Easy English ↔ Source English
Chapter 7
Source paragraphs anchor each row. Semantically matched easy-English paragraphs stay grouped beside the source they rewrite.
Easy-English paragraphs are matched to the source by meaning; numbering follows the source text. 1 source anchor has no easy-English match.
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01
Easy English
Mrs. Henry van der Luyden listened in silence to her cousin, Mrs. Archer.
Source English
Mrs. Henry van der Luyden listened in silence to her cousin Mrs. Archer's narrative.
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02
Easy English
People knew all this in advance. Mrs. van der Luyden was always silent. By nature and training, she promised nothing. But she was very kind to the people she really liked.
Even so, a cold feeling fell on visitors to the high, white-walled room on Madison Avenue. The pale old armchairs were clearly uncovered just for this visit. Thin cloth still covered the gold figures above the fireplace. It covered the carved frame of "Lady Angelica du Lac," a Gainsborough painting.
Source English
It was all very well to tell yourself in advance that Mrs. van der Luyden was always silent, and that, though non-committal by nature and training, she was very kind to the people she really liked. Even personal experience of these facts was not always a protection from the chill that descended on one in the high-ceilinged white-walled Madison Avenue drawing-room, with the pale brocaded armchairs so obviously uncovered for the occasion, and the gauze still veiling the ormolu mantel ornaments and the beautiful old carved frame of Gainsborough's "Lady Angelica du Lac."
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03
Easy English
Mrs. van der Luyden's own picture, by Huntington, faced that lovely lady of the family's past. In it she wore black velvet and Venetian lace. People called it "as fine as a Cabanel," the famous French painter. Twenty years on, they still said it looked just like her.
Indeed, the woman under it could be that fair, still young lady's twin sister. The painted lady leaned on a gold armchair, before a heavy green cloth.
Mrs. van der Luyden still wore black velvet and lace when she met society. Or rather, society came to her doors, for she never dined out.
Her fair hair was lighter now, but not grey. She still parted it in flat points on her forehead. Her straight nose, between pale blue eyes, was only a little thinner than in the picture.
To Newland Archer, she seemed preserved, kept unchanged in a way that was a little terrible. Her perfectly correct, airless life had done it. She was like a body caught in a glacier, a great slow river of ice. Such bodies stay pink for years, dead but looking alive.
Source English
Mrs. van der Luyden's portrait by Huntington (in black velvet and Venetian point) faced that of her lovely ancestress. It was generally considered "as fine as a Cabanel," and, though twenty years had elapsed since its execution, was still "a perfect likeness." Indeed the Mrs. van der Luyden who sat beneath it listening to Mrs. Archer might have been the twin-sister of the fair and still youngish woman drooping against a gilt armchair before a green rep curtain. Mrs. van der Luyden still wore black velvet and Venetian point when she went into society--or rather (since she never dined out) when she threw open her own doors to receive it. Her fair hair, which had faded without turning grey, was still parted in flat overlapping points on her forehead, and the straight nose that divided her pale blue eyes was only a little more pinched about the nostrils than when the portrait had been painted. She always, indeed, struck Newland Archer as having been rather gruesomely preserved in the airless atmosphere of a perfectly irreproachable existence, as bodies caught in glaciers keep for years a rosy life-in-death.
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04
Easy English
Like all his family, Archer respected and admired her. But her gentle, bending sweetness was harder to come near than his mother's fierce old aunts. Those women never married, and they said "No" on principle, before they heard the question.
Source English
Like all his family, he esteemed and admired Mrs. van der Luyden; but he found her gentle bending sweetness less approachable than the grimness of some of his mother's old aunts, fierce spinsters who said "No" on principle before they knew what they were going to be asked.
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05
Easy English
Mrs. van der Luyden's manner said neither yes nor no. It seemed to lean toward kindness. Then her thin lips would move into the shadow of a smile. Her answer was almost always the same: "I must first talk this over with my husband."
Source English
Mrs. van der Luyden's attitude said neither yes nor no, but always appeared to incline to clemency till her thin lips, wavering into the shadow of a smile, made the almost invariable reply: "I shall first have to talk this over with my husband."
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06
Easy English
She and her husband were so exactly alike that Archer often wondered. After forty years of closest marriage, they seemed like one person. How could two such joined minds separate enough to talk anything over?
But neither ever decided anything without this strange private meeting. So Mrs. Archer and her son laid out their case, and waited for the familiar phrase.
Source English
She and Mr. van der Luyden were so exactly alike that Archer often wondered how, after forty years of the closest conjugality, two such merged identities ever separated themselves enough for anything as controversial as a talking-over. But as neither had ever reached a decision without prefacing it by this mysterious conclave, Mrs. Archer and her son, having set forth their case, waited resignedly for the familiar phrase.
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07
Easy English
Mrs. van der Luyden almost never surprised anyone. Now she surprised them. She reached her long hand toward the bell-rope.
Source English
Mrs. van der Luyden, however, who had seldom surprised any one, now surprised them by reaching her long hand toward the bell-rope.
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08
Easy English
"I think," she said, "I should like Henry to hear what you have told me."
Source English
"I think," she said, "I should like Henry to hear what you have told me."
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09
Easy English
A footman came in. She spoke to him seriously. "If Mr. van der Luyden has finished reading the newspaper, please ask him to be kind enough to come."
Source English
A footman appeared, to whom she gravely added: "If Mr. van der Luyden has finished reading the newspaper, please ask him to be kind enough to come."
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10
Easy English
She said "reading the newspaper" in a special tone. A minister's wife might say in that tone, "He is leading a meeting of the government." There was no pride in it. Lifelong habit, and everyone around her, taught her to see his smallest act as almost religious.
Source English
She said "reading the newspaper" in the tone in which a Minister's wife might have said: "Presiding at a Cabinet meeting"--not from any arrogance of mind, but because the habit of a life-time, and the attitude of her friends and relations, had led her to consider Mr. van der Luyden's least gesture as having an almost sacerdotal importance.
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11
Easy English
Her quick action showed she too found the case pressing. But she must not seem to promise anything. She added, with her sweetest look, "Henry always enjoys seeing you, dear Adeline. And he will want to give Newland his good wishes."
Source English
Her promptness of action showed that she considered the case as pressing as Mrs. Archer; but, lest she should be thought to have committed herself in advance, she added, with the sweetest look: "Henry always enjoys seeing you, dear Adeline; and he will wish to congratulate Newland."
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12
Easy English
The double doors opened again, slowly and seriously. Between them appeared Mr. Henry van der Luyden, tall and thin. He wore a frock coat, the long formal coat of a gentleman.
He had faded fair hair, and a straight nose like his wife's. His eyes had the same frozen gentleness, but in pale grey instead of pale blue.
Source English
The double doors had solemnly reopened and between them appeared Mr. Henry van der Luyden, tall, spare and frock-coated, with faded fair hair, a straight nose like his wife's and the same look of frozen gentleness in eyes that were merely pale grey instead of pale blue.
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13
Easy English
He greeted Mrs. Archer warmly, like a cousin. In a low voice, he gave Newland good wishes, almost in his wife's words. Then he sat down, simply, like a ruling king.
Source English
Mr. van der Luyden greeted Mrs. Archer with cousinly affability, proffered to Newland low-voiced congratulations couched in the same language as his wife's, and seated himself in one of the brocade armchairs with the simplicity of a reigning sovereign.
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14
Easy English
"I had just finished reading the Times," he said, laying his long finger-tips together. "In town my mornings are so full. I find it easier to read the newspapers after lunch."
Source English
"I had just finished reading the Times," he said, laying his long finger-tips together. "In town my mornings are so much occupied that I find it more convenient to read the newspapers after luncheon."
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15
Easy English
"Ah, there is much to say for that plan," Mrs. Archer answered. "My uncle Egmont used to say the morning papers were less upsetting after dinner."
Source English
"Ah, there's a great deal to be said for that plan--indeed I think my uncle Egmont used to say he found it less agitating not to read the morning papers till after dinner," said Mrs. Archer responsively.
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16
Easy English
"Yes. My good father hated hurry. But now we live in a constant rush," said Mr. van der Luyden in a slow, measured voice. He looked with quiet pleasure around the large covered room. To Archer, it was a complete picture of its owners.
Source English
"Yes: my good father abhorred hurry. But now we live in a constant rush," said Mr. van der Luyden in measured tones, looking with pleasant deliberation about the large shrouded room which to Archer was so complete an image of its owners.
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17
Easy English
"But I hope you really finished your reading, Henry?" his wife broke in.
Source English
"But I hope you had finished your reading, Henry?" his wife interposed.
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18
Easy English
"Quite, quite," he said, calming her.
Source English
"Quite--quite," he reassured her.
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19
Easy English
"Then I should like Adeline to tell you—"
Source English
"Then I should like Adeline to tell you--"
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20
Easy English
No easy-English paragraph was aligned to this source anchor.
Source English
"Oh, it's really Newland's story," said his mother smiling; and proceeded to rehearse once more the monstrous tale of the affront inflicted on Mrs. Lovell Mingott.
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21
Easy English
"Oh, it is really Newland's story," said his mother, smiling. She told, once more, the shocking story of the wrong done to Mrs. Lovell Mingott. "Of course," she ended, "Augusta Welland and Mary Mingott both felt you and Henry ought to know. Especially because of Newland's engagement."
Source English
"Of course," she ended, "Augusta Welland and Mary Mingott both felt that, especially in view of Newland's engagement, you and Henry ought to know."
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22
Easy English
"Ah—" said Mr. van der Luyden, and drew a deep breath.
Source English
"Ah--" said Mr. van der Luyden, drawing a deep breath.
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23
Easy English
In the silence, the great gold clock sounded as loud as a great gun, firing once a minute.
Archer watched the two thin, faded figures with wonder and respect. They sat side by side, straight and still, as if they ruled for a far-away king. They were voices of an old family authority, the power to judge and decide for all. Fate made them carry it.
But they wanted a simple, hidden life at Skuytercliff, their place in the country. There they could dig invisible weeds, unwanted plants, out of the perfect grass. In the evenings they could play Patience, a quiet card game.
Source English
There was a silence during which the tick of the monumental ormolu clock on the white marble mantelpiece grew as loud as the boom of a minute-gun. Archer contemplated with awe the two slender faded figures, seated side by side in a kind of viceregal rigidity, mouthpieces of some remote ancestral authority which fate compelled them to wield, when they would so much rather have lived in simplicity and seclusion, digging invisible weeds out of the perfect lawns of Skuytercliff, and playing Patience together in the evenings.
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24
Easy English
Mr. van der Luyden spoke first.
Source English
Mr. van der Luyden was the first to speak.
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25
Easy English
"You really think this came from some—some planned act of Lawrence Lefferts's?" he asked, turning to Archer.
Source English
"You really think this is due to some--some intentional interference of Lawrence Lefferts's?" he enquired, turning to Archer.
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26
Easy English
"I am certain of it, sir," Archer answered. "Larry has been behaving worse than usual, if cousin Louisa will forgive my saying it. He is having a love affair with the village postmaster's wife, or some such woman."
He went on, "Whenever poor Gertrude Lefferts begins to suspect something, Larry is afraid of trouble. So he raises a storm like this, to show how deeply moral he is. He shouts that it is rude to invite his wife to meet people he does not want her to know."
"He is simply using Madame Olenska as a lightning-rod, the rod that draws lightning away from a house," Archer said. "I have seen him try this trick before."
Source English
"I'm certain of it, sir. Larry has been going it rather harder than usual lately--if cousin Louisa won't mind my mentioning it--having rather a stiff affair with the postmaster's wife in their village, or some one of that sort; and whenever poor Gertrude Lefferts begins to suspect anything, and he's afraid of trouble, he gets up a fuss of this kind, to show how awfully moral he is, and talks at the top of his voice about the impertinence of inviting his wife to meet people he doesn't wish her to know. He's simply using Madame Olenska as a lightning-rod; I've seen him try the same thing often before."
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27
Easy English
"The Leffertses!" said Mrs. van der Luyden.
Source English
"The Leffertses!--" said Mrs. van der Luyden.
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28
Easy English
"The Leffertses!" said Mrs. Archer after her. "What would my uncle Egmont say? Lawrence Lefferts, deciding anyone's place in society! It shows what Society has come to."
Source English
"The Leffertses!--" echoed Mrs. Archer. "What would uncle Egmont have said of Lawrence Lefferts's pronouncing on anybody's social position? It shows what Society has come to."
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29
Easy English
"We will hope it has not quite come to that," said Mr. van der Luyden firmly.
Source English
"We'll hope it has not quite come to that," said Mr. van der Luyden firmly.
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30
Easy English
"Ah, if only you and Louisa went out more!" said Mrs. Archer.
Source English
"Ah, if only you and Louisa went out more!" sighed Mrs. Archer.
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31
Easy English
At once she knew her mistake. The van der Luydens could not bear one word against their hidden way of life.
They were the judges of fashion, the court of last appeal, where the final word is spoken. They knew it, and bowed to their fate. But by nature they were shy, quiet people, with no love for the part they played.
So they lived mostly in the deep quiet of Skuytercliff, among the trees. When they came to town, they refused every invitation. They gave Mrs. van der Luyden's weak health as the reason.
Source English
But instantly she became aware of her mistake. The van der Luydens were morbidly sensitive to any criticism of their secluded existence. They were the arbiters of fashion, the Court of last Appeal, and they knew it, and bowed to their fate. But being shy and retiring persons, with no natural inclination for their part, they lived as much as possible in the sylvan solitude of Skuytercliff, and when they came to town, declined all invitations on the plea of Mrs. van der Luyden's health.
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32
Easy English
Newland came to help his mother. "Everyone in New York knows what you and cousin Louisa represent. So Mrs. Mingott felt she must not let this wrong to Countess Olenska pass without asking you."
Source English
Newland Archer came to his mother's rescue. "Everybody in New York knows what you and cousin Louisa represent. That's why Mrs. Mingott felt she ought not to allow this slight on Countess Olenska to pass without consulting you."
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33
Easy English
Mrs. van der Luyden looked at her husband, and he looked back at her.
Source English
Mrs. van der Luyden glanced at her husband, who glanced back at her.
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34
Easy English
"It is the principle that I dislike," said Mr. van der Luyden. "As long as a well-known family stands behind one of its members, the matter should be final."
Source English
"It is the principle that I dislike," said Mr. van der Luyden. "As long as a member of a well-known family is backed up by that family it should be considered--final."
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35
Easy English
"It seems so to me," said his wife, as if the thought was quite new.
Source English
"It seems so to me," said his wife, as if she were producing a new thought.
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36
Easy English
"I did not know," Mr. van der Luyden went on, "that things stood so badly." He paused and looked at his wife again.
"My dear, a thought comes to me. The Countess Olenska is already a kind of relation, through Medora Manson's first husband. And when Newland marries, she will be family in any case." He turned to the young man. "Have you read this morning's Times, Newland?"
Source English
"I had no idea," Mr. van der Luyden continued, "that things had come to such a pass." He paused, and looked at his wife again. "It occurs to me, my dear, that the Countess Olenska is already a sort of relation--through Medora Manson's first husband. At any rate, she will be when Newland marries." He turned toward the young man. "Have you read this morning's Times, Newland?"
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37
Easy English
"Why, yes, sir," said Archer, who usually ran through half a dozen papers with his morning coffee.
Source English
"Why, yes, sir," said Archer, who usually tossed off half a dozen papers with his morning coffee.
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38
Easy English
Husband and wife looked at each other again, in long, serious, silent talk. Then a small smile crossed her face. Clearly she guessed, and approved.
Source English
Husband and wife looked at each other again. Their pale eyes clung together in prolonged and serious consultation; then a faint smile fluttered over Mrs. van der Luyden's face. She had evidently guessed and approved.
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39
Easy English
Mr. van der Luyden turned to Mrs. Archer. "If Louisa's health allowed her to dine out, we would gladly take the Lawrence Leffertses' empty places at her dinner. Please tell Mrs. Lovell Mingott so."
He paused to let them taste the cold joke under the polite words. "As you know, this is impossible." Mrs. Archer made a soft sound of understanding.
"But Newland tells me he has read this morning's Times," he said. "Then he has seen the news about Louisa's relative, the Duke of St. Austrey."
He went on, "He arrives next week on the ship Russia. He comes to enter his new sloop, the Guinevere, in next summer's International Cup Race. And he wants to shoot some canvasback ducks at Trevenna."
A sloop is a light racing ship, and canvasbacks are wild water birds.
He paused again, and went on with growing warmth. "Before we take him down to Maryland, we are inviting a few friends to meet him here. Only a little dinner, with a party after. I am sure Louisa will be as glad as I am if Countess Olenska will be our guest."
He stood, and bent his long body toward his cousin with slow, formal friendliness. "I think I may speak for Louisa. When she drives out today, she will leave the dinner invitation herself. With our cards—of course, with our cards."
A card meant a visiting card, printed with the family name.
Source English
Mr. van der Luyden turned to Mrs. Archer. "If Louisa's health allowed her to dine out--I wish you would say to Mrs. Lovell Mingott--she and I would have been happy to--er--fill the places of the Lawrence Leffertses at her dinner." He paused to let the irony of this sink in. "As you know, this is impossible." Mrs. Archer sounded a sympathetic assent. "But Newland tells me he has read this morning's Times; therefore he has probably seen that Louisa's relative, the Duke of St. Austrey, arrives next week on the Russia. He is coming to enter his new sloop, the Guinevere, in next summer's International Cup Race; and also to have a little canvasback shooting at Trevenna." Mr. van der Luyden paused again, and continued with increasing benevolence: "Before taking him down to Maryland we are inviting a few friends to meet him here--only a little dinner--with a reception afterward. I am sure Louisa will be as glad as I am if Countess Olenska will let us include her among our guests." He got up, bent his long body with a stiff friendliness toward his cousin, and added: "I think I have Louisa's authority for saying that she will herself leave the invitation to dine when she drives out presently: with our cards--of course with our cards."
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40
Easy English
Mrs. Archer understood the hint. The tall red-brown horses at the door were never kept waiting. She rose, with quick, low thanks.
Mrs. van der Luyden smiled on her like Esther in the Bible, when Esther won a favor from King Ahasuerus. But her husband raised his hand in protest.
Source English
Mrs. Archer, who knew this to be a hint that the seventeen-hand chestnuts which were never kept waiting were at the door, rose with a hurried murmur of thanks. Mrs. van der Luyden beamed on her with the smile of Esther interceding with Ahasuerus; but her husband raised a protesting hand.
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41
Easy English
"There is nothing to thank me for, dear Adeline. Nothing at all. This kind of thing must not happen in New York. And as long as I can stop it, it will not happen." He spoke with the gentleness of a king, and led his cousins to the door.
Source English
"There is nothing to thank me for, dear Adeline; nothing whatever. This kind of thing must not happen in New York; it shall not, as long as I can help it," he pronounced with sovereign gentleness as he steered his cousins to the door.
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42
Easy English
Two hours later, all New York knew. Mrs. van der Luyden's great barouche, her grand open carriage, was seen at old Mrs. Mingott's door. She rode out in it in every season, for air. There a large square letter was handed in.
That evening at the Opera, Mr. Sillerton Jackson could tell everyone what it was. It was a card. It invited the Countess Olenska to the van der Luydens' dinner for the Duke, the following week.
Source English
Two hours later, every one knew that the great C-spring barouche in which Mrs. van der Luyden took the air at all seasons had been seen at old Mrs. Mingott's door, where a large square envelope was handed in; and that evening at the Opera Mr. Sillerton Jackson was able to state that the envelope contained a card inviting the Countess Olenska to the dinner which the van der Luydens were giving the following week for their cousin, the Duke of St. Austrey.
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43
Easy English
Some younger men in the club box smiled at this news. They looked sideways at Lawrence Lefferts, who sat carelessly at the front of the box, pulling his long fair moustache.
As the soprano, the leading woman singer, paused, Lefferts spoke with authority. "No one but Patti ought to try to sing the Sonnambula," he said.
Source English
Some of the younger men in the club box exchanged a smile at this announcement, and glanced sideways at Lawrence Lefferts, who sat carelessly in the front of the box, pulling his long fair moustache, and who remarked with authority, as the soprano paused: "No one but Patti ought to attempt the Sonnambula."