wealth was old, understood more of the savoir faire of the game;
and those who, being newly born into wealth and seeing the drift
toward a smarter American life, were beginning to wish they might
shine in it--these last the very young people. The latter were
just beginning to dream of dances at Kinsley's, a stated Kirmess,
and summer diversions of the European kind, but they had not arrived
as yet. The first class, although by far the dullest and most
bovine, was still the most powerful because they were the richest,
money as yet providing the highest standard. The functions which
these people provided were stupid to the verge of distraction;
really they were only the week-day receptions and Sunday-afternoon
calls of Squeedunk and Hohokus raised to the Nth power. The purpose
of the whole matter was to see and be seen. Novelty in either
thought or action was decidedly eschewed. It was, as a matter of
fact, customariness of thought and action and the quintessence of
convention that was desired. The idea of introducing a "play
actress," for instance, as was done occasionally in the East or
in London--never; even a singer or an artist was eyed askance.
One could easily go too far! But if a European prince should have
strayed to Chicago (which he never did) or if an Eastern social
magnate chanced to stay over a train or two, then the topmost
circle of local wealth was prepared to strain itself to the
breaking-point. Cowperwood had sensed all this on his arrival,
but he fancied that if he became rich and powerful enough he and
Aileen, with their fine house to help them, might well be the
leaven which would lighten the whole lump. Unfortunately, Aileen
was too obviously on the qui vive for those opportunities which
might lead to social recognition and equality, if not supremacy.
Like the savage, unorganized for protection and at the mercy of
the horrific caprice of nature, she was almost tremulous at times