boxes costs。 A lady whose entrance caused no sensation would feel bitterly disappointed。 As a rule； she knows little about music； and cares still less； unless some singer is perform
