Easy English ↔ Source English
Chapter 8
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.
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01
Easy English
All New York agreed that the Countess Olenska had "lost her looks."
Source English
It was generally agreed in New York that the Countess Olenska had "lost her looks."
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02
Easy English
She first came when Newland Archer was a boy, a wonderfully pretty girl of nine or ten. People said she "ought to be painted." Her parents were travelers, always moving about Europe. After a traveling babyhood, Ellen lost them both.
Her aunt, Medora Manson, herself a traveler, took the child in charge. Just then she was coming home to "settle down."
Source English
She had appeared there first, in Newland Archer's boyhood, as a brilliantly pretty little girl of nine or ten, of whom people said that she "ought to be painted." Her parents had been continental wanderers, and after a roaming babyhood she had lost them both, and been taken in charge by her aunt, Medora Manson, also a wanderer, who was herself returning to New York to "settle down."
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03
Easy English
Poor Medora lost one husband after another. She was always coming home to settle down, each time in a cheaper house. Each time she brought a new husband, or a new adopted child.
Within a few months she parted from the husband, or fought with the child. Then she sold the house at a loss and traveled again.
Her mother was a Rushworth, and her last sad marriage tied her to one of the crazy Chiverses. So New York smiled at her strange ways.
But now she brought home her dead brother's little girl. Ellen's parents, for all their travels, were well liked. People were sorry to see the pretty child in such hands.
Source English
Poor Medora, repeatedly widowed, was always coming home to settle down (each time in a less expensive house), and bringing with her a new husband or an adopted child; but after a few months she invariably parted from her husband or quarrelled with her ward, and, having got rid of her house at a loss, set out again on her wanderings. As her mother had been a Rushworth, and her last unhappy marriage had linked her to one of the crazy Chiverses, New York looked indulgently on her eccentricities; but when she returned with her little orphaned niece, whose parents had been popular in spite of their regrettable taste for travel, people thought it a pity that the pretty child should be in such hands.
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04
Easy English
Everyone was ready to be kind to little Ellen Mingott. But her parents were just dead. Such a child should be in mourning, the black clothes worn after a death. Instead, her dark red cheeks and tight rings of hair made her look bright and happy.
Medora never followed America's firm rules of mourning. When she stepped off the ship, her family was shocked. Her mourning veil, the thin black cloth over her face, was for her own dead brother. Yet it hung seven inches shorter than her sisters-in-law's.
And little Ellen wore bright red wool and a chain of yellow-brown stones. She looked like a lost child from traveling people.
New York was long used to Medora. Only a few old ladies shook their heads at Ellen's loud clothes. The rest fell in love with her bright color and high spirits.
Ellen was a fearless, friendly little thing. She asked questions that troubled grown people, and said things far too old for her years.
Source English
Every one was disposed to be kind to little Ellen Mingott, though her dusky red cheeks and tight curls gave her an air of gaiety that seemed unsuitable in a child who should still have been in black for her parents. It was one of the misguided Medora's many peculiarities to flout the unalterable rules that regulated American mourning, and when she stepped from the steamer her family were scandalised to see that the crape veil she wore for her own brother was seven inches shorter than those of her sisters-in-law, while little Ellen was in crimson merino and amber beads, like a gipsy foundling.
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05
Easy English
She had strange foreign skills too. She danced a Spanish shawl dance, waving the great cloth worn over the shoulders. She sang love songs from Naples to a guitar, a wooden box with music strings.
Her aunt directed all this. Her real name was Mrs. Thorley Chivers. The Pope, head of the church in Rome, once gave her a title.
So she took back her first husband's name and called herself the Marchioness Manson. In Italy, "Manson" could turn into "Manzoni."
Under her, Ellen received a costly education without order or plan. She learned "drawing from the model," drawing a real living person — a thing never dreamed of before. And she played the piano, the great music-maker with keys, with professional players.
Source English
But New York had so long resigned itself to Medora that only a few old ladies shook their heads over Ellen's gaudy clothes, while her other relations fell under the charm of her high colour and high spirits. She was a fearless and familiar little thing, who asked disconcerting questions, made precocious comments, and possessed outlandish arts, such as dancing a Spanish shawl dance and singing Neapolitan love-songs to a guitar. Under the direction of her aunt (whose real name was Mrs. Thorley Chivers, but who, having received a Papal title, had resumed her first husband's patronymic, and called herself the Marchioness Manson, because in Italy she could turn it into Manzoni) the little girl received an expensive but incoherent education, which included "drawing from the model," a thing never dreamed of before, and playing the piano in quintets with professional musicians.
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06
Easy English
Of course no good could come of this. A few years later, poor Chivers died in a house for the mad. Medora, in strange black clothes, packed up and left with Ellen. The girl was now tall and thin, all bones, with big eyes people noticed.
For a time no more was heard of them. Then news came of Ellen's marriage. Her husband was a Polish nobleman, a man born to a high title, endlessly rich and famous. She met him at a ball at the Tuileries, the home of the French court.
People said he kept grand houses in Paris, Nice, and Florence, and a yacht, a private pleasure boat, at Cowes. He owned miles of hunting land in Transylvania. So Ellen disappeared into that great shining life. To New York, it had a faint smell of fire and danger.
A few years later, Medora came back once more, quiet and poor. She was in mourning for a third husband and looking for a still smaller house. People wondered why her rich niece did nothing for her.
Then fresh news came. Ellen's own marriage had ended in disaster. She was coming home herself, to rest and forget among her own people.
Source English
Of course no good could come of this; and when, a few years later, poor Chivers finally died in a madhouse, his widow (draped in strange weeds) again pulled up stakes and departed with Ellen, who had grown into a tall bony girl with conspicuous eyes. For some time no more was heard of them; then news came of Ellen's marriage to an immensely rich Polish nobleman of legendary fame, whom she had met at a ball at the Tuileries, and who was said to have princely establishments in Paris, Nice and Florence, a yacht at Cowes, and many square miles of shooting in Transylvania. She disappeared in a kind of sulphurous apotheosis, and when a few years later Medora again came back to New York, subdued, impoverished, mourning a third husband, and in quest of a still smaller house, people wondered that her rich niece had not been able to do something for her. Then came the news that Ellen's own marriage had ended in disaster, and that she was herself returning home to seek rest and oblivion among her kinsfolk.
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07
Easy English
All this passed through Newland Archer's mind a week later. He was watching the Countess Olenska enter the van der Luydens' drawing-room. It was the evening of the great dinner, and he wondered, a little nervously, how she would come through it.
She came rather late. One hand still had no glove. She was closing a band of jewels, costly stones, at her arm. Yet she entered without hurry or fear. New York's most chosen company sat there, heavy with its own importance.
Source English
These things passed through Newland Archer's mind a week later as he watched the Countess Olenska enter the van der Luyden drawing-room on the evening of the momentous dinner. The occasion was a solemn one, and he wondered a little nervously how she would carry it off. She came rather late, one hand still ungloved, and fastening a bracelet about her wrist; yet she entered without any appearance of haste or embarrassment the drawing-room in which New York's most chosen company was somewhat awfully assembled.
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08
Easy English
In the middle of the room she stopped, and looked about her with a serious mouth and smiling eyes. At that moment, Newland Archer rejected New York's opinion of her looks.
Her early brightness was gone, it was true. The red cheeks were pale. She was thin and worn, and looked a little older than her almost thirty years.
But she had the mysterious authority of beauty. It showed in the sure way she held her head and moved her eyes. There was no acting in it. Yet it seemed trained, full of a quiet power she knew and used.
Yet her manner was simpler than that of most ladies there. Many people were disappointed that she had not more "style." Janey told Archer so afterward. For style was what New York valued most.
Perhaps, Archer thought, it was because her old quickness was gone. She was quiet in her movement and her low voice. New York expected something louder from a young woman with such a history.
Source English
In the middle of the room she paused, looking about her with a grave mouth and smiling eyes; and in that instant Newland Archer rejected the general verdict on her looks. It was true that her early radiance was gone. The red cheeks had paled; she was thin, worn, a little older-looking than her age, which must have been nearly thirty. But there was about her the mysterious authority of beauty, a sureness in the carriage of the head, the movement of the eyes, which, without being in the least theatrical, struck him as highly trained and full of a conscious power. At the same time she was simpler in manner than most of the ladies present, and many people (as he heard afterward from Janey) were disappointed that her appearance was not more "stylish"--for stylishness was what New York most valued. It was, perhaps, Archer reflected, because her early vivacity had disappeared; because she was so quiet--quiet in her movements, her voice, and the tones of her low-pitched voice. New York had expected something a good deal more resonant in a young woman with such a history.
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09
Easy English
The dinner was a heavy business. Dining with the van der Luydens was never light. And dining there with a Duke who was their cousin was almost a church service.
One fine point pleased Archer. Only an old New Yorker could taste the difference between an ordinary Duke and the van der Luydens' Duke. New York took visiting noblemen calmly. It often showed a cold, untrusting pride, everywhere but in the Struthers set.
But this Duke came with the highest family proofs, and New York received him with an old-fashioned warm welcome. The welcome came from something deeper than his place in Debrett, the book of Britain's titled families. For such fine points Archer loved his old New York, even while he smiled at it.
Source English
The dinner was a somewhat formidable business. Dining with the van der Luydens was at best no light matter, and dining there with a Duke who was their cousin was almost a religious solemnity. It pleased Archer to think that only an old New Yorker could perceive the shade of difference (to New York) between being merely a Duke and being the van der Luydens' Duke. New York took stray noblemen calmly, and even (except in the Struthers set) with a certain distrustful hauteur; but when they presented such credentials as these they were received with an old-fashioned cordiality that they would have been greatly mistaken in ascribing solely to their standing in Debrett. It was for just such distinctions that the young man cherished his old New York even while he smiled at it.
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10
Easy English
The van der Luydens did their best to mark the evening's importance. The finest family dishes and silver were out: the du Lac Sèvres and the Trevenna George II plate. The "Lowestoft" of the East India Company and the Dagonet Crown Derby were out too.
Mrs. van der Luyden looked more than ever like a painting by Cabanel. Mrs. Archer, in her grandmother's tiny pearls and green stones, reminded her son of a small painting by Isabey.
All the ladies wore their handsomest jewels. In this house, they were mostly in heavy, old-fashioned settings. Old Miss Lanning, persuaded to come at last, wore her mother's cameos and a fine Spanish shawl.
Source English
The van der Luydens had done their best to emphasise the importance of the occasion. The du Lac Sevres and the Trevenna George II plate were out; so was the van der Luyden "Lowestoft" (East India Company) and the Dagonet Crown Derby. Mrs. van der Luyden looked more than ever like a Cabanel, and Mrs. Archer, in her grandmother's seed-pearls and emeralds, reminded her son of an Isabey miniature. All the ladies had on their handsomest jewels, but it was characteristic of the house and the occasion that these were mostly in rather heavy old-fashioned settings; and old Miss Lanning, who had been persuaded to come, actually wore her mother's cameos and a Spanish blonde shawl.
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11
Easy English
The Countess Olenska was the only young woman at the dinner. Archer looked at the smooth, round faces of the older women, between their diamond chains and tall feathers. Next to hers, those faces seemed strangely unformed. It frightened him to think of all that went to the making of her eyes.
Source English
The Countess Olenska was the only young woman at the dinner; yet, as Archer scanned the smooth plump elderly faces between their diamond necklaces and towering ostrich feathers, they struck him as curiously immature compared with hers. It frightened him to think what must have gone to the making of her eyes.
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12
Easy English
The Duke of St. Austrey sat at Mrs. van der Luyden's right hand. He was, of course, the chief figure of the evening. But if the Countess drew less notice than people hoped, the Duke drew almost none.
He had good manners. So he did not come to dinner in a rough hunting coat, like another visiting Duke before him. But his evening clothes were old and loose, and he wore them like plain homemade cloth.
He sat bent, and the thick hair of his face spread over his shirt-front. He hardly looked dressed for dinner at all.
He was short and round-shouldered, brown from the sun, with a thick nose, small eyes, and a friendly smile. But he almost never spoke. When he did, his voice was very low. The table often fell silent, waiting, but his words were lost all the same.
Source English
The Duke of St. Austrey, who sat at his hostess's right, was naturally the chief figure of the evening. But if the Countess Olenska was less conspicuous than had been hoped, the Duke was almost invisible. Being a well-bred man he had not (like another recent ducal visitor) come to the dinner in a shooting-jacket; but his evening clothes were so shabby and baggy, and he wore them with such an air of their being homespun, that (with his stooping way of sitting, and the vast beard spreading over his shirt-front) he hardly gave the appearance of being in dinner attire. He was short, round-shouldered, sunburnt, with a thick nose, small eyes and a sociable smile; but he seldom spoke, and when he did it was in such low tones that, despite the frequent silences of expectation about the table, his remarks were lost to all but his neighbours.
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13
Easy English
After dinner, the men joined the ladies, and the Duke went straight to the Countess Olenska. They sat down in a corner and fell into eager talk. Neither seemed to know the rules they were breaking.
By rule, the Duke owed his first visit to Mrs. Lovell Mingott and Mrs. Headly Chivers. The Countess owed her talk to friendly Mr. Urban Dagonet of Washington Square. He was a hypochondriac. A hypochondriac was a man who always believed he was ill.
His fixed rule was never to dine out between January and April. But he broke it this once, for the pleasure of meeting her.
The two talked for nearly twenty minutes. Then the Countess rose, walked alone across the wide drawing-room, and sat down at Newland Archer's side.
Source English
When the men joined the ladies after dinner the Duke went straight up to the Countess Olenska, and they sat down in a corner and plunged into animated talk. Neither seemed aware that the Duke should first have paid his respects to Mrs. Lovell Mingott and Mrs. Headly Chivers, and the Countess have conversed with that amiable hypochondriac, Mr. Urban Dagonet of Washington Square, who, in order to have the pleasure of meeting her, had broken through his fixed rule of not dining out between January and April. The two chatted together for nearly twenty minutes; then the Countess rose and, walking alone across the wide drawing-room, sat down at Newland Archer's side.
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14
Easy English
In New York, a lady did not leave one gentleman to look for another. The rule said she must wait, still as stone, while the men came to her one by one.
But the Countess did not seem to know she was breaking any rule. She sat at perfect ease beside him, and looked at him with the kindest eyes.
Source English
It was not the custom in New York drawing-rooms for a lady to get up and walk away from one gentleman in order to seek the company of another. Etiquette required that she should wait, immovable as an idol, while the men who wished to converse with her succeeded each other at her side. But the Countess was apparently unaware of having broken any rule; she sat at perfect ease in a corner of the sofa beside Archer, and looked at him with the kindest eyes.
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15
Easy English
"I want you to talk to me about May," she said.
Source English
"I want you to talk to me about May," she said.
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16
Easy English
Instead of answering, he asked, "You knew the Duke before?"
Source English
Instead of answering her he asked: "You knew the Duke before?"
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17
Easy English
"Oh, yes. We used to see him every winter at Nice. He loves playing cards for money. He came to the house a great deal." She said it simply, like saying, "He loves wild flowers."
After a moment she added honestly, "I think he's the dullest man I ever met."
Source English
"Oh, yes--we used to see him every winter at Nice. He's very fond of gambling--he used to come to the house a great deal." She said it in the simplest manner, as if she had said: "He's fond of wild-flowers"; and after a moment she added candidly: "I think he's the dullest man I ever met."
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18
Easy English
This pleased Archer so much that he forgot the small shock of her earlier words. It was exciting to meet a lady who found the van der Luydens' Duke dull — and dared to say so.
He longed to question her. Her careless words gave him a bright window into her old life. But he feared to touch painful memories. Before he found anything to say, she came back to her first subject.
Source English
This pleased her companion so much that he forgot the slight shock her previous remark had caused him. It was undeniably exciting to meet a lady who found the van der Luydens' Duke dull, and dared to utter the opinion. He longed to question her, to hear more about the life of which her careless words had given him so illuminating a glimpse; but he feared to touch on distressing memories, and before he could think of anything to say she had strayed back to her original subject.
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19
Easy English
"May is a darling. I've seen no young girl in New York so handsome and so intelligent. Are you very much in love with her?"
Source English
"May is a darling; I've seen no young girl in New York so handsome and so intelligent. Are you very much in love with her?"
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20
Easy English
Newland Archer turned red and laughed. "As much as a man can be."
Source English
Newland Archer reddened and laughed. "As much as a man can be."
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21
Easy English
She looked at him thoughtfully, afraid to miss any shade of his meaning. "Do you think, then, there is a limit?"
Source English
She continued to consider him thoughtfully, as if not to miss any shade of meaning in what he said, "Do you think, then, there is a limit?"
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22
Easy English
"To being in love? If there is, I haven't found it!"
Source English
"To being in love? If there is, I haven't found it!"
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23
Easy English
Her face warmed with kind feeling. "Ah, it is really a romance, a true love story?"
Source English
She glowed with sympathy. "Ah--it's really and truly a romance?"
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24
Easy English
"The most romantic of romances!"
Source English
"The most romantic of romances!"
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25
Easy English
"How lovely! And you found it all out for yourselves? It was not in the least arranged for you?"
Source English
"How delightful! And you found it all out for yourselves--it was not in the least arranged for you?"
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26
Easy English
Archer stared, hardly believing the question. "Have you forgotten," he asked with a smile, "that in our country we don't allow arranged marriages?"
Source English
Archer looked at her incredulously. "Have you forgotten," he asked with a smile, "that in our country we don't allow our marriages to be arranged for us?"
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27
Easy English
A dark red color rose in her cheek, and he was sorry at once for his words.
Source English
A dusky blush rose to her cheek, and he instantly regretted his words.
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28
Easy English
"Yes," she answered. "I forgot. You must forgive me if I sometimes make these mistakes. I don't always remember. Everything here is good that was — that was bad in the place I come from."
She looked down at her fan of eagle feathers from Vienna. Archer saw that her lips shook.
Source English
"Yes," she answered, "I'd forgotten. You must forgive me if I sometimes make these mistakes. I don't always remember that everything here is good that was--that was bad where I've come from." She looked down at her Viennese fan of eagle feathers, and he saw that her lips trembled.
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29
Easy English
"I'm so sorry," he said quickly. "But you are among friends here, you know."
Source English
"I'm so sorry," he said impulsively; "but you are among friends here, you know."
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30
Easy English
"Yes — I know. Wherever I go, I have that feeling. That's why I came home. I want to forget everything else and become a complete American again, like the Mingotts and Wellands. Like you, and your lovely mother, and all the good people here tonight."
Then she added, "Ah, here's May arriving, and you will want to hurry away to her." But she did not move. Her eyes turned back from the door to his face.
Source English
"Yes--I know. Wherever I go I have that feeling. That's why I came home. I want to forget everything else, to become a complete American again, like the Mingotts and Wellands, and you and your delightful mother, and all the other good people here tonight. Ah, here's May arriving, and you will want to hurry away to her," she added, but without moving; and her eyes turned back from the door to rest on the young man's face.
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31
Easy English
The great rooms were filling with after-dinner guests. Archer followed Madame Olenska's look and saw May Welland enter with her mother. May wore white and silver, with a ring of silver flowers in her hair. The tall girl looked like Diana just back from the hunt. Diana was the female god of hunting in old Roman stories.
Source English
The drawing-rooms were beginning to fill up with after-dinner guests, and following Madame Olenska's glance Archer saw May Welland entering with her mother. In her dress of white and silver, with a wreath of silver blossoms in her hair, the tall girl looked like a Diana just alight from the chase.
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32
Easy English
"Oh," said Archer, "she is already surrounded. So many others want her. There is the Duke meeting her now."
Source English
"Oh," said Archer, "I have so many rivals; you see she's already surrounded. There's the Duke being introduced."
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33
Easy English
"Then stay with me a little longer," Madame Olenska said softly. Her feather fan just touched his knee. The light touch ran through him like love.
Source English
"Then stay with me a little longer," Madame Olenska said in a low tone, just touching his knee with her plumed fan. It was the lightest touch, but it thrilled him like a caress.
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34
Easy English
"Yes, let me stay," he answered in the same tone, hardly knowing what he said. But just then Mr. van der Luyden came up, with old Mr. Dagonet behind him.
The Countess greeted them with her serious smile. Archer felt his host's warning look, rose, and gave up his seat.
Source English
"Yes, let me stay," he answered in the same tone, hardly knowing what he said; but just then Mr. van der Luyden came up, followed by old Mr. Urban Dagonet. The Countess greeted them with her grave smile, and Archer, feeling his host's admonitory glance on him, rose and surrendered his seat.
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35
Easy English
Madame Olenska held out her hand, as if to say goodbye.
Source English
Madame Olenska held out her hand as if to bid him goodbye.
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36
Easy English
"Tomorrow, then, after five. I shall expect you," she said. Then she turned back to make room for Mr. Dagonet.
Source English
"Tomorrow, then, after five--I shall expect you," she said; and then turned back to make room for Mr. Dagonet.
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37
Easy English
"Tomorrow," Archer heard himself repeat. Yet they made no plan. In all their talk she gave no sign of wishing to see him again.
Source English
"Tomorrow--" Archer heard himself repeating, though there had been no engagement, and during their talk she had given him no hint that she wished to see him again.
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38
Easy English
As he moved away, he saw Lawrence Lefferts lead his wife forward. Lawrence was tall and shining. He heard Gertrude Lefferts speak to the Countess with a large, blind smile. "I think we went to dancing school together as children," she said.
Behind her, more couples waited to give the Countess their names. They were the same couples who had refused to meet her at Mrs. Lovell Mingott's house.
It was as Mrs. Archer said. When the van der Luydens chose, they knew how to give a lesson. The wonder was that they chose so rarely.
Source English
As he moved away he saw Lawrence Lefferts, tall and resplendent, leading his wife up to be introduced; and heard Gertrude Lefferts say, as she beamed on the Countess with her large unperceiving smile: "But I think we used to go to dancing-school together when we were children--." Behind her, waiting their turn to name themselves to the Countess, Archer noticed a number of the recalcitrant couples who had declined to meet her at Mrs. Lovell Mingott's. As Mrs. Archer remarked: when the van der Luydens chose, they knew how to give a lesson. The wonder was that they chose so seldom.
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39
Easy English
The young man felt a touch on his arm. Mrs. van der Luyden was looking down at him from her height of black velvet and family diamonds.
"It was good of you, dear Newland," she said, "to give yourself to Madame Olenska with no thought for yourself. I told your cousin Henry he must really step in and save her."
Source English
The young man felt a touch on his arm and saw Mrs. van der Luyden looking down on him from the pure eminence of black velvet and the family diamonds. "It was good of you, dear Newland, to devote yourself so unselfishly to Madame Olenska. I told your cousin Henry he must really come to the rescue."
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40
Easy English
He gave her a small, empty smile, hardly aware of it. She went on kindly, as if excusing his natural shyness. "I've never seen May looking lovelier. The Duke thinks her the handsomest girl in the room."
Source English
He was aware of smiling at her vaguely, and she added, as if condescending to his natural shyness: "I've never seen May looking lovelier. The Duke thinks her the handsomest girl in the room."