EveryyearonthefifteenthofOctoberFifthAvenueopeneditsshutters, unrolleditscarpetsandhungupitstriplelayerofwindow-curtains.
BythefirstofNovemberthishouseholdritualwasover, , Operaandtheatreswereputtingforththeirnewattractions, dinner-engagementswereaccumulating, .
Observingitfromtheloftystand-pointofanonparticipant, shewasable, , totraceeachnewcrackinitssurface, 'syouthtowaitforthisannualpronouncementofhismother's, , 'smind, neverchangedwithoutchangingfortheworse; andinthisviewMissSophyJacksonheartilyconcurred.
, asbecameamanoftheworld, ; andNewlandArcher, inthewinterofthesecondyearofhismarriage, washimselfobligedtoadmitthatifithadnotactuallychangeditwascertainlychanging.
Thesepointshadbeenraised, asusual, ', , notthestateofsociety; society, ifitcouldbesaidtoexist, wasratheraspectacleonwhichtocalldownBiblicalimprecations—andinfact, (., verse25) , 's, hadbeenchosenbecausehewasvery "advanced": "trend"; .
"There': thereISamarkedtrend," shesaid, asifitweresomethingvisibleandmeasurable, likeacrackinahouse.
"Itwasodd, though, topreachaboutitonThanksgiving," MissJacksonopined; andherhostessdrilyrejoined: "Oh, hemeansustogivethanksforwhat'sleft."
Archerhadbeenwonttosmileattheseannualvaticinationsofhismother's; butthisyearevenhewasobligedtoacknowledge, ashelistenedtoanenumerationofthechanges, thatthe "trend" wasvisible.
