Confidence(Pages 1-17)

In Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth, I was first introduced to the main character Miss Lily Bart by her confusing interactions with Mr. Selden.When first reading this book, so many questions came to mind. I wondered about what was driving these characters to act in the manner that they were so easily going about. this unfamiliar man was acting to this lady in such a peculiar way that I can not easily relate or understand. He boldly seems to invite this seemingly beautiful, but still mysterious, woman of elegance directly up into his home. Is this acceptable in this society? How often does this happen? In another way, I am confused at how  oddly it seemed this lady walked about with an air of confidence. Trying to relate, I greatly enjoyed the partaking in the drinking of tea and how it brought the people together. I wish in the states more were brought together by the simple means of drinking of tea in place of the over drinking of alcohol. While overseas, I have been able to witness people brought together by many different customs, I wish America would develop interesting ways as well. I say this because this story so far makes me think of an overseas country simply because of the vast differences between this era and the era we are in in the twenty first century today. I found great interest in the description of Miss Bart as one who could, "Give self-confidence to the embarrassed, but she was not equally sure of being able to embarrass the self-confidence."(page 13) I haven't been able to figure out if she might just be concieted in a certain way that makes her come off as arrogant, or merely full of real confidence that can be out done be one with more real confidence.