The Age of Innocence · Parallel

01

Easy English

The next evening, old Mr. Sillerton Jackson came to dinner at the Archers' house.

Source English

The next evening old Mr. Sillerton Jackson came to dine with the Archers.

02

Easy English

Mrs. Archer was shy and stayed away from society. But she liked to know everything it did. Her old friend Mr. Sillerton Jackson studied the private lives of his friends. He worked with a collector's patience and the careful method of a man of science.

His sister, Miss Sophy Jackson, lived with him. People who could not get her famous brother invited her instead. Her bits of gossip usefully filled the gaps in his picture.

Source English

Mrs. Archer was a shy woman and shrank from society; but she liked to be well-informed as to its doings. Her old friend Mr. Sillerton Jackson applied to the investigation of his friends' affairs the patience of a collector and the science of a naturalist; and his sister, Miss Sophy Jackson, who lived with him, and was entertained by all the people who could not secure her much-sought-after brother, brought home bits of minor gossip that filled out usefully the gaps in his picture.

03

Easy English

When something happened that Mrs. Archer wanted to understand, she asked Mr. Jackson to dinner. She invited few people, and she and her daughter Janey were an excellent audience. So he usually came himself instead of sending his sister.

If he could choose, he would take the evenings when Newland was out. Not because he disliked him — the two got on well at their club. But the ladies believed his every word, and Newland liked to weigh the evidence.

Source English

Therefore, whenever anything happened that Mrs. Archer wanted to know about, she asked Mr. Jackson to dine; and as she honoured few people with her invitations, and as she and her daughter Janey were an excellent audience, Mr. Jackson usually came himself instead of sending his sister. If he could have dictated all the conditions, he would have chosen the evenings when Newland was out; not because the young man was uncongenial to him (the two got on capitally at their club) but because the old anecdotist sometimes felt, on Newland's part, a tendency to weigh his evidence that the ladies of the family never showed.

04

Easy English

In a perfect world, Mr. Jackson would also ask for better food at Adeline's. But you could not have everything. For as long as anyone could remember, New York was divided into two great groups.

The Mingotts and Mansons and all their wide family cared about eating, clothes, and money. The Archer-Newland-van der Luyden side loved travel, gardens, and the best novels. They looked down on the lower kinds of pleasure.

Source English

Mr. Jackson, if perfection had been attainable on earth, would also have asked that Mrs. Archer's food should be a little better. But then New York, as far back as the mind of man could travel, had been divided into the two great fundamental groups of the Mingotts and Mansons and all their clan, who cared about eating and clothes and money, and the Archer-Newland-van-der-Luyden tribe, who were devoted to travel, horticulture and the best fiction, and looked down on the grosser forms of pleasure.

05

Easy English

At the Lovell Mingotts' you got wild duck, costly rich dishes, and fine old wines. At Adeline Archer's you could talk about mountain views in the Alps and the novel "The Marble Faun." And luckily the Archer Madeira wine once sailed round the Cape.

So a friendly note from Mrs. Archer always brought the same answer. Mr. Jackson would say, "My last dinner at the Lovell Mingotts' made me ill. Adeline's plain cooking will do me good."

Source English

You couldn't have everything, after all. If you dined with the Lovell Mingotts you got canvas-back and terrapin and vintage wines; at Adeline Archer's you could talk about Alpine scenery and "The Marble Faun"; and luckily the Archer Madeira had gone round the Cape. Therefore when a friendly summons came from Mrs. Archer, Mr. Jackson, who was a true eclectic, would usually say to his sister: "I've been a little gouty since my last dinner at the Lovell Mingotts'--it will do me good to diet at Adeline's."

06

Easy English

Mrs. Archer, a widow for many years, lived with her son and daughter in West Twenty-eighth Street. The upper floor belonged to Newland. The two women pressed themselves into smaller rooms below.

Mother and daughter shared every taste in perfect peace. They grew ferns, soft green plants, in Wardian cases, small glass plant boxes. They made lace, a fine cloth like a net. They sewed wool patterns and collected old American plates from Revolution days.

They took the magazine "Good Words," and read Ouida's novels for their Italian air. They liked best the ones about country life, though society novels were easier for them to understand.

They spoke hard words about Dickens, who, they said, "never drew a gentleman." Thackeray, they felt, knew the great world less well than Bulwer. But people were starting to call Bulwer old-fashioned.

A beautiful view was what both ladies chiefly looked for when they traveled abroad. Buildings and paintings, they believed, were subjects for men — mostly learned men who read Ruskin.

Mrs. Archer was born a Newland, and mother and daughter looked as alike as sisters. Both were, as people said, "true Newlands" — tall and pale, with shoulders bent a little forward. They had long noses, sweet smiles, and the soft fading fineness of ladies in old paintings by Reynolds.

Source English

Mrs. Archer, who had long been a widow, lived with her son and daughter in West Twenty-eighth Street. An upper floor was dedicated to Newland, and the two women squeezed themselves into narrower quarters below. In an unclouded harmony of tastes and interests they cultivated ferns in Wardian cases, made macramé lace and wool embroidery on linen, collected American revolutionary glazed ware, subscribed to "Good Words," and read Ouida's novels for the sake of the Italian atmosphere. (They preferred those about peasant life, because of the descriptions of scenery and the pleasanter sentiments, though in general they liked novels about people in society, whose motives and habits were more comprehensible, spoke severely of Dickens, who "had never drawn a gentleman," and considered Thackeray less at home in the great world than Bulwer--who, however, was beginning to be thought old-fashioned.) Mrs. and Miss Archer were both great lovers of scenery. It was what they principally sought and admired on their occasional travels abroad; considering architecture and painting as subjects for men, and chiefly for learned persons who read Ruskin. Mrs. Archer had been born a Newland, and mother and daughter, who were as like as sisters, were both, as people said, "true Newlands"; tall, pale, and slightly round-shouldered, with long noses, sweet smiles and a kind of drooping distinction like that in certain faded Reynolds portraits. Their physical resemblance would have been complete if an elderly embonpoint had not stretched Mrs. Archer's black brocade, while Miss Archer's brown and purple poplins hung, as the years went on, more and more slackly on her virgin frame.

07

Easy English

Their bodies matched in every way but one. Age was making Mrs. Archer wide, and her rich black dress stretched tight over her. Janey stayed thin. Her brown and purple dresses hung looser, year after year, on her unmarried body.

In their minds, Newland knew, they were less alike than they seemed. Long years together gave them the same words and turns of speech. To offer an opinion of her own, each began "Mother thinks" or "Janey thinks."

But under this they were different. Mrs. Archer was calm, without imagination, and rested easily in the world she knew. Janey was full of sudden dreams and strange ideas. They rose from a hidden spring of feeling about love, which she kept pressed down.

Source English

Mentally, the likeness between them, as Newland was aware, was less complete than their identical mannerisms often made it appear. The long habit of living together in mutually dependent intimacy had given them the same vocabulary, and the same habit of beginning their phrases "Mother thinks" or "Janey thinks," according as one or the other wished to advance an opinion of her own; but in reality, while Mrs. Archer's serene unimaginativeness rested easily in the accepted and familiar, Janey was subject to starts and aberrations of fancy welling up from springs of suppressed romance.

08

Easy English

Mother and daughter loved each other deeply and honored their son and brother. Archer loved them back tenderly. They admired him far too much, and he took a secret pleasure in it. So his love felt a little guilty, and it never judged them.

After all, he thought, it is good when a man's house respects his authority — his right to rule at home. Sometimes his sense of humor questioned that right.

Source English

Mother and daughter adored each other and revered their son and brother; and Archer loved them with a tenderness made compunctious and uncritical by the sense of their exaggerated admiration, and by his secret satisfaction in it. After all, he thought it a good thing for a man to have his authority respected in his own house, even if his sense of humour sometimes made him question the force of his mandate.

09

Easy English

This evening, the young man felt sure that Mr. Jackson wanted him elsewhere. But he had his own reasons for staying home.

Source English

On this occasion the young man was very sure that Mr. Jackson would rather have had him dine out; but he had his own reasons for not doing so.

10

Easy English

Of course old Jackson wanted to talk about Ellen Olenska. Of course Mrs. Archer and Janey wanted to hear him. But everyone now knew he would marry into the Mingott family. His presence made all three a little uncomfortable. He waited, amused, to see how they would get around it.

Source English

Of course old Jackson wanted to talk about Ellen Olenska, and of course Mrs. Archer and Janey wanted to hear what he had to tell. All three would be slightly embarrassed by Newland's presence, now that his prospective relation to the Mingott clan had been made known; and the young man waited with an amused curiosity to see how they would turn the difficulty.

11

Easy English

They came at it sideways. They began with Mrs. Lemuel Struthers.

Source English

They began, obliquely, by talking about Mrs. Lemuel Struthers.

12

Easy English

"It is a pity the Beauforts asked her," Mrs. Archer said gently. "But then Regina always does what he tells her. And Beaufort—"

Source English

"It's a pity the Beauforts asked her," Mrs. Archer said gently. "But then Regina always does what he tells her; and Beaufort--"

13

Easy English

"Certain fine points escape Beaufort," said Mr. Jackson. He was studying the fish on his plate. For the thousandth time he wondered why Mrs. Archer's cook always burned the fish eggs black.

Source English

"Certain nuances escape Beaufort," said Mr. Jackson, cautiously inspecting the broiled shad, and wondering for the thousandth time why Mrs. Archer's cook always burnt the roe to a cinder. (Newland, who had long shared his wonder, could always detect it in the older man's expression of melancholy disapproval.)

14

Easy English

"Oh, of course. Beaufort is a vulgar man," said Mrs. Archer.

"My grandfather Newland always said to my mother: 'Whatever you do, do not let that fellow Beaufort meet the girls.' But at least he has spent his life among gentlemen. In England too, they say. It is all a great mystery—"

She glanced at Janey and stopped. Both of them knew every fold of the Beaufort mystery. But in public Mrs. Archer held that the story was not fit for unmarried ears.

Source English

"Oh, necessarily; Beaufort is a vulgar man," said Mrs. Archer. "My grandfather Newland always used to say to my mother: 'Whatever you do, don't let that fellow Beaufort be introduced to the girls.' But at least he's had the advantage of associating with gentlemen; in England too, they say. It's all very mysterious--" She glanced at Janey and paused. She and Janey knew every fold of the Beaufort mystery, but in public Mrs. Archer continued to assume that the subject was not one for the unmarried.

15

Easy English

"But this Mrs. Struthers," she went on. "What did you say she was, Sillerton?"

Source English

"But this Mrs. Struthers," Mrs. Archer continued; "what did you say she was, Sillerton?"

16

Easy English

"Out of a mine — or rather, out of the drinking-house at the top of the mine. Then she toured New England with the Living Wax-Works, a show of human figures. After the police closed the show, they say she lived—" Mr. Jackson glanced at Janey in his turn.

Janey's eyes grew round and wide. For her, Mrs. Struthers's past still had holes.

Source English

"Out of a mine: or rather out of the saloon at the head of the pit. Then with Living Wax-Works, touring New England. After the police broke that up, they say she lived--" Mr. Jackson in his turn glanced at Janey, whose eyes began to bulge from under her prominent lids. There were still hiatuses for her in Mrs. Struthers's past.

17

Easy English

"Then," Mr. Jackson continued, "Lemuel Struthers came along. They say his advertising man put the girl's head on the big shoe-polish pictures. Her hair is black, you know — the Egyptian style. Anyhow, he — eventually — married her."

Archer also saw a second thought behind his eyes. It was about the butler, the chief servant of the house. Why did no one tell him never to cut cucumbers, a cool green vegetable, with a steel knife?

He said "eventually" slowly, with weight on each part of the word. It said more than whole books.

Source English

"Then," Mr. Jackson continued (and Archer saw he was wondering why no one had told the butler never to slice cucumbers with a steel knife), "then Lemuel Struthers came along. They say his advertiser used the girl's head for the shoe-polish posters; her hair's intensely black, you know--the Egyptian style. Anyhow, he--eventually--married her." There were volumes of innuendo in the way the "eventually" was spaced, and each syllable given its due stress.

18

Easy English

"Oh, well. The way things go nowadays, it hardly matters," said Mrs. Archer in a flat voice.

The ladies were not really interested in Mrs. Struthers. Ellen Olenska was too fresh and too exciting a subject. Mrs. Archer only named Mrs. Struthers so that she could soon ask: "And Newland's new cousin — Countess Olenska? Was she at the ball too?"

Source English

"Oh, well--at the pass we've come to nowadays, it doesn't matter," said Mrs. Archer indifferently. The ladies were not really interested in Mrs. Struthers just then; the subject of Ellen Olenska was too fresh and too absorbing to them. Indeed, Mrs. Struthers's name had been introduced by Mrs. Archer only that she might presently be able to say: "And Newland's new cousin--Countess Olenska? Was she at the ball too?"

19

Easy English

Archer heard the small sharp edge in "Newland's new cousin," and expected it. Mrs. Archer rarely showed much pleasure in human events. But she was truly glad about her son's engagement.

"Especially after that silly business with Mrs. Rushworth," she said to Janey. She meant an old love story of Newland's. To him it once seemed a mark his soul would always carry.

Source English

There was a faint touch of sarcasm in the reference to her son, and Archer knew it and had expected it. Even Mrs. Archer, who was seldom unduly pleased with human events, had been altogether glad of her son's engagement. ("Especially after that silly business with Mrs. Rushworth," as she had remarked to Janey, alluding to what had once seemed to Newland a tragedy of which his soul would always bear the scar.)

20

Easy English

There was no better match in New York than May Welland, from whatever side you looked. Of course such a marriage was only what Newland deserved. But young men are foolish, and no one can guess what they will do. And some women set traps for them without shame.

So to his mother it seemed a wonder. Her only son sailed safely past the Siren Isle. In the old stories, its singing sea-women pulled sailors to their deaths. Now he was coming home to port, to a quiet, blameless married life.

Source English

There was no better match in New York than May Welland, look at the question from whatever point you chose. Of course such a marriage was only what Newland was entitled to; but young men are so foolish and incalculable--and some women so ensnaring and unscrupulous--that it was nothing short of a miracle to see one's only son safe past the Siren Isle and in the haven of a blameless domesticity.

21

Easy English

Mrs. Archer felt all this, and her son knew it. But he also knew that the early news of his engagement troubled her — or rather, its cause did. That was why he stayed at home. On the whole he was a kind and easy master.

"It is not that I am against the Mingotts' family spirit," she complained to Janey. "But why should Newland's engagement be mixed up with the comings and goings of that Olenska woman? I do not see it." Only Janey ever saw these small slips from perfect sweetness.

Source English

All this Mrs. Archer felt, and her son knew she felt; but he knew also that she had been perturbed by the premature announcement of his engagement, or rather by its cause; and it was for that reason--because on the whole he was a tender and indulgent master--that he had stayed at home that evening. "It's not that I don't approve of the Mingotts' esprit de corps; but why Newland's engagement should be mixed up with that Olenska woman's comings and goings I don't see," Mrs. Archer grumbled to Janey, the only witness of her slight lapses from perfect sweetness.

22

Easy English

At the visit to Mrs. Welland she behaved beautifully — and in beautiful behavior no one could beat her. But Newland knew what lay under it, and his future wife surely guessed. All through the visit, she and Janey nervously watched the door, afraid that Madame Olenska might walk in.

When mother and son left the house together, she allowed herself one remark. "I am thankful that Augusta Welland received us alone," she said.

Source English

She had behaved beautifully--and in beautiful behaviour she was unsurpassed--during the call on Mrs. Welland; but Newland knew (and his betrothed doubtless guessed) that all through the visit she and Janey were nervously on the watch for Madame Olenska's possible intrusion; and when they left the house together she had permitted herself to say to her son: "I'm thankful that Augusta Welland received us alone."

23

Easy English

These signs of an inner storm moved Archer all the more. He too felt the Mingotts were going a little too far.

But their family code was strict. Mother and son must never speak of the thing that filled both their minds. So he only said: "Oh, well. When a man gets engaged, there is always a round of family parties to get through. The sooner it is over, the better."

At this his mother only pressed her lips together. Her grey velvet bonnet, a soft hat tied under the chin, carried small frost-white grapes. A lace veil, a thin face covering, hung down from it.

Source English

These indications of inward disturbance moved Archer the more that he too felt that the Mingotts had gone a little too far. But, as it was against all the rules of their code that the mother and son should ever allude to what was uppermost in their thoughts, he simply replied: "Oh, well, there's always a phase of family parties to be gone through when one gets engaged, and the sooner it's over the better." At which his mother merely pursed her lips under the lace veil that hung down from her grey velvet bonnet trimmed with frosted grapes.

24

Easy English

That evening, he felt, she would take her fair and lawful payment. She would lead Mr. Jackson on, and on, about the Countess Olenska. His public duty to the Mingott family was done. So he did not mind private talk about the lady. Only, the subject was starting to bore him.

Source English

Her revenge, he felt--her lawful revenge--would be to "draw" Mr. Jackson that evening on the Countess Olenska; and, having publicly done his duty as a future member of the Mingott clan, the young man had no objection to hearing the lady discussed in private--except that the subject was already beginning to bore him.

25

Easy English

The sad-faced butler offered the meat, barely warm, with a doubting look. Mr. Jackson's own look was just as doubting, but he took a piece. He quietly smelled the sauce and refused it. He looked lost and hungry. Archer thought: he will probably finish his meal on Ellen Olenska.

Source English

Mr. Jackson had helped himself to a slice of the tepid filet which the mournful butler had handed him with a look as sceptical as his own, and had rejected the mushroom sauce after a scarcely perceptible sniff. He looked baffled and hungry, and Archer reflected that he would probably finish his meal on Ellen Olenska.

26

Easy English

Mr. Jackson leaned back and glanced up at the family paintings. Archers, Newlands, and van der Luydens hung in dark frames on the dark walls, lit by candles.

Source English

Mr. Jackson leaned back in his chair, and glanced up at the candlelit Archers, Newlands and van der Luydens hanging in dark frames on the dark walls.

27

Easy English

"Ah, how your grandfather Archer loved a good dinner, my dear Newland!" he said. His eyes rested on the painting of a round, full-chested young man. The man wore a blue coat and a stiff high neck-cloth. Behind him stood a country house with tall white posts.

"Well — well — well ... I wonder what he would say to all these foreign marriages!"

Source English

"Ah, how your grandfather Archer loved a good dinner, my dear Newland!" he said, his eyes on the portrait of a plump full-chested young man in a stock and a blue coat, with a view of a white-columned country-house behind him. "Well--well--well ... I wonder what he would have said to all these foreign marriages!"

28

Easy English

Mrs. Archer ignored the hint about her family's cooking. Mr. Jackson went on with slow care: "No. She was not at the ball."

Source English

Mrs. Archer ignored the allusion to the ancestral cuisine and Mr. Jackson continued with deliberation: "No, she was not at the ball."

29

Easy English

"Ah—" said Mrs. Archer softly. Her tone added: "At least she knew that much about proper behavior."

Source English

"Ah--" Mrs. Archer murmured, in a tone that implied: "She had that decency."

30

Easy English

"Perhaps the Beauforts do not know her," said Janey. She looked innocent, and meant a little harm.

Source English

"Perhaps the Beauforts don't know her," Janey suggested, with her artless malice.

31

Easy English

Mr. Jackson paused, like a man tasting a fine Madeira that was not there. "Mrs. Beaufort may not know her," he said. "But Beaufort certainly does. The whole of New York saw her this afternoon, walking up Fifth Avenue with him."

Source English

Mr. Jackson gave a faint sip, as if he had been tasting invisible Madeira. "Mrs. Beaufort may not--but Beaufort certainly does, for she was seen walking up Fifth Avenue this afternoon with him by the whole of New York."

32

Easy English

"Mercy—" said Mrs. Archer in a low, pained voice. Clearly it was useless to expect fine feeling from foreigners.

Source English

"Mercy--" moaned Mrs. Archer, evidently perceiving the uselessness of trying to ascribe the actions of foreigners to a sense of delicacy.

33

Easy English

"I wonder if she wears a round hat or a bonnet in the afternoon," said Janey. "At the Opera, I know, she wore dark blue velvet, perfectly plain and flat — like a night-dress."

Source English

"I wonder if she wears a round hat or a bonnet in the afternoon," Janey speculated. "At the Opera I know she had on dark blue velvet, perfectly plain and flat--like a night-gown."

34

Easy English

"Janey!" said her mother. Miss Archer blushed and tried to look bold.

Source English

"Janey!" said her mother; and Miss Archer blushed and tried to look audacious.

35

Easy English

"At any rate, it showed better taste not to go to the ball," Mrs. Archer continued.

Source English

"It was, at any rate, in better taste not to go to the ball," Mrs. Archer continued.

36

Easy English

Something in her son wanted to push against her. "I do not think taste had anything to do with it," he said. "May told me she meant to go. Then she decided that her dress was not smart enough."

Source English

A spirit of perversity moved her son to rejoin: "I don't think it was a question of taste with her. May said she meant to go, and then decided that the dress in question wasn't smart enough."

37

Easy English

Mrs. Archer smiled, for this confirmed her own guess. "Poor Ellen," she said simply.

Then she added kindly: "We must always remember the strange raising that Medora Manson gave her. What can you expect of a girl who was allowed to wear black satin at her coming-out ball?"

Source English

Mrs. Archer smiled at this confirmation of her inference. "Poor Ellen," she simply remarked; adding compassionately: "We must always bear in mind what an eccentric bringing-up Medora Manson gave her. What can you expect of a girl who was allowed to wear black satin at her coming-out ball?"

38

Easy English

"Ah — don't I remember her in it!" said Mr. Jackson. Then he added: "Poor girl!" He spoke like a man who enjoyed the memory. Even then, he understood what that black dress promised.

Source English

"Ah--don't I remember her in it!" said Mr. Jackson; adding: "Poor girl!" in the tone of one who, while enjoying the memory, had fully understood at the time what the sight portended.

39

Easy English

"It is odd," said Janey, "that she kept such an ugly name as Ellen. I would change it to Elaine." She glanced around the table to see the effect.

Source English

"It's odd," Janey remarked, "that she should have kept such an ugly name as Ellen. I should have changed it to Elaine." She glanced about the table to see the effect of this.

40

Easy English

Her brother laughed. "Why Elaine?"

Source English

Her brother laughed. "Why Elaine?"

41

Easy English

"I don't know. It sounds more — more Polish," said Janey, blushing.

Source English

"I don't know; it sounds more--more Polish," said Janey, blushing.

42

Easy English

"It sounds like a name that asks to be noticed," said Mrs. Archer in a distant voice. "And that can hardly be what she wishes."

Source English

"It sounds more conspicuous; and that can hardly be what she wishes," said Mrs. Archer distantly.

43

Easy English

"Why not?" her son broke in, ready to argue. "Why should she not be noticed, if she chooses? Why should she creep about as if the shame was hers?"

"She is 'poor Ellen' because of her terrible marriage, certainly. But must she hide her head like the guilty one?"

Source English

"Why not?" broke in her son, growing suddenly argumentative. "Why shouldn't she be conspicuous if she chooses? Why should she slink about as if it were she who had disgraced herself? She's 'poor Ellen' certainly, because she had the bad luck to make a wretched marriage; but I don't see that that's a reason for hiding her head as if she were the culprit."

44

Easy English

"That, I suppose," said Mr. Jackson slowly, "is the line the Mingotts mean to take."

Source English

"That, I suppose," said Mr. Jackson, speculatively, "is the line the Mingotts mean to take."

45

Easy English

The young man reddened. "I did not wait for their signal, if that is what you mean, sir. Madame Olenska has had an unhappy life. That does not put her outside good society."

Source English

The young man reddened. "I didn't have to wait for their cue, if that's what you mean, sir. Madame Olenska has had an unhappy life: that doesn't make her an outcast."

46

Easy English

"There are stories going around—" began Mr. Jackson, with a glance at Janey.

Source English

"There are rumours," began Mr. Jackson, glancing at Janey.

47

Easy English

"Oh, I know — the secretary," the young man cut in. "Nonsense, mother — Janey is grown up. People say the secretary helped her get away from her cruel husband, who kept her almost as a prisoner. Well, what if he did? I hope every man among us would do the same in such a case."

Source English

"Oh, I know: the secretary," the young man took him up. "Nonsense, mother; Janey's grown-up. They say, don't they," he went on, "that the secretary helped her to get away from her brute of a husband, who kept her practically a prisoner? Well, what if he did? I hope there isn't a man among us who wouldn't have done the same in such a case."

48

Easy English

Mr. Jackson glanced over his shoulder at the sad butler. "Perhaps ... that sauce ... just a little, after all—" he said, and he helped himself. Then he said: "I am told she is looking for a house. She means to live here."

Source English

Mr. Jackson glanced over his shoulder to say to the sad butler: "Perhaps ... that sauce ... just a little, after all--"; then, having helped himself, he remarked: "I'm told she's looking for a house. She means to live here."

49

Easy English

"I hear she means to get a divorce," said Janey boldly.

Source English

"I hear she means to get a divorce," said Janey boldly.

50

Easy English

"I hope she will!" Archer cried.

Source English

"I hope she will!" Archer exclaimed.

51

Easy English

The word fell like a bomb in the pure, calm air of the Archer dining-room. Mrs. Archer raised her fine eyebrows. Their special curve meant, "The butler!"

The young man himself knew not to discuss such private matters in public. So he quickly turned the talk to his visit to old Mrs. Mingott.

Source English

The word had fallen like a bombshell in the pure and tranquil atmosphere of the Archer dining-room. Mrs. Archer raised her delicate eye-brows in the particular curve that signified: "The butler--" and the young man, himself mindful of the bad taste of discussing such intimate matters in public, hastily branched off into an account of his visit to old Mrs. Mingott.

52

Easy English

After dinner, by a custom older than memory, the ladies drew their long silk dresses up to the sitting room. There they sat beside a Carcel lamp, a fine oil lamp with patterns cut in its glass. The gentlemen stayed downstairs to smoke.

The two women faced each other across a rosewood work-table with a green silk bag under it. Each worked at one end of a long band of cloth with field flowers on it. It was for an extra chair — an "occasional" chair — in the sitting room of the future Mrs. Newland Archer.

Source English

After dinner, according to immemorial custom, Mrs. Archer and Janey trailed their long silk draperies up to the drawing-room, where, while the gentlemen smoked below stairs, they sat beside a Carcel lamp with an engraved globe, facing each other across a rosewood work-table with a green silk bag under it, and stitched at the two ends of a tapestry band of field-flowers destined to adorn an "occasional" chair in the drawing-room of young Mrs. Newland Archer.

53

Easy English

While this quiet rite went on upstairs, Archer led Mr. Jackson to the Gothic library. He settled him into an armchair near the fire and handed him a cigar.

Mr. Jackson sank into the armchair, well pleased. He lit it with perfect trust — Newland bought the cigars. Then he stretched his thin old legs toward the coals.

"You say the secretary only helped her to get away, my dear fellow?" he said. "Well, he was still helping her a year later. Somebody met the two of them living at Lausanne together."

Source English

While this rite was in progress in the drawing-room, Archer settled Mr. Jackson in an armchair near the fire in the Gothic library and handed him a cigar. Mr. Jackson sank into the armchair with satisfaction, lit his cigar with perfect confidence (it was Newland who bought them), and stretching his thin old ankles to the coals, said: "You say the secretary merely helped her to get away, my dear fellow? Well, he was still helping her a year later, then; for somebody met 'em living at Lausanne together."

54

Easy English

Newland reddened. "Living together? Well, why not? Who had the right to make her life over, if she did not have that right herself?"

He went on, hot with anger. "I am sick of the hypocrisy — this saying of one thing and doing of another. It would bury alive a woman of her age, only because her husband prefers to live with harlots." Harlots were women who sold their love for money.

Source English

Newland reddened. "Living together? Well, why not? Who had the right to make her life over if she hadn't? I'm sick of the hypocrisy that would bury alive a woman of her age if her husband prefers to live with harlots."

55

Easy English

He stopped and turned away angrily to light his own cigar. "Women ought to be free — as free as we are," he said. The words were a discovery, new even to himself. He was too angry to measure how far they might carry him.

Source English

He stopped and turned away angrily to light his cigar. "Women ought to be free--as free as we are," he declared, making a discovery of which he was too irritated to measure the terrific consequences.

56

Easy English

Mr. Sillerton Jackson stretched his legs nearer to the coals. He made a long, low sound through his teeth, like a dry, unkind laugh.

Source English

Mr. Sillerton Jackson stretched his ankles nearer the coals and emitted a sardonic whistle.

57

Easy English

"Well," he said after a pause, "it seems that Count Olenski takes your view. For I never heard that he did the smallest thing to get his wife back."

Source English

"Well," he said after a pause, "apparently Count Olenski takes your view; for I never heard of his having lifted a finger to get his wife back."