資源描述：
《The Age ofInnocence《天真的時代》》由會員上傳分享，免費在線閱讀，更多相關內(nèi)容在學術論文-天天文庫。
1、TheAgeofInnocencebyEdithWhartonBookII.OnaJanuaryeveningoftheearlyseventies,ChristineNilssonwassinginginFaustattheAcademyofMusicinNewYork.Thoughtherewasalreadytalkoftheerection,inremotemetropolitandistances"abovetheForties,"ofanewOperaHousewhichshouldcom
2、peteincostlinessandsplendourwiththoseofthegreatEuropeancapitals,theworldoffashionwasstillcontenttoreassembleeverywinterintheshabbyredandgoldboxesofthesociableoldAcademy.Conservativescherisheditforbeingsmallandinconvenient,andthuskeepingoutthe"newpeople"
3、whomNewYorkwasbeginningtodreadandyetbedrawnto;andthesentimentalclungtoitforitshistoricassociations,andthemusicalforitsexcellentacoustics,alwayssoproblematicaqualityinhallsbuiltforthehearingofmusic.ItwasMadameNilsson'sfirstappearancethatwinter,andwhatthe
4、dailypresshadalreadylearnedtodescribeas"anexceptionallybrilliantaudience"hadgatheredtohearher,transportedthroughtheslippery,snowystreetsinprivatebroughams,inthespaciousfamilylandau,orinthehumblerbutmoreconvenient"Browncoupe"TocometotheOperainaBrowncoupe
5、wasalmostashonourableawayofarrivingasinone'sowncarriage;anddeparturebythesamemeanshadtheimmenseadvantageofenablingone(withaplayfulallusiontodemocraticprinciples)toscrambleintothefirstBrownconveyanceintheline,insteadofwaitingtillthecold-and-gincongestedn
6、oseofone'sowncoachmangleamedundertheporticooftheAcademy.Itwasoneofthegreatlivery-stableman'smostmasterlyintuitionstohavediscoveredthatAmericanswanttogetawayfromamusementevenmorequicklythantheywanttogettoit.WhenNewlandArcheropenedthedooratthebackoftheclu
7、bboxthecurtainhadjustgoneuponthegardenscene.Therewasnoreasonwhytheyoungmanshouldnothavecomeearlier,forhehaddinedatseven,alonewithhismotherandsister,andhadlingeredafterwardoveracigarintheGothiclibrarywithglazedblack-walnutbookcasesandfinial-toppedchairsw
8、hichwastheonlyroominthehousewhereMrs.Archerallowedsmoking.But,inthefirstplace,NewYorkwasametropolis,andperfectlyawarethatinmetropolisesitwas"notthething"toarriveearlyattheopera;andwhatwasorwasnot"thething"playedapartasimportantin
