Easy English ↔ Source English
Chapter 15
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
Newland Archer arrived at the Chiverses' on Friday evening. On Saturday he faithfully went through every duty of a week-end at Highbank.
Source English
Newland Archer arrived at the Chiverses' on Friday evening, and on Saturday went conscientiously through all the rites appertaining to a week-end at Highbank.
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02
Easy English
In the morning he rode in the ice-boat with the lady of the house and the braver guests. In the afternoon he "went over the farm" with Reggie. Among the horses he heard long, serious speeches about the horse.
After tea he sat in a corner of the fire-lit hall with a young lady. When his engagement was announced, she called herself broken-hearted. Now she eagerly told him her own hopes of marrying.
About midnight he helped put a gold-fish in one visitor's bed. He dressed up a pretend thief in a nervous aunt's bathroom. He ended the night in a pillow-fight, from the children's rooms down to the lowest floor.
But on Sunday after lunch he borrowed a cutter and drove to Skuytercliff. A cutter was a light carriage that slid over the snow behind one horse.
Source English
In the morning he had a spin in the ice-boat with his hostess and a few of the hardier guests; in the afternoon he "went over the farm" with Reggie, and listened, in the elaborately appointed stables, to long and impressive disquisitions on the horse; after tea he talked in a corner of the firelit hall with a young lady who had professed herself broken-hearted when his engagement was announced, but was now eager to tell him of her own matrimonial hopes; and finally, about midnight, he assisted in putting a gold-fish in one visitor's bed, dressed up a burglar in the bath-room of a nervous aunt, and saw in the small hours by joining in a pillow-fight that ranged from the nurseries to the basement. But on Sunday after luncheon he borrowed a cutter, and drove over to Skuytercliff.
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03
Easy English
People said the house at Skuytercliff was an Italian villa, a grand Italian country house. Those who never saw Italy believed it. So did some who saw it.
Mr. van der Luyden built the house in his youth. He was just home from the "grand tour," the long journey through Europe that rich young men made. He was waiting to marry Miss Louisa Dagonet.
It was a large square wooden house, its fitted board walls painted pale green and white. Its grand front stood behind tall posts in the old Greek style.
From its high ground, wide flat steps of grass went down, one under another. Stone rails and stone pots lined their edges, like an old printed picture. They ended at a small lake with a hard, man-made black edge. Rare trees hung their falling branches over the water.
Right and left rolled the famous grass, smooth and without one wild plant. Single trees stood on it, each of a different kind. Farther off rose long banks of grass, topped with costly figures of cast iron.
Below, where the ground dipped, stood the small stone house of the first Patroon. He built its four rooms in 1612, on land the old Dutch government gave him.
Source English
People had always been told that the house at Skuytercliff was an Italian villa. Those who had never been to Italy believed it; so did some who had. The house had been built by Mr. van der Luyden in his youth, on his return from the "grand tour," and in anticipation of his approaching marriage with Miss Louisa Dagonet. It was a large square wooden structure, with tongued and grooved walls painted pale green and white, a Corinthian portico, and fluted pilasters between the windows. From the high ground on which it stood a series of terraces bordered by balustrades and urns descended in the steel-engraving style to a small irregular lake with an asphalt edge overhung by rare weeping conifers. To the right and left, the famous weedless lawns studded with "specimen" trees (each of a different variety) rolled away to long ranges of grass crested with elaborate cast-iron ornaments; and below, in a hollow, lay the four-roomed stone house which the first Patroon had built on the land granted him in 1612.
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04
Easy English
Against the white snow and the grey winter sky, the Italian villa rose up darkly. Even in summer the house kept its distance. The boldest bed of garden plants never dared come nearer than thirty feet to its terrible front.
Archer rang the bell. The long ring seemed to die away as in a mausoleum, a grand stone house for the dead. At last a butler came, as surprised as a man called up from his last sleep.
Source English
Against the uniform sheet of snow and the greyish winter sky the Italian villa loomed up rather grimly; even in summer it kept its distance, and the boldest coleus bed had never ventured nearer than thirty feet from its awful front. Now, as Archer rang the bell, the long tinkle seemed to echo through a mausoleum; and the surprise of the butler who at length responded to the call was as great as though he had been summoned from his final sleep.
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05
Easy English
Happily, Archer was family. Even his sudden visit, against all custom, earned him the news. The Countess Olenska was out. Three quarters of an hour before, she drove to afternoon church service with Mrs. van der Luyden.
Source English
Happily Archer was of the family, and therefore, irregular though his arrival was, entitled to be informed that the Countess Olenska was out, having driven to afternoon service with Mrs. van der Luyden exactly three quarters of an hour earlier.
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06
Easy English
"Mr. van der Luyden is in, sir," the butler went on. "My feeling is that he is finishing his afternoon sleep, or reading yesterday's Evening Post. This morning, sir, I heard him say he meant to read it after lunch. If you like, sir, I might go to the library door and listen..."
Source English
"Mr. van der Luyden," the butler continued, "is in, sir; but my impression is that he is either finishing his nap or else reading yesterday's Evening Post. I heard him say, sir, on his return from church this morning, that he intended to look through the Evening Post after luncheon; if you like, sir, I might go to the library door and listen--"
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07
Easy English
But Archer thanked him and said he would go to meet the ladies. The butler, clearly relieved, closed the door on him in a slow and royal way.
Source English
But Archer, thanking him, said that he would go and meet the ladies; and the butler, obviously relieved, closed the door on him majestically.
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08
Easy English
A servant took the cutter. Archer cut through the park to the high road. The village of Skuytercliff was only a mile and a half away. But Mrs. van der Luyden never walked, so he must keep to the road to meet the carriage.
Then, on a foot-path that crossed the road, he saw a slight figure in a red cloak. A big dog ran in front of her. He hurried forward, and Madame Olenska stopped short with a smile of welcome.
Source English
A groom took the cutter to the stables, and Archer struck through the park to the high-road. The village of Skuytercliff was only a mile and a half away, but he knew that Mrs. van der Luyden never walked, and that he must keep to the road to meet the carriage. Presently, however, coming down a foot-path that crossed the highway, he caught sight of a slight figure in a red cloak, with a big dog running ahead. He hurried forward, and Madame Olenska stopped short with a smile of welcome.
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09
Easy English
"Ah, you've come!" she said. She drew her hand from her muff, a soft roll of fur for the hands.
Source English
"Ah, you've come!" she said, and drew her hand from her muff.
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10
Easy English
The red cloak made her look bright and alive, like the Ellen Mingott of old days. He laughed as he took her hand. "I came to see what you were running away from," he answered.
Source English
The red cloak made her look gay and vivid, like the Ellen Mingott of old days; and he laughed as he took her hand, and answered: "I came to see what you were running away from."
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11
Easy English
Her face clouded over, but she answered, "Ah, well... you will see, presently."
Source English
Her face clouded over, but she answered: "Ah, well--you will see, presently."
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12
Easy English
The answer puzzled him. "Why? Do you mean that the thing has caught up with you?"
Source English
The answer puzzled him. "Why--do you mean that you've been overtaken?"
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13
Easy English
She shrugged, with a little movement like Nastasia's, and spoke in a lighter tone. "Shall we walk on? I'm so cold after the sermon. And what does it matter, now that you're here to protect me?" A sermon is the long talk given in church.
Source English
She shrugged her shoulders, with a little movement like Nastasia's, and rejoined in a lighter tone: "Shall we walk on? I'm so cold after the sermon. And what does it matter, now you're here to protect me?"
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14
Easy English
The blood rose to his face, and he caught a fold of her cloak. "Ellen, what is it? You must tell me."
Source English
The blood rose to his temples and he caught a fold of her cloak. "Ellen--what is it? You must tell me."
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15
Easy English
"Oh, presently. Let's run a race first. My feet are freezing to the ground," she cried. She gathered up the cloak and flew away across the snow. The dog jumped around her with loud, challenging barks.
For a moment Archer stood delighted, watching the red flash fly like a falling star across the snow. Then he ran after her. They met, laughing and out of breath, at a small gate into the park.
Source English
"Oh, presently--let's run a race first: my feet are freezing to the ground," she cried; and gathering up the cloak she fled away across the snow, the dog leaping about her with challenging barks. For a moment Archer stood watching, his gaze delighted by the flash of the red meteor against the snow; then he started after her, and they met, panting and laughing, at a wicket that led into the park.
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16
Easy English
She looked up at him and smiled. "I knew you'd come!"
Source English
She looked up at him and smiled. "I knew you'd come!"
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17
Easy English
"That shows you wanted me to," he answered. A joy far too great for their nonsense filled him. The white shine of the trees gave the air a strange, secret brightness. As they walked on over the snow, the ground seemed to sing under their feet.
Source English
"That shows you wanted me to," he returned, with a disproportionate joy in their nonsense. The white glitter of the trees filled the air with its own mysterious brightness, and as they walked on over the snow the ground seemed to sing under their feet.
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18
Easy English
"Where did you come from?" Madame Olenska asked.
Source English
"Where did you come from?" Madame Olenska asked.
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19
Easy English
He told her, and added, "It was because I got your note."
Source English
He told her, and added: "It was because I got your note."
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20
Easy English
After a pause she said, with a small chill in her voice, "May asked you to take care of me."
Source English
After a pause she said, with a just perceptible chill in her voice: "May asked you to take care of me."
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21
Easy English
"I didn't need any asking."
Source English
"I didn't need any asking."
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22
Easy English
"You mean... I'm so clearly helpless, so unable to defend myself? What a poor thing you must all think me! But women here seem never to feel the need. No more than the happy ones in heaven."
Source English
"You mean--I'm so evidently helpless and defenceless? What a poor thing you must all think me! But women here seem not--seem never to feel the need: any more than the blessed in heaven."
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23
Easy English
He lowered his voice to ask, "What sort of a need?"
Source English
He lowered his voice to ask: "What sort of a need?"
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24
Easy English
"Ah, don't ask me! I don't speak your language," she answered sharply.
Source English
"Ah, don't ask me! I don't speak your language," she retorted petulantly.
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25
Easy English
The answer hit him like a blow. He stood still and looked down at her.
Source English
The answer smote him like a blow, and he stood still in the path, looking down at her.
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26
Easy English
"What did I come for, if I don't speak yours?"
Source English
"What did I come for, if I don't speak yours?"
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27
Easy English
"Oh, my friend..." She laid her hand lightly on his arm. "Ellen," he begged, "why won't you tell me what's happened?"
Source English
"Oh, my friend--!" She laid her hand lightly on his arm, and he pleaded earnestly: "Ellen--why won't you tell me what's happened?"
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28
Easy English
She shrugged again. "Does anything ever happen in heaven?"
Source English
She shrugged again. "Does anything ever happen in heaven?"
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29
Easy English
He said nothing, and they walked a few yards in silence. Finally she said, "I will tell you. But where, where, where? One can't be alone for a minute in that great seminary of a house." A seminary is a school for church students.
"All the doors stand wide open," she went on. "And always a servant is bringing tea, or a log for the fire, or the newspaper! Is there nowhere in an American house where one may be alone?"
"You're so shy, and yet you're so public. I always feel I am in the convent again. Or on the stage, before a terribly polite audience that never claps." A convent is a house where women live shut away, for God.
Source English
He was silent, and they walked on a few yards without exchanging a word. Finally she said: "I will tell you--but where, where, where? One can't be alone for a minute in that great seminary of a house, with all the doors wide open, and always a servant bringing tea, or a log for the fire, or the newspaper! Is there nowhere in an American house where one may be by one's self? You're so shy, and yet you're so public. I always feel as if I were in the convent again--or on the stage, before a dreadfully polite audience that never applauds."
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30
Easy English
"Ah, you don't like us!" Archer cried.
Source English
"Ah, you don't like us!" Archer exclaimed.
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31
Easy English
They were walking past the old Patroon's house, with its low thick walls and small square windows. The shutters stood wide open. Through one newly washed window Archer caught the light of a fire.
Source English
They were walking past the house of the old Patroon, with its squat walls and small square windows compactly grouped about a central chimney. The shutters stood wide, and through one of the newly-washed windows Archer caught the light of a fire.
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32
Easy English
"Why, the house is open!" he said.
Source English
"Why--the house is open!" he said.
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33
Easy English
She stood still. "No, only for today. I wanted to see it. So Mr. van der Luyden told the servants to light the fire and open the windows. Then we could stop here this morning, on the way back from church."
She ran up the steps and tried the door. "What luck, it's still unlocked! Come in for a quiet talk. Mrs. van der Luyden has driven over to Rhinebeck to see her old aunts. No one will miss us at the great house for another hour."
Source English
She stood still. "No; only for today, at least. I wanted to see it, and Mr. van der Luyden had the fire lit and the windows opened, so that we might stop there on the way back from church this morning." She ran up the steps and tried the door. "It's still unlocked--what luck! Come in and we can have a quiet talk. Mrs. van der Luyden has driven over to see her old aunts at Rhinebeck and we shan't be missed at the house for another hour."
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34
Easy English
He followed her into the narrow passage. Her last words made his spirits drop. But now they rose again with a wild leap.
The plain little house stood there, its wood panels and bright metal shining in the firelight. It seemed made by magic to receive them. In the kitchen fireplace red coals still glowed under an iron pot on an old iron arm.
Chairs with seats of twisted dried grass faced each other across the fire. On the wall shelves stood rows of Delft plates, fine painted plates from Holland. Archer threw a log upon the coals.
Source English
He followed her into the narrow passage. His spirits, which had dropped at her last words, rose with an irrational leap. The homely little house stood there, its panels and brasses shining in the firelight, as if magically created to receive them. A big bed of embers still gleamed in the kitchen chimney, under an iron pot hung from an ancient crane. Rush-bottomed arm-chairs faced each other across the tiled hearth, and rows of Delft plates stood on shelves against the walls. Archer stooped over and threw a log upon the embers.
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35
Easy English
Madame Olenska dropped her cloak and sat in one of the chairs. Archer leaned against the fireplace and looked at her.
Source English
Madame Olenska, dropping her cloak, sat down in one of the chairs. Archer leaned against the chimney and looked at her.
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36
Easy English
"You're laughing now. But when you wrote me, you were unhappy," he said.
Source English
"You're laughing now; but when you wrote me you were unhappy," he said.
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37
Easy English
"Yes." She paused. "But I can't feel unhappy when you're here."
Source English
"Yes." She paused. "But I can't feel unhappy when you're here."
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38
Easy English
"I won't be here long," he answered. His lips felt stiff with the effort to say just so much and no more.
Source English
"I sha'n't be here long," he rejoined, his lips stiffening with the effort to say just so much and no more.
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39
Easy English
"No, I know. But I am improvident. I live in the moment when I'm happy." An improvident person saves nothing for the days ahead.
Source English
"No; I know. But I'm improvident: I live in the moment when I'm happy."
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40
Easy English
The words ran through him like a warm, dangerous call. To shut it out, he moved away and stood looking at the black trees against the snow.
But she seemed to move with him. He still saw her, between himself and the trees, bending low over the fire with her lazy smile. His heart was beating hard, like a servant who will not obey. What if she was running away from him? What if she waited to tell him so here, in this secret room?
Source English
The words stole through him like a temptation, and to close his senses to it he moved away from the hearth and stood gazing out at the black tree-boles against the snow. But it was as if she too had shifted her place, and he still saw her, between himself and the trees, drooping over the fire with her indolent smile. Archer's heart was beating insubordinately. What if it were from him that she had been running away, and if she had waited to tell him so till they were here alone together in this secret room?
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41
Easy English
"Ellen, if I'm really a help to you... if you really wanted me to come... tell me what's wrong. Tell me what you are running away from," he said, pressing her.
Source English
"Ellen, if I'm really a help to you--if you really wanted me to come--tell me what's wrong, tell me what it is you're running away from," he insisted.
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42
Easy English
He spoke without moving, without turning to look at her. If the thing was going to happen, it must happen in this way. The whole width of the room would lie between them. His eyes would stay fixed on the snow outside.
Source English
He spoke without shifting his position, without even turning to look at her: if the thing was to happen, it was to happen in this way, with the whole width of the room between them, and his eyes still fixed on the outer snow.
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43
Easy English
For a long moment she was silent. Archer imagined her coming softly up behind him, to throw her light arms around his neck. He waited, body and soul shaking with the wonder to come.
But his eyes, without his will, took in another picture. A man in a heavy coat, with his fur collar turned up, was walking up the path to the house. The man was Julius Beaufort.
Source English
For a long moment she was silent; and in that moment Archer imagined her, almost heard her, stealing up behind him to throw her light arms about his neck. While he waited, soul and body throbbing with the miracle to come, his eyes mechanically received the image of a heavily-coated man with his fur collar turned up who was advancing along the path to the house. The man was Julius Beaufort.
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44
Easy English
"Ah!" Archer cried, and burst out laughing.
Source English
"Ah--!" Archer cried, bursting into a laugh.
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45
Easy English
Madame Olenska sprang up to his side and slipped her hand into his. But after one look through the window her face went pale, and she drew back.
Source English
Madame Olenska had sprung up and moved to his side, slipping her hand into his; but after a glance through the window her face paled and she shrank back.
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46
Easy English
"So that was it?" Archer said, with a short, unkind laugh.
Source English
"So that was it?" Archer said derisively.
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47
Easy English
"I didn't know he was here," Madame Olenska said in a low voice. Her hand still held Archer's. But he pulled away from her, walked out into the passage, and threw open the door.
Source English
"I didn't know he was here," Madame Olenska murmured. Her hand still clung to Archer's; but he drew away from her, and walking out into the passage threw open the door of the house.
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48
Easy English
"Hello, Beaufort. This way! Madame Olenska was expecting you," he said.
Source English
"Hallo, Beaufort--this way! Madame Olenska was expecting you," he said.
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49
Easy English
On the journey back to New York next morning, Archer lived those last moments again and again. The memory was painfully bright and tired him out.
Source English
During his journey back to New York the next morning, Archer relived with a fatiguing vividness his last moments at Skuytercliff.
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50
Easy English
Beaufort was clearly annoyed at finding him with Madame Olenska. But, as usual, he carried it off in his high, lordly way. Beaufort simply ignored people whose presence was in his way. If they were sensitive, they felt unseen, as if they did not exist.
As the three walked back through the park, Archer felt this strange ghost-feeling. It was a blow to his vanity. But it also gave him a ghost's advantage. He could watch, and no one watched him.
Source English
Beaufort, though clearly annoyed at finding him with Madame Olenska, had, as usual, carried off the situation high-handedly. His way of ignoring people whose presence inconvenienced him actually gave them, if they were sensitive to it, a feeling of invisibility, of nonexistence. Archer, as the three strolled back through the park, was aware of this odd sense of disembodiment; and humbling as it was to his vanity it gave him the ghostly advantage of observing unobserved.
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51
Easy English
Beaufort walked into the little house with his usual easy, sure manner. But he could not smile away the deep line between his eyes. Clearly Madame Olenska did not know he was coming. True, her words to Archer half pointed that way.
Plainly she did not tell him where she was going when she left New York. That silence made him angry.
His stated reason was a discovery. Just the night before, he found a "perfect little house." It was not openly for sale, and just the thing for her. If she did not take it at once, someone else would. He blamed her loudly, half in play, for running away just when he found it.
Source English
Beaufort had entered the little house with his usual easy assurance; but he could not smile away the vertical line between his eyes. It was fairly clear that Madame Olenska had not known that he was coming, though her words to Archer had hinted at the possibility; at any rate, she had evidently not told him where she was going when she left New York, and her unexplained departure had exasperated him. The ostensible reason of his appearance was the discovery, the very night before, of a "perfect little house," not in the market, which was really just the thing for her, but would be snapped up instantly if she didn't take it; and he was loud in mock-reproaches for the dance she had led him in running away just as he had found it.
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52
Easy English
"That new trick of talking along a wire is not yet quite perfect," he said. "If it worked a little better, I need not be here at all. I could be warming my toes by the club fire at this minute. Instead I am dragging myself after you through the snow."
His anger sounded like a joke, but it was real. At this opening, Madame Olenska turned the talk another way. She spoke of the wild dream that people might one day talk from street to street. They might even talk from one town to another. Who could believe such a thing?
That set all three talking about Edgar Poe and Jules Verne. They said the easy, empty things that even intelligent people say at such times. No one wants to look simple by believing in a new machine too soon.
So the question of the telephone carried them safely back to the big house. The telephone was that new machine for talking along a wire.
Source English
"If only this new dodge for talking along a wire had been a little bit nearer perfection I might have told you all this from town, and been toasting my toes before the club fire at this minute, instead of tramping after you through the snow," he grumbled, disguising a real irritation under the pretence of it; and at this opening Madame Olenska twisted the talk away to the fantastic possibility that they might one day actually converse with each other from street to street, or even--incredible dream!--from one town to another. This struck from all three allusions to Edgar Poe and Jules Verne, and such platitudes as naturally rise to the lips of the most intelligent when they are talking against time, and dealing with a new invention in which it would seem ingenuous to believe too soon; and the question of the telephone carried them safely back to the big house.
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53
Easy English
Mrs. van der Luyden was not yet back. Archer said his goodbye and walked off to fetch the cutter. Beaufort followed the Countess Olenska indoors.
The van der Luydens did not love surprise visits. But Beaufort could probably count on being asked to dinner. Then he would be sent back to the station for the nine o'clock train. More than that he would certainly not get.
To his hosts, a gentleman traveling with no bags could not possibly wish to stay the night. And they liked Beaufort too little to offer him a bed. Even the offer would feel unpleasant.
Source English
Mrs. van der Luyden had not yet returned; and Archer took his leave and walked off to fetch the cutter, while Beaufort followed the Countess Olenska indoors. It was probable that, little as the van der Luydens encouraged unannounced visits, he could count on being asked to dine, and sent back to the station to catch the nine o'clock train; but more than that he would certainly not get, for it would be inconceivable to his hosts that a gentleman travelling without luggage should wish to spend the night, and distasteful to them to propose it to a person with whom they were on terms of such limited cordiality as Beaufort.
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54
Easy English
Beaufort knew all this, and surely saw it coming. Yet he still made the long journey for so small a reward. That showed how little he could bear to wait. Beyond doubt, he was chasing the Countess Olenska. And when Beaufort chased a pretty woman, he wanted only one thing.
His quiet, childless home bored him for years. Besides his more lasting comforts, he always looked for love adventures in his own circle. This was the man from whom, by her own words, Madame Olenska was flying.
Now came the question. Did she fly because his attentions were hateful to her? Or because she did not trust herself to say no to him? Or was all her talk of flight only a screen, and her leaving a clever move?
Source English
Beaufort knew all this, and must have foreseen it; and his taking the long journey for so small a reward gave the measure of his impatience. He was undeniably in pursuit of the Countess Olenska; and Beaufort had only one object in view in his pursuit of pretty women. His dull and childless home had long since palled on him; and in addition to more permanent consolations he was always in quest of amorous adventures in his own set. This was the man from whom Madame Olenska was avowedly flying: the question was whether she had fled because his importunities displeased her, or because she did not wholly trust herself to resist them; unless, indeed, all her talk of flight had been a blind, and her departure no more than a manœuvre.
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55
Easy English
Archer did not really believe that. So far he saw little of Madame Olenska. But he began to think he could read her face, and if not her face, her voice. Both showed that she was annoyed, even afraid, when Beaufort suddenly appeared.
Source English
Archer did not really believe this. Little as he had actually seen of Madame Olenska, he was beginning to think that he could read her face, and if not her face, her voice; and both had betrayed annoyance, and even dismay, at Beaufort's sudden appearance. But, after all, if this were the case, was it not worse than if she had left New York for the express purpose of meeting him? If she had done that, she ceased to be an object of interest, she threw in her lot with the vulgarest of dissemblers: a woman engaged in a love affair with Beaufort "classed" herself irretrievably.
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56
Easy English
But if that was true, was it not far worse than if she left on purpose to meet him? If she did, she stopped being interesting. She threw in her lot with the lowest kind of false women. A woman who had a love affair with Beaufort "classed" herself. She showed what she was, forever.
No, it was a thousand times worse if she judged Beaufort and was still drawn to him. She probably even looked down on him. Yet everything that set him apart gave him power over the men around her.
He was at home in two worlds, on both sides of the ocean. He moved easily among artists and actors and people the whole world watched. And he cared nothing for the narrow rules of one small place.
Beaufort was vulgar, he was uneducated, he was proud of his money. But his way of life, and a certain natural sharpness, made him better company than many finer men.
Those finer men, better in morals and higher in society, saw nothing beyond the Battery and the Central Park. How could a woman from a wider world not feel the difference and be drawn by it?
Source English
No, it was worse a thousand times if, judging Beaufort, and probably despising him, she was yet drawn to him by all that gave him an advantage over the other men about her: his habit of two continents and two societies, his familiar association with artists and actors and people generally in the world's eye, and his careless contempt for local prejudices. Beaufort was vulgar, he was uneducated, he was purse-proud; but the circumstances of his life, and a certain native shrewdness, made him better worth talking to than many men, morally and socially his betters, whose horizon was bounded by the Battery and the Central Park. How should any one coming from a wider world not feel the difference and be attracted by it?
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57
Easy English
That afternoon, in a burst of temper, Madame Olenska told Archer that they did not speak the same language. Archer knew that in some ways it was true.
But Beaufort understood every turn of her speech, and spoke it easily. His view of life, his tone, his manner, were all of one piece with Count Olenski's letter. Only they were rougher.
That might seem a weakness in the eyes of Count Olenski's wife. But Archer was too intelligent to think so.
A young woman like Ellen Olenska would not simply turn from everything that reminded her of her past. She might believe herself wholly at war with that past. But what once charmed her in it would charm her still, even against her will.
Source English
Madame Olenska, in a burst of irritation, had said to Archer that he and she did not talk the same language; and the young man knew that in some respects this was true. But Beaufort understood every turn of her dialect, and spoke it fluently: his view of life, his tone, his attitude, were merely a coarser reflection of those revealed in Count Olenski's letter. This might seem to be to his disadvantage with Count Olenski's wife; but Archer was too intelligent to think that a young woman like Ellen Olenska would necessarily recoil from everything that reminded her of her past. She might believe herself wholly in revolt against it; but what had charmed her in it would still charm her, even though it were against her will.
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58
Easy English
So, with painful fairness, the young man built the case for Beaufort, and for his victim, the one he hunted. A longing to open her eyes was strong in him. At moments he imagined that all she asked was to have them opened.
Source English
Thus, with a painful impartiality, did the young man make out the case for Beaufort, and for Beaufort's victim. A longing to enlighten her was strong in him; and there were moments when he imagined that all she asked was to be enlightened.
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59
Easy English
That evening he unpacked his box of books from London, full of things he wanted. There was a new book by Herbert Spencer. There were new fine stories by Alphonse Daudet, who wrote so many.
There was also "Middlemarch," a new story the reviews called most interesting. He refused three dinners to stay home with this feast.
But though he turned the pages with a book-lover's deep joy, he did not know what he read. One book after another dropped from his hand. Suddenly, among them, he came upon a small book of poems called "The House of Life." He ordered it only because the name drew him.
He took it up and fell into a world unlike any he knew from books. It was so warm, so rich, and so deeply tender. It gave new beauty to the oldest and simplest of human passions. That beauty would not let him go.
All night, through those magic pages, he followed the dream of a woman. She had the face of Ellen Olenska.
In the morning he woke and looked out at the brownstone houses across the street. He thought of his desk in Mr. Letterblair's office, and of the family's own seat in Grace Church. Then his hour at Skuytercliff seemed as far from real life as his dreams of the night.
Source English
That evening he unpacked his books from London. The box was full of things he had been waiting for impatiently; a new volume of Herbert Spencer, another collection of the prolific Alphonse Daudet's brilliant tales, and a novel called "Middlemarch," as to which there had lately been interesting things said in the reviews. He had declined three dinner invitations in favour of this feast; but though he turned the pages with the sensuous joy of the book-lover, he did not know what he was reading, and one book after another dropped from his hand. Suddenly, among them, he lit on a small volume of verse which he had ordered because the name had attracted him: "The House of Life." He took it up, and found himself plunged in an atmosphere unlike any he had ever breathed in books; so warm, so rich, and yet so ineffably tender, that it gave a new and haunting beauty to the most elementary of human passions. All through the night he pursued through those enchanted pages the vision of a woman who had the face of Ellen Olenska; but when he woke the next morning, and looked out at the brownstone houses across the street, and thought of his desk in Mr. Letterblair's office, and the family pew in Grace Church, his hour in the park of Skuytercliff became as far outside the pale of probability as the visions of the night.
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60
Easy English
"Mercy, how pale you look, Newland!" said Janey over the breakfast coffee-cups. And his mother added, "Newland, dear, I've noticed lately that you've been coughing. I do hope you're not working yourself too hard?"
For both ladies were sure of one thing. Under the iron rule of his older partners, his days passed in heavy, endless office work. He never thought it necessary to tell them the truth.
Source English
"Mercy, how pale you look, Newland!" Janey commented over the coffee-cups at breakfast; and his mother added: "Newland, dear, I've noticed lately that you've been coughing; I do hope you're not letting yourself be overworked?" For it was the conviction of both ladies that, under the iron despotism of his senior partners, the young man's life was spent in the most exhausting professional labours--and he had never thought it necessary to undeceive them.
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61
Easy English
The next two or three days dragged by heavily. Everyday life tasted like the dust of a dead fire in his mouth. At moments he felt that his future was burying him alive.
He heard nothing of the Countess Olenska, and nothing of the perfect little house. He met Beaufort at the club, but they only nodded across the card-tables.
On the fourth evening he found a note waiting for him at home. "Come late tomorrow: I must explain to you. Ellen." These were the only words it held.
Source English
The next two or three days dragged by heavily. The taste of the usual was like cinders in his mouth, and there were moments when he felt as if he were being buried alive under his future. He heard nothing of the Countess Olenska, or of the perfect little house, and though he met Beaufort at the club they merely nodded at each other across the whist-tables. It was not till the fourth evening that he found a note awaiting him on his return home. "Come late tomorrow: I must explain to you. Ellen." These were the only words it contained.
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62
Easy English
The young man was dining out that evening. He pushed the note into his pocket, smiling a little at its French turn of phrase, the "to you." After dinner he went to a play. He came home after midnight. Then he took out her note and read it slowly, many times.
There were several ways to answer, and through a long, restless night he weighed each one. When morning came, he decided. He would throw some clothes into a portmanteau, a big traveling bag. Then he would jump on a boat leaving that very afternoon for St. Augustine.
Source English
The young man, who was dining out, thrust the note into his pocket, smiling a little at the Frenchness of the "to you." After dinner he went to a play; and it was not until his return home, after midnight, that he drew Madame Olenska's missive out again and re-read it slowly a number of times. There were several ways of answering it, and he gave considerable thought to each one during the watches of an agitated night. That on which, when morning came, he finally decided was to pitch some clothes into a portmanteau and jump on board a boat that was leaving that very afternoon for St. Augustine.