第48章

Ilookbacknowwithacuriousremotenessofspirittothosecrowdeddining-roomswiththeirdispersedtablesandtheirinevitablered-shadedlightsandtheunsympathetic，unskillfulwaiters，andthechoiceof“ThigorGlear，Sir？”I’venotdinedinthatway，inthatsortofplace，nowforfiveyears——itmustbequitefiveyears，sospecialisedandnarrowismylifebecoming。

Myuncle’searliermotor-carphasesworkinwiththeseassociations，andtherestandsoutalittlebrightvignetteofthehalloftheMagnificent，Bexhill-on-Sea，andpeopledressedfordinnerandsittingaboutamidstthescarletfurniture——satinandwhite-enameledwoodworkuntilthegongshouldgatherthem；

andmyauntisthere，verymarvelouslywrappedaboutinadustcloakandacage-likeveil，andtherearehotelportersandunder-portersveryalert，andanobsequiousmanager；andthetallyoungladyinblackfromtheofficeissurprisedintoadmiration，andinthemiddleofthepictureismyuncle，makinghisfirstappearanceinthatEsquimauxcostumeIhavealreadymentioned，ashortfigure，compactlyimmense，hugelygoggled，wearingasortofbrownrubberproboscis，andsurmountedbyatable-landofmotoringcap。

Soitwaswerecognisedournewneedsasfreshinvadersoftheupperlevelsofthesocialsystem，andsetourselvesquiteconsciouslytotheacquisitionofStyleandSavoirFaire。Webecamepartofwhatisnowadaysquiteanimportantelementintheconfusionofourworld，thatmultitudeofeconomicallyascendantpeoplewhoarelearninghowtospendmoney。Itismadeupoffinancialpeople，theownersofthebusinessesthatareeatinguptheircompetitors，inventorsofnewsourcesofwealth，suchasourselves；itincludesnearlyallAmericaasoneseesitontheEuropeanstage。Itisavariousmultitudehavingonlythisincommon：theyareallmoving，andparticularlytheirwomankindaremoving，fromconditionsinwhichmeanswereinsistentlyfinite，thingswerefew，andcustomssimple，towardsalimitlessexpenditureandthesphereofattractionofBondStreet，FifthAvenue，andParis。Theirgeneraleffectisoneofprogressiverevolution，oflimitlessrope。

Theydiscoversuddenlyindulgencestheirmoralcodeneverforesawandhasnoprovisionfor，elaborations，ornaments，possessionsbeyondtheirwildestdreams。Withanimmenseastonishedzesttheybeginshoppingbeginasystematicadaptationtoanewlifecrowdedandbrilliantwiththingsshopped，withjewels，maids，butlers，coachmen，electricbroughams，hiredtownandcountryhouses。Theyplungeintoitasoneplungesintoacareer；asaclass，theytalk，think，anddreampossessions。Theirliterature，theirPress，turnsallonthat；immenseillustratedweekliesofunsurpassedmagnificenceguidethemindomesticarchitecture，intheartofowningagarden，intheachievementofthesumptuousinmotor-cars，inanelaboratesportingequipment，inthepurchaseandcontroloftheirestates，intravelandstupendoushotels。Oncetheybegintomovetheygofarandfast。Acquisitionbecomesthesubstanceoftheirlives。

Theyfindaworldorganisedtogratifythatpassion。Inabriefyearorsotheyareconnoisseurs。Theyjoinintheplunderoftheeighteenthcentury，buyrareoldbooks，fineoldpictures，goodoldfurniture。Theirfirstcrudeconceptionofdazzlingsuites