Easy English ↔ Source English
Chapter 11
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
Two weeks later, Newland Archer sat idle at the law firm of Letterblair, Lamson and Low. The head of the firm sent for him.
Source English
Some two weeks later, Newland Archer, sitting in abstracted idleness in his private compartment of the office of Letterblair, Lamson and Low, attorneys at law, was summoned by the head of the firm.
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02
Easy English
Old Mr. Letterblair sat troubled behind his great dark desk. Three generations of fine New York families trusted his legal advice. He touched his white face hair and untidy grey head.
Source English
Old Mr. Letterblair, the accredited legal adviser of three generations of New York gentility, throned behind his mahogany desk in evident perplexity. As he stroked his close-clipped white whiskers and ran his hand through the rumpled grey locks above his jutting brows, his disrespectful junior partner thought how much he looked like the Family Physician annoyed with a patient whose symptoms refuse to be classified.
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03
Easy English
Archer thought he looked like a doctor facing a sickness without a name.
"My dear sir," Mr. Letterblair began. "I have a small matter. I will not yet mention it to Mr. Skipworth or Mr. Redwood."
The partners named on old law firms were long dead. In that sense, Mr. Letterblair was his own grandson.
Source English
"My dear sir--" he always addressed Archer as "sir"--"I have sent for you to go into a little matter; a matter which, for the moment, I prefer not to mention either to Mr. Skipworth or Mr. Redwood." The gentlemen he spoke of were the other senior partners of the firm; for, as was always the case with legal associations of old standing in New York, all the partners named on the office letter-head were long since dead; and Mr. Letterblair, for example, was, professionally speaking, his own grandson.
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04
Easy English
He leaned back in his chair, his brow lined with worry. "For family reasons—" he went on.
Source English
He leaned back in his chair with a furrowed brow. "For family reasons--" he continued.
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05
Easy English
Archer looked up.
Source English
Archer looked up.
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06
Easy English
"The Mingott family," said Mr. Letterblair with a smile and a small bow. "Mrs. Manson Mingott sent for me yesterday. Her granddaughter, the Countess Olenska, wants a divorce from her husband."
He beat his fingers on the desk. "I have certain papers. Since you will join the family, I want your advice first."
Source English
"The Mingott family," said Mr. Letterblair with an explanatory smile and bow. "Mrs. Manson Mingott sent for me yesterday. Her grand-daughter the Countess Olenska wishes to sue her husband for divorce. Certain papers have been placed in my hands." He paused and drummed on his desk. "In view of your prospective alliance with the family I should like to consult you--to consider the case with you--before taking any farther steps."
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07
Easy English
Archer felt blood beat in his head. He saw Ellen only once more, at the Opera. Her image faded as May returned to the front of his mind.
He heard no more after Janey mentioned the divorce. He thought it empty talk. Divorce almost troubled him as much as his mother.
He hated being pulled into the affair. Many Mingott men could do it, and he was not yet family.
Source English
Archer felt the blood in his temples. He had seen the Countess Olenska only once since his visit to her, and then at the Opera, in the Mingott box. During this interval she had become a less vivid and importunate image, receding from his foreground as May Welland resumed her rightful place in it. He had not heard her divorce spoken of since Janey's first random allusion to it, and had dismissed the tale as unfounded gossip. Theoretically, the idea of divorce was almost as distasteful to him as to his mother; and he was annoyed that Mr. Letterblair (no doubt prompted by old Catherine Mingott) should be so evidently planning to draw him into the affair. After all, there were plenty of Mingott men for such jobs, and as yet he was not even a Mingott by marriage.
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08
Easy English
He waited for the senior partner to continue. Mr. Letterblair unlocked a drawer and took out an envelope of papers. "If you will run your eye over these papers—"
Source English
He waited for the senior partner to continue. Mr. Letterblair unlocked a drawer and drew out a packet. "If you will run your eye over these papers--"
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09
Easy English
Archer frowned. "I beg your pardon, sir. Because of my coming marriage, I would prefer that you consult Mr. Skipworth or Mr. Redwood."
Source English
Archer frowned. "I beg your pardon, sir; but just because of the prospective relationship, I should prefer your consulting Mr. Skipworth or Mr. Redwood."
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10
Easy English
Mr. Letterblair looked surprised and a little hurt. It was unusual for a junior to refuse such an opening.
Source English
Mr. Letterblair looked surprised and slightly offended. It was unusual for a junior to reject such an opening.
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11
Easy English
He bowed. "I respect your care, sir. But true care for others requires you to help."
"Indeed, the idea is not mine," he went on. "It comes from Mrs. Manson Mingott and her son. I have seen Lovell Mingott, and also Mr. Welland. They all named you."
Source English
He bowed. "I respect your scruple, sir; but in this case I believe true delicacy requires you to do as I ask. Indeed, the suggestion is not mine but Mrs. Manson Mingott's and her son's. I have seen Lovell Mingott; and also Mr. Welland. They all named you."
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12
Easy English
Archer's anger rose. For two weeks, May's bright nature hid the weight of Mingott claims. Mrs. Mingott's order woke him.
Source English
Archer felt his temper rising. He had been somewhat languidly drifting with events for the last fortnight, and letting May's fair looks and radiant nature obliterate the rather importunate pressure of the Mingott claims. But this behest of old Mrs. Mingott's roused him to a sense of what the clan thought they had the right to exact from a prospective son-in-law; and he chafed at the role.
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13
Easy English
So this large family felt it could command a future son-in-law. He hated the role.
"Her uncles ought to deal with this," he said.
Source English
"Her uncles ought to deal with this," he said.
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14
Easy English
"They have. The family has gone into the matter. They are against the Countess's idea. But she is firm, and she insists on a legal opinion."
Source English
"They have. The matter has been gone into by the family. They are opposed to the Countess's idea; but she is firm, and insists on a legal opinion."
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15
Easy English
The young man was silent. He still did not open the envelope in his hand.
Source English
The young man was silent: he had not opened the packet in his hand.
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16
Easy English
"Does she want to marry again?"
Source English
"Does she want to marry again?"
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17
Easy English
"I believe people suggest it. But she denies it."
Source English
"I believe it is suggested; but she denies it."
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18
Easy English
"Then—"
Source English
"Then--"
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19
Easy English
"Will you do me this kindness, Mr. Archer? First look through these papers. Afterward, when we have talked the case over, I will give you my opinion."
Archer went out unwillingly with the unwelcome papers.
Source English
"Will you oblige me, Mr. Archer, by first looking through these papers? Afterward, when we have talked the case over, I will give you my opinion."
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20
Easy English
After their last meeting, he let events free him from Ellen's weight. Their hour by her fire briefly drew them close.
Then the Duke of St. Austrey walked in with Mrs. Lemuel Struthers, and the Countess greeted them with joy. The moment broke, Archer felt, at just the right time.
Two days later, he watched her return to the van der Luydens' favor. A lady who thanked powerful men so well needed no help.
She needed neither his private comfort nor his public defense.
This thought made home life shine. May would never tell her private troubles to strange men. She seemed finer than ever.
He even gave way to her wish for a long engagement. He asked her to hurry, but she found the one answer that disarmed him.
Source English
Archer withdrew reluctantly with the unwelcome documents. Since their last meeting he had half-unconsciously collaborated with events in ridding himself of the burden of Madame Olenska. His hour alone with her by the firelight had drawn them into a momentary intimacy on which the Duke of St. Austrey's intrusion with Mrs. Lemuel Struthers, and the Countess's joyous greeting of them, had rather providentially broken. Two days later Archer had assisted at the comedy of her reinstatement in the van der Luydens' favour, and had said to himself, with a touch of tartness, that a lady who knew how to thank all-powerful elderly gentlemen to such good purpose for a bunch of flowers did not need either the private consolations or the public championship of a young man of his small compass. To look at the matter in this light simplified his own case and surprisingly furbished up all the dim domestic virtues. He could not picture May Welland, in whatever conceivable emergency, hawking about her private difficulties and lavishing her confidences on strange men; and she had never seemed to him finer or fairer than in the week that followed. He had even yielded to her wish for a long engagement, since she had found the one disarming answer to his plea for haste.
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21
Easy English
"You know, your parents have always let you have your way, ever since you were a little girl," he argued.
She answered, with her clearest look, "Yes. And that is what makes it so hard to refuse. It is the very last thing they will ever ask of me as a little girl."
Source English
"You know, when it comes to the point, your parents have always let you have your way ever since you were a little girl," he argued; and she had answered, with her clearest look: "Yes; and that's what makes it so hard to refuse the very last thing they'll ever ask of me as a little girl."
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22
Easy English
That was the old New York note. It was the kind of answer he wished to be always sure of in his wife. To a man raised on New York air, anything less clear than crystal can feel hard to breathe.
Source English
That was the old New York note; that was the kind of answer he would like always to be sure of his wife's making. If one had habitually breathed the New York air there were times when anything less crystalline seemed stifling.
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23
Easy English
The papers, when he sat down to them, told him little in fact. But they dropped him into an air in which he choked. They were mostly letters between Count Olenski's lawyers and a French law firm. The Countess asked the French firm to settle her money matters.
There was also one short letter from the Count to his wife. Newland Archer read it and stood up. He pushed the papers back into their cover and returned to Mr. Letterblair's office.
Source English
The papers he had retired to read did not tell him much in fact; but they plunged him into an atmosphere in which he choked and spluttered. They consisted mainly of an exchange of letters between Count Olenski's solicitors and a French legal firm to whom the Countess had applied for the settlement of her financial situation. There was also a short letter from the Count to his wife: after reading it, Newland Archer rose, jammed the papers back into their envelope, and reentered Mr. Letterblair's office.
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24
Easy English
"Here are the letters, sir. If you wish, I will see Madame Olenska," he said. His voice was tight.
Source English
"Here are the letters, sir. If you wish, I'll see Madame Olenska," he said in a constrained voice.
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25
Easy English
"Thank you — thank you, Mr. Archer. Come and dine with me tonight, if you are free. We will go into the matter after dinner. Then, if you wish, you can call on our client tomorrow."
Source English
"Thank you--thank you, Mr. Archer. Come and dine with me tonight if you're free, and we'll go into the matter afterward: in case you wish to call on our client tomorrow."
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26
Easy English
Newland Archer walked straight home that afternoon. It was a winter evening, and the air was clear as glass. A young, innocent moon hung above the roofs of the houses.
Archer wanted to fill his soul's lungs with that pure light. He wished to speak to no one until he sat down with Mr. Letterblair after dinner.
He could not decide in any other way. He must see Madame Olenska himself, so that her secrets were not laid open to other eyes.
A great wave of pity washed away his coldness and impatience. She stood before his mind with no protection, a figure to be pitied. She must be saved, at any cost, from wounding herself again in her wild rushes against fate.
Source English
Newland Archer walked straight home again that afternoon. It was a winter evening of transparent clearness, with an innocent young moon above the house-tops; and he wanted to fill his soul's lungs with the pure radiance, and not exchange a word with any one till he and Mr. Letterblair were closeted together after dinner. It was impossible to decide otherwise than he had done: he must see Madame Olenska himself rather than let her secrets be bared to other eyes. A great wave of compassion had swept away his indifference and impatience: she stood before him as an exposed and pitiful figure, to be saved at all costs from farther wounding herself in her mad plunges against fate.
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27
Easy English
He remembered something she once told him. Mrs. Welland asked to be spared anything "unpleasant" in the Countess's history. The thought that followed hurt him. Perhaps this very habit of mind kept the New York air so pure.
"Are we only Pharisees after all?" he wondered. The Pharisees were men in the Bible who looked pure outside but had no pity inside. He was puzzled by the war inside himself. He felt a natural hate for human wickedness, and an equally natural pity for human weakness.
Source English
He remembered what she had told him of Mrs. Welland's request to be spared whatever was "unpleasant" in her history, and winced at the thought that it was perhaps this attitude of mind which kept the New York air so pure. "Are we only Pharisees after all?" he wondered, puzzled by the effort to reconcile his instinctive disgust at human vileness with his equally instinctive pity for human frailty.
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28
Easy English
For the first time, he saw how simple his own principles had always been. People called him a young man who was not afraid of risks. His secret love affair with poor silly Mrs. Thorley Rushworth was never quite secret enough. That gave him a pleasing air of adventure.
But Mrs. Rushworth was "that kind of woman." She was foolish, vain, and secret by nature. The secrecy and danger of the affair drew her far more than any charms of his own.
When that truth first dawned on him, it nearly broke his heart. Now it seemed the one saving point of the whole business.
The affair, in short, was of the common kind. Most young men of his age went through such affairs and came out with calm consciences. A conscience is the inner voice that tells a person right from wrong.
They also came out with an unshaken belief. A deep and bottomless line, they felt, lay between two kinds of women. On one side stood the women a man loved and respected. On the other stood the women a man enjoyed — and pitied.
In this belief, their mothers, aunts, and other elderly lady relatives eagerly supported them. They all shared Mrs. Archer's view. When "such things happened," it was no doubt foolish of the man. But somehow it was always criminal of the woman.
All the elderly ladies Archer knew agreed. Any woman who loved unwisely must be a false and designing woman. The simple-minded man was powerless in her hands. The only cure was to marry him early to a nice girl, and then trust her to look after him.
Source English
For the first time he perceived how elementary his own principles had always been. He passed for a young man who had not been afraid of risks, and he knew that his secret love-affair with poor silly Mrs. Thorley Rushworth had not been too secret to invest him with a becoming air of adventure. But Mrs. Rushworth was "that kind of woman"; foolish, vain, clandestine by nature, and far more attracted by the secrecy and peril of the affair than by such charms and qualities as he possessed. When the fact dawned on him it nearly broke his heart, but now it seemed the redeeming feature of the case. The affair, in short, had been of the kind that most of the young men of his age had been through, and emerged from with calm consciences and an undisturbed belief in the abysmal distinction between the women one loved and respected and those one enjoyed--and pitied. In this view they were sedulously abetted by their mothers, aunts and other elderly female relatives, who all shared Mrs. Archer's belief that when "such things happened" it was undoubtedly foolish of the man, but somehow always criminal of the woman. All the elderly ladies whom Archer knew regarded any woman who loved imprudently as necessarily unscrupulous and designing, and mere simple-minded man as powerless in her clutches. The only thing to do was to persuade him, as early as possible, to marry a nice girl, and then trust to her to look after him.
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29
Easy English
Archer began to guess that in the old, complicated societies of Europe, love problems might be less simple. They might not sort so easily into two boxes. Rich societies, full of lazy show, must produce many more such situations.
There might even be a case of this kind. A woman, sensitive and reserved by nature, might still be drawn in. Circumstances, helplessness, and loneliness might pull her into a tie that the rules could never excuse.
Source English
In the complicated old European communities, Archer began to guess, love-problems might be less simple and less easily classified. Rich and idle and ornamental societies must produce many more such situations; and there might even be one in which a woman naturally sensitive and aloof would yet, from the force of circumstances, from sheer defencelessness and loneliness, be drawn into a tie inexcusable by conventional standards.
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30
Easy English
When he reached home, he wrote a short note to the Countess Olenska. At what hour tomorrow could she receive him? He sent it by a messenger boy.
The boy soon returned with her answer. She was going to Skuytercliff the next morning, to stay over Sunday with the van der Luydens. But Archer would find her alone that evening, after dinner.
Her note was written on an untidy half-sheet of paper, with no date and no address. But her hand was firm and free.
At first, the idea of her weekend in the grand, silent loneliness of Skuytercliff amused him. Then another feeling came. There, of all places, she would most feel the chill of minds turned firmly away from the "unpleasant."
Source English
On reaching home he wrote a line to the Countess Olenska, asking at what hour of the next day she could receive him, and despatched it by a messenger-boy, who returned presently with a word to the effect that she was going to Skuytercliff the next morning to stay over Sunday with the van der Luydens, but that he would find her alone that evening after dinner. The note was written on a rather untidy half-sheet, without date or address, but her hand was firm and free. He was amused at the idea of her week-ending in the stately solitude of Skuytercliff, but immediately afterward felt that there, of all places, she would most feel the chill of minds rigorously averted from the "unpleasant."
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31
Easy English
He was at Mr. Letterblair's at seven exactly, glad of the excuse to leave soon after dinner. He had already formed his own opinion from the papers. He did not want to go into the matter with his senior partner.
Mr. Letterblair's wife was dead, so the two men dined alone. They ate richly and slowly, in a dark, worn old room. On the walls hung two yellowing prints, "The Death of Chatham" and "The Coronation of Napoleon."
On the side table, between two fine old knife boxes, stood two glass bottles of wine. One held Haut Brion. The other held the old Lanning port, a strong sweet wine, once the gift of a client.
Tom Lanning, who wasted all he had, sold off that port a year or two before he died. His death in San Francisco was mysterious and shameful. Yet the public sale of his wine cellar hurt the family's pride even more.
Source English
He was at Mr. Letterblair's punctually at seven, glad of the pretext for excusing himself soon after dinner. He had formed his own opinion from the papers entrusted to him, and did not especially want to go into the matter with his senior partner. Mr. Letterblair was a widower, and they dined alone, copiously and slowly, in a dark shabby room hung with yellowing prints of "The Death of Chatham" and "The Coronation of Napoleon." On the sideboard, between fluted Sheraton knife-cases, stood a decanter of Haut Brion, and another of the old Lanning port (the gift of a client), which the wastrel Tom Lanning had sold off a year or two before his mysterious and discreditable death in San Francisco--an incident less publicly humiliating to the family than the sale of the cellar.
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32
Easy English
First came a soft oyster soup. Oysters are small sea animals that live in shells. Then came fish with cucumbers, and a young roast turkey with small fried corn cakes. Last came wild duck, with sweet red fruit jelly and a celery cream.
Mr. Letterblair lunched on a sandwich and tea. But he dined slowly and deeply, and he insisted that his guest do the same.
At last the slow closing forms of the meal were done. The cloth was taken away, and cigars were lit. Mr. Letterblair leaned back, pushed the port toward Archer, and warmed his back at the coal fire.
"The whole family are against a divorce," he said. "And I think rightly."
Source English
After a velvety oyster soup came shad and cucumbers, then a young broiled turkey with corn fritters, followed by a canvas-back with currant jelly and a celery mayonnaise. Mr. Letterblair, who lunched on a sandwich and tea, dined deliberately and deeply, and insisted on his guest's doing the same. Finally, when the closing rites had been accomplished, the cloth was removed, cigars were lit, and Mr. Letterblair, leaning back in his chair and pushing the port westward, said, spreading his back agreeably to the coal fire behind him: "The whole family are against a divorce. And I think rightly."
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33
Easy English
At once, Archer felt himself on the other side of the argument. "But why, sir? If there ever was a case—"
Source English
Archer instantly felt himself on the other side of the argument. "But why, sir? If there ever was a case--"
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34
Easy English
"Well — what's the use? She is here, and he is there, and the whole Atlantic lies between them. She will never get back a dollar more of her money. She will get only what he has chosen to give back. Their heathen marriage settlements make sure of that."
A marriage settlement was a legal paper, made before a wedding, about the wife's money. By "heathen" Mr. Letterblair meant foreign and godless.
"As things go over there," he continued, "Olenski has acted generously. He could have turned her out without a penny, and he did not."
Source English
"Well--what's the use? she's here--he's there; the Atlantic's between them. She'll never get back a dollar more of her money than what he's voluntarily returned to her: their damned heathen marriage settlements take precious good care of that. As things go over there, Olenski's acted generously: he might have turned her out without a penny."
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35
Easy English
The young man knew this, and was silent.
Source English
The young man knew this and was silent.
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36
Easy English
"I understand, though," Mr. Letterblair went on, "that she cares nothing about the money. Therefore, as the family say, why not leave things quietly as they are?"
Source English
"I understand, though," Mr. Letterblair continued, "that she attaches no importance to the money. Therefore, as the family say, why not let well enough alone?"
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37
Easy English
Archer came to the house an hour earlier in full agreement with this view. But now a selfish, well-fed, completely untouched old man put it into words. Suddenly it became the voice of the Pharisees — the voice of a society building walls against everything "unpleasant."
Source English
Archer had gone to the house an hour earlier in full agreement with Mr. Letterblair's view; but put into words by this selfish, well-fed and supremely indifferent old man it suddenly became the Pharisaic voice of a society wholly absorbed in barricading itself against the unpleasant.
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38
Easy English
"I think that is for her to decide," Archer said.
Source English
"I think that's for her to decide."
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39
Easy English
"H'm. Have you considered the consequences, if she decides on a divorce?"
Source English
"H'm--have you considered the consequences if she decides for divorce?"
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40
Easy English
"You mean the threat in her husband's letter? What weight would that carry? It is no more than the vague charge of an angry blackguard, a man without honor."
Source English
"You mean the threat in her husband's letter? What weight would that carry? It's no more than the vague charge of an angry blackguard."
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41
Easy English
"Yes. But it might make some unpleasant talk, if he really fights the case."
Source English
"Yes; but it might make some unpleasant talk if he really defends the suit."
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42
Easy English
"Unpleasant—!" said Archer, exploding.
Source English
"Unpleasant--!" said Archer explosively.
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43
Easy English
Mr. Letterblair looked at him with raised, questioning eyebrows. Archer saw that it was useless to explain what was in his mind. He bowed his head, and his senior went on, "Divorce is always unpleasant."
Source English
Mr. Letterblair looked at him from under enquiring eyebrows, and the young man, aware of the uselessness of trying to explain what was in his mind, bowed acquiescently while his senior continued: "Divorce is always unpleasant."
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44
Easy English
There was a waiting silence. "You agree with me?" Mr. Letterblair asked at last.
Source English
"You agree with me?" Mr. Letterblair resumed, after a waiting silence.
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45
Easy English
"Naturally," said Archer.
Source English
"Naturally," said Archer.
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46
Easy English
"Well then, I may count on you. The Mingotts may count on you. You will use your influence against the idea?"
Source English
"Well, then, I may count on you; the Mingotts may count on you; to use your influence against the idea?"
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47
Easy English
Archer hesitated. "I cannot promise anything until I have seen the Countess Olenska," he said at last.
Source English
Archer hesitated. "I can't pledge myself till I've seen the Countess Olenska," he said at length.
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48
Easy English
"Mr. Archer, I do not understand you. Do you want to marry into a family with a scandalous divorce case hanging over it?"
Source English
"Mr. Archer, I don't understand you. Do you want to marry into a family with a scandalous divorce-suit hanging over it?"
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49
Easy English
"I don't think that has anything to do with the case," Archer said.
Source English
"I don't think that has anything to do with the case."
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50
Easy English
Mr. Letterblair put down his glass of port. He fixed careful, worried eyes on his young partner.
Source English
Mr. Letterblair put down his glass of port and fixed on his young partner a cautious and apprehensive gaze.
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51
Easy English
Archer understood the danger. The task could still be taken from him, and for some dark reason he did not like that thought. The job was pushed on him against his will. Yet now he did not mean to give it up.
To guard against losing it, he must calm the old man before him. Mr. Letterblair had no imagination, but he was the legal conscience of the Mingotts.
Source English
Archer understood that he ran the risk of having his mandate withdrawn, and for some obscure reason he disliked the prospect. Now that the job had been thrust on him he did not propose to relinquish it; and, to guard against the possibility, he saw that he must reassure the unimaginative old man who was the legal conscience of the Mingotts.
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52
Easy English
"You may be sure, sir, that I will not commit myself until I have reported to you. I only meant that I would rather hear what Madame Olenska has to say first."
Source English
"You may be sure, sir, that I shan't commit myself till I've reported to you; what I meant was that I'd rather not give an opinion till I've heard what Madame Olenska has to say."
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53
Easy English
Mr. Letterblair nodded with approval. Such extreme caution was worthy of the best New York tradition. Then Archer glanced at his watch, excused himself with a word about another engagement, and took his leave.
Source English
Mr. Letterblair nodded approvingly at an excess of caution worthy of the best New York tradition, and the young man, glancing at his watch, pleaded an engagement and took leave.