The Buccaneers

At Saratoga during the height of racing season, the men gather at the track while the verandah fills with languid women and girls. Among the women sits Mrs. St. George, who spends her “vacant hours” brooding over how society has deteriorated since her youth. She misses the clear social hierarchies of the past, and as she observes the younger women’s bustles and low-cut gowns, she feels that it is now impossible to distinguish “a lady” from an actress. The members of the Saratoga elite now spend their time in Newport, and this mixed company unsettles Mrs. St. George’s sense of rank.

She considers her daughters’ potential rivals in the quest for advantageous marriages. She is wary of the exuberant Mrs. Elmsworth, whose daughter Lizzy is close in age and beauty to Mrs. St. George’s elder daughter, Virginia. Once, the Elmsworths’ showy wealth inspired awe, but they are much diminished after their losses. Still, Lizzy’s fine looks make her a competitive presence. Mrs. St George dismisses the bony Mabel Elmsworth, then reassures herself that her younger daughter Nan is quite promising.

Suddenly, Mrs. Closson arrives with her daughter, Conchita. Rumor suggests that Mrs. Closson is a Brazilian widow or divorcée, and Mrs. St.