The Age of Innocence · Parallel

01

Easy English

Archer walked down the sandy main street of St. Augustine, toward the house people said was Mr. Welland's. There May Welland stood under a magnolia, a tree with white flowers. The sun was in her hair. He asked himself why he waited so long to come.

Source English

When Archer walked down the sandy main street of St. Augustine to the house which had been pointed out to him as Mr. Welland's, and saw May Welland standing under a magnolia with the sun in her hair, he wondered why he had waited so long to come.

02

Easy English

Here was the truth. Here was the real thing. Here was the life that belonged to him.

He liked to think that he looked down on foolish rules. Yet he was afraid to leave his desk. What would people say about a stolen holiday?

Source English

Here was the truth, here was reality, here was the life that belonged to him; and he, who fancied himself so scornful of arbitrary restraints, had been afraid to break away from his desk because of what people might think of his stealing a holiday!

03

Easy English

Her first words were, "Newland, has anything happened?"

He thought a truly "womanly" woman would simply read the reason in his eyes.

"Yes. I found I had to see you," he answered.

Her happy face went red, and the surprise lost its coldness. He saw that she would forgive him easily. Mr. Letterblair might frown, in his mild way. But this kindly family would soon smile even that away.

Source English

Her first exclamation was: "Newland--has anything happened?" and it occurred to him that it would have been more "feminine" if she had instantly read in his eyes why he had come. But when he answered: "Yes--I found I had to see you," her happy blushes took the chill from her surprise, and he saw how easily he would be forgiven, and how soon even Mr. Letterblair's mild disapproval would be smiled away by a tolerant family.

04

Easy English

So early, the main street allowed no more than a formal greeting. Archer longed to be alone with May and pour out his heart. Breakfast at the Wellands' came late, and a whole hour remained. So instead of asking him in, she proposed a walk to an old orange garden beyond the town.

That morning she took a small boat out on the river. The sun made a net of gold on the little waves, and it seemed to catch her too. Her blown hair shone across her warm brown face like silver wire.

Her eyes too looked lighter, almost pale, young and clear. She walked beside Archer with her long swinging step. Her face was calm and empty, like the stone figure of a young runner.

Source English

Early as it was, the main street was no place for any but formal greetings, and Archer longed to be alone with May, and to pour out all his tenderness and his impatience. It still lacked an hour to the late Welland breakfast-time, and instead of asking him to come in she proposed that they should walk out to an old orange-garden beyond the town. She had just been for a row on the river, and the sun that netted the little waves with gold seemed to have caught her in its meshes. Across the warm brown of her cheek her blown hair glittered like silver wire; and her eyes too looked lighter, almost pale in their youthful limpidity. As she walked beside Archer with her long swinging gait her face wore the vacant serenity of a young marble athlete.

05

Easy English

To his tired mind, the sight was as restful as the blue sky and the lazy river. They sat down on a seat under the orange trees, and he put his arm around her and kissed her. It was like drinking at a cold spring with the sun on it.

But perhaps he pressed harder than he meant. The blood rose in her face, and she pulled back, surprised.

Source English

To Archer's strained nerves the vision was as soothing as the sight of the blue sky and the lazy river. They sat down on a bench under the orange-trees and he put his arm about her and kissed her. It was like drinking at a cold spring with the sun on it; but his pressure may have been more vehement than he had intended, for the blood rose to her face and she drew back as if he had startled her.

06

Easy English

"What is it?" he asked, smiling.

She looked at him, surprised, and answered, "Nothing."

Source English

"What is it?" he asked, smiling; and she looked at him with surprise, and answered: "Nothing."

07

Easy English

Something shy and uncomfortable fell between them, and her hand slipped out of his. He had kissed her lips only once before, in one quick moment among the flowers at the Beauforts' ball. Now he saw that she was shaken out of her cool, boyish calm.

Source English

A slight embarrassment fell on them, and her hand slipped out of his. It was the only time that he had kissed her on the lips except for their fugitive embrace in the Beaufort conservatory, and he saw that she was disturbed, and shaken out of her cool boyish composure.

08

Easy English

"Tell me what you do all day," he said. He crossed his arms under his head and pushed his hat forward against the sun. While she talked of simple, familiar things, he could follow his own thoughts in peace. So he listened.

She swam, she sailed, she rode horses. Now and then a man-of-war, a great fighting ship, came in. Then the rough little hotel held a dance. A few pleasant Philadelphia and Baltimore people were staying there too. The Selfridge Merrys came down for three weeks, because Kate Merry was ill in her chest.

They planned a lawn tennis court on the sands. Lawn tennis was a new game with a ball and a net. But only Kate and May had racquets, the light tools for hitting the ball. Most people there did not even know the game.

Source English

"Tell me what you do all day," he said, crossing his arms under his tilted-back head, and pushing his hat forward to screen the sun-dazzle. To let her talk about familiar and simple things was the easiest way of carrying on his own independent train of thought; and he sat listening to her simple chronicle of swimming, sailing and riding, varied by an occasional dance at the primitive inn when a man-of-war came in. A few pleasant people from Philadelphia and Baltimore were picknicking at the inn, and the Selfridge Merrys had come down for three weeks because Kate Merry had had bronchitis. They were planning to lay out a lawn tennis court on the sands; but no one but Kate and May had racquets, and most of the people had not even heard of the game.

09

Easy English

All this kept her very busy. So far she only looked into the book of poems Archer sent the week before, the "Sonnets from the Portuguese." But she was learning by memory, word for word, "How they brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix."

It was one of the first things he ever read to her. And it pleased her that Kate Merry never even heard of a poet called Robert Browning.

Source English

All this kept her very busy, and she had not had time to do more than look at the little vellum book that Archer had sent her the week before (the "Sonnets from the Portuguese"); but she was learning by heart "How they brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix," because it was one of the first things he had ever read to her; and it amused her to be able to tell him that Kate Merry had never even heard of a poet called Robert Browning.

10

Easy English

Suddenly she jumped up. "We shall be late for breakfast," she cried. They hurried back to the tired, falling-down house where the Wellands passed the winter.

The house had a porch that served no purpose. A porch was a covered open space at the front. Pink and pale blue flowers grew wild and uncut around it.

Mr. Welland could not bear the rough and careless southern hotel. So every year, at great cost and against great difficulties, Mrs. Welland built up a home for him here. Her servants were partly unhappy ones from New York, and partly Black workers from the town.

Source English

Presently she started up, exclaiming that they would be late for breakfast; and they hurried back to the tumble-down house with its pointless porch and unpruned hedge of plumbago and pink geraniums where the Wellands were installed for the winter. Mr. Welland's sensitive domesticity shrank from the discomforts of the slovenly southern hotel, and at immense expense, and in face of almost insuperable difficulties, Mrs. Welland was obliged, year after year, to improvise an establishment partly made up of discontented New York servants and partly drawn from the local African supply.

11

Easy English

"The doctors want my husband to feel that he is in his own home," she explained. She said it winter after winter, to the kind people from Philadelphia and Baltimore. "Otherwise he would be so unhappy that the warm air would do him no good."

Mr. Welland himself shone with happiness across the breakfast table. The table, as if by some quiet wonder, carried every kind of fine food. "You see, my dear fellow, we camp here," he told Archer. "We really and truly camp. I tell my wife and May that I want to teach them the hard, simple life."

Source English

"The doctors want my husband to feel that he is in his own home; otherwise he would be so wretched that the climate would not do him any good," she explained, winter after winter, to the sympathising Philadelphians and Baltimoreans; and Mr. Welland, beaming across a breakfast table miraculously supplied with the most varied delicacies, was presently saying to Archer: "You see, my dear fellow, we camp--we literally camp. I tell my wife and May that I want to teach them how to rough it."

12

Easy English

Mr. and Mrs. Welland were as surprised as their daughter by his sudden coming. But he explained that he felt a bad cold coming on. To Mr. Welland, that seemed reason enough to drop any duty in the world.

Source English

Mr. and Mrs. Welland had been as much surprised as their daughter by the young man's sudden arrival; but it had occurred to him to explain that he had felt himself on the verge of a nasty cold, and this seemed to Mr. Welland an all-sufficient reason for abandoning any duty.

13

Easy English

"You can't be too careful, especially toward spring," he said. He filled his plate with small pale cakes and covered them in golden syrup, sugar cooked thick and sweet.

"I was not careful at your age, and see the result. May spends her winters in a wild, empty place, with an old invalid. She should be dancing at the Assemblies now, the great winter dances of New York."

Source English

"You can't be too careful, especially toward spring," he said, heaping his plate with straw-coloured griddle-cakes and drowning them in golden syrup. "If I'd only been as prudent at your age May would have been dancing at the Assemblies now, instead of spending her winters in a wilderness with an old invalid."

14

Easy English

"Oh, but I love it here, Papa. You know I do. If only Newland could stay, I would like it a thousand times better than New York."

Source English

"Oh, but I love it here, Papa; you know I do. If only Newland could stay I should like it a thousand times better than New York."

15

Easy English

"Newland must stay till his cold is quite gone," said Mrs. Welland kindly.

The young man laughed and said there was also such a thing as a man's work.

Source English

"Newland must stay till he has quite thrown off his cold," said Mrs. Welland indulgently; and the young man laughed, and said he supposed there was such a thing as one's profession.

16

Easy English

Still, with a few telegrams to his law firm, he made his cold last a week. There was a bitter joke hidden in this kindness. Mr. Letterblair was easy on him because his brilliant young partner settled the troublesome Olenski divorce, and settled it well.

Mr. Letterblair wrote to Mrs. Welland that Mr. Archer gave "a service beyond price" to the whole family. Old Mrs. Manson Mingott was especially pleased.

One day May drove out with her father in the only carriage the place had. Mrs. Welland saw her chance and turned to a subject she never touched when May was near.

Source English

He managed, however, after an exchange of telegrams with the firm, to make his cold last a week; and it shed an ironic light on the situation to know that Mr. Letterblair's indulgence was partly due to the satisfactory way in which his brilliant young junior partner had settled the troublesome matter of the Olenski divorce. Mr. Letterblair had let Mrs. Welland know that Mr. Archer had "rendered an invaluable service" to the whole family, and that old Mrs. Manson Mingott had been particularly pleased; and one day when May had gone for a drive with her father in the only vehicle the place produced Mrs. Welland took occasion to touch on a topic which she always avoided in her daughter's presence.

17

Easy English

"I'm afraid Ellen's ideas are not at all like ours. She was barely eighteen when Medora Manson took her back to Europe. Remember the excitement when she came to her coming-out ball in black? Another of Medora's strange ideas.

"Really, this time it almost told the future. That was at least twelve years ago. Ellen has never once been back to America. No wonder she is completely European now."

Source English

"I'm afraid Ellen's ideas are not at all like ours. She was barely eighteen when Medora Manson took her back to Europe--you remember the excitement when she appeared in black at her coming-out ball? Another of Medora's fads--really this time it was almost prophetic! That must have been at least twelve years ago; and since then Ellen has never been to America. No wonder she is completely Europeanised."

18

Easy English

"But European society does not allow divorce," Archer said. "Countess Olenska thought she was following American ideas when she asked for her freedom." He spoke her name for the first time since Skuytercliff, and felt his face turn red.

Source English

"But European society is not given to divorce: Countess Olenska thought she would be conforming to American ideas in asking for her freedom." It was the first time that the young man had pronounced her name since he had left Skuytercliff, and he felt the colour rise to his cheek.

19

Easy English

Mrs. Welland smiled, as if she felt sorry for him.

"That is just like the strange stories foreigners invent about us. They think we eat dinner at two o'clock and approve of divorce. That is why it seems so foolish to open our houses to them. They accept our welcome, then go home and repeat the same stupid stories."

Source English

Mrs. Welland smiled compassionately. "That is just like the extraordinary things that foreigners invent about us. They think we dine at two o'clock and countenance divorce! That is why it seems to me so foolish to entertain them when they come to New York. They accept our hospitality, and then they go home and repeat the same stupid stories."

20

Easy English

Archer said nothing, and she went on. "But we thank you deeply for persuading Ellen to give up the idea. Her grandmother and her uncle Lovell could do nothing with her. Both wrote that she changed her mind only because of you. She said so herself to her grandmother.

"She admires you beyond measure. Poor Ellen. She was always a child that no one could lead. I wonder what her fate will be?"

A fate is the end that waits for a life. Archer's answer stayed inside him, and burned.

Source English

Archer made no comment on this, and Mrs. Welland continued: "But we do most thoroughly appreciate your persuading Ellen to give up the idea. Her grandmother and her uncle Lovell could do nothing with her; both of them have written that her changing her mind was entirely due to your influence--in fact she said so to her grandmother. She has an unbounded admiration for you. Poor Ellen--she was always a wayward child. I wonder what her fate will be?"

21

Easy English

"Her fate is what we have all worked to make it. You would all rather see her as Beaufort's mistress, a lover kept without marriage, than as some good man's wife. Then you have gone just the right way about it."

Source English

"What we've all contrived to make it," he felt like answering. "If you'd all of you rather she should be Beaufort's mistress than some decent fellow's wife you've certainly gone the right way about it."

22

Easy English

What would Mrs. Welland say if he spoke those words aloud? He could picture her firm, calm face falling apart. A life of ruling over small things gave it a false air of authority. Authority is the look of the right to rule.

Yet some fresh beauty, like her daughter's, still lay on it. Must May's face too grow thick with middle age? Must it set into this same look of innocence, an innocence no truth could break?

Source English

He wondered what Mrs. Welland would have said if he had uttered the words instead of merely thinking them. He could picture the sudden decomposure of her firm placid features, to which a lifelong mastery over trifles had given an air of factitious authority. Traces still lingered on them of a fresh beauty like her daughter's; and he asked himself if May's face was doomed to thicken into the same middle-aged image of invincible innocence.

23

Easy English

Ah, no. He did not want May to have that kind of innocence. That innocence closes the mind, so it cannot imagine anything new. It closes the heart against experience.

Source English

Ah, no, he did not want May to have that kind of innocence, the innocence that seals the mind against imagination and the heart against experience!

24

Easy English

"Thank God the horrible business never reached the newspapers," Mrs. Welland went on. "I truly believe such news would kill my husband. I don't know the details, and I ask not to know them. I told poor Ellen so, when she tried to talk to me about it.

"I care for an invalid, and I must keep my mind bright and happy. But Mr. Welland was deeply upset. He woke a little hot and ill each morning while we waited for the decision.

"The horror of it was that his own girl might learn that such things are possible. But of course, dear Newland, you felt that too. We all knew that you were thinking of May."

Source English

"I verily believe," Mrs. Welland continued, "that if the horrible business had come out in the newspapers it would have been my husband's death-blow. I don't know any of the details; I only ask not to, as I told poor Ellen when she tried to talk to me about it. Having an invalid to care for, I have to keep my mind bright and happy. But Mr. Welland was terribly upset; he had a slight temperature every morning while we were waiting to hear what had been decided. It was the horror of his girl's learning that such things were possible--but of course, dear Newland, you felt that too. We all knew that you were thinking of May."

25

Easy English

"I'm always thinking of May," the young man answered. He rose to cut the talk short.

Source English

"I'm always thinking of May," the young man rejoined, rising to cut short the conversation.

26

Easy English

His plan for this talk was to press Mrs. Welland for an earlier wedding day. But no argument came to him that could move her. It was almost a relief when Mr. Welland and May drove up to the door.

Source English

He had meant to seize the opportunity of his private talk with Mrs. Welland to urge her to advance the date of his marriage. But he could think of no arguments that would move her, and with a sense of relief he saw Mr. Welland and May driving up to the door.

27

Easy English

His one hope was to beg May herself, once more. On the day before he left, he walked with her to the broken old garden of the Spanish Mission. The Mission was a church house, built long ago by the Spanish. Among such walls, it was easy to speak of Europe.

May looked her loveliest under a wide hat. Its edge threw a shadow, full of secrets, over her too-clear eyes. He spoke of Granada and the Alhambra, old and beautiful places in Spain. Her face turned bright, hungry to hear more.

Source English

His only hope was to plead again with May, and on the day before his departure he walked with her to the ruinous garden of the Spanish Mission. The background lent itself to allusions to European scenes; and May, who was looking her loveliest under a wide-brimmed hat that cast a shadow of mystery over her too-clear eyes, kindled into eagerness as he spoke of Granada and the Alhambra.

28

Easy English

"We might see it all this spring," he urged. "Even the great Easter days at Seville." He asked for much, to win at least a small yes.

Source English

"We might be seeing it all this spring--even the Easter ceremonies at Seville," he urged, exaggerating his demands in the hope of a larger concession.

29

Easy English

"Easter in Seville? And Lent begins next week!" she laughed.

Source English

"Easter in Seville? And it will be Lent next week!" she laughed.

30

Easy English

"Why shouldn't we be married in Lent?" he answered. But she looked so shocked that he saw his mistake.

Source English

"Why shouldn't we be married in Lent?" he rejoined; but she looked so shocked that he saw his mistake.

31

Easy English

"Of course I didn't mean that, dearest. But soon after Easter, so we could sail at the end of April. I know I could arrange it at the office."

Source English

"Of course I didn't mean that, dearest; but soon after Easter--so that we could sail at the end of April. I know I could arrange it at the office."

32

Easy English

She smiled dreamily. But he saw the truth. To dream of it was enough for her. It was like hearing him read aloud from his books of poems. The beautiful things in them could not possibly happen in real life.

Source English

She smiled dreamily upon the possibility; but he perceived that to dream of it sufficed her. It was like hearing him read aloud out of his poetry books the beautiful things that could not possibly happen in real life.

33

Easy English

"Oh, do go on, Newland. I do love your talk of these places."

Source English

"Oh, do go on, Newland; I do love your descriptions."

34

Easy English

"But why should it stay a story? Why shouldn't we make it real?"

Source English

"But why should they be only descriptions? Why shouldn't we make them real?"

35

Easy English

"We shall, dearest. Of course. Next year." Her voice rested on the words with love.

Source English

"We shall, dearest, of course; next year." Her voice lingered over it.

36

Easy English

"Don't you want it to be real sooner? Can't I persuade you to break away now?"

Source English

"Don't you want them to be real sooner? Can't I persuade you to break away now?"

37

Easy English

She bent her head, and her hat's wide edge hid her face, like a friend in the secret.

Source English

She bowed her head, vanishing from him under her conniving hat-brim.

38

Easy English

"Why should we dream away another year? Look at me, dear! Don't you understand how I want you for my wife?"

Source English

"Why should we dream away another year? Look at me, dear! Don't you understand how I want you for my wife?"

39

Easy English

For a moment she did not move. Then she raised eyes so clear, and so without hope, that he almost let her go. But suddenly her look changed and deepened, in a way he could not read.

"I'm not sure if I do understand," she said. "Is it... is it because you're not certain of still caring for me?"

Source English

For a moment she remained motionless; then she raised on him eyes of such despairing clearness that he half-released her waist from his hold. But suddenly her look changed and deepened inscrutably. "I'm not sure if I do understand," she said. "Is it--is it because you're not certain of continuing to care for me?"

40

Easy English

Archer sprang up from the seat. "My God... perhaps... I don't know," he broke out angrily.

Source English

Archer sprang up from his seat. "My God--perhaps--I don't know," he broke out angrily.

41

Easy English

May rose too, and they faced each other. She seemed to grow before him, no longer a girl but a woman, quiet and strong. Both were silent for a moment, as if their own words frightened them. Then she said in a low voice, "If that is it... is there someone else?"

Source English

May Welland rose also; as they faced each other she seemed to grow in womanly stature and dignity. Both were silent for a moment, as if dismayed by the unforeseen trend of their words: then she said in a low voice: "If that is it--is there some one else?"

42

Easy English

"Someone else... between you and me?" He repeated her words slowly, as if he needed time to ask himself the same thing.

She heard how unsure his voice was, and her own voice deepened. "Let's talk openly, Newland. Sometimes I have felt a difference in you. Most of all since everyone learned that we are engaged."

Source English

"Some one else--between you and me?" He echoed her words slowly, as though they were only half-intelligible and he wanted time to repeat the question to himself. She seemed to catch the uncertainty of his voice, for she went on in a deepening tone: "Let us talk frankly, Newland. Sometimes I've felt a difference in you; especially since our engagement has been announced."

43

Easy English

"Dear, what madness!" he cried.

Source English

"Dear--what madness!" he recovered himself to exclaim.

44

Easy English

She met his words with a small smile. "If it is madness, talking will not hurt us." She paused, and lifted her head in her high, fine way. "Or even if it's true, why shouldn't we speak of it? A man can so easily make a mistake."

Source English

She met his protest with a faint smile. "If it is, it won't hurt us to talk about it." She paused, and added, lifting her head with one of her noble movements: "Or even if it's true: why shouldn't we speak of it? You might so easily have made a mistake."

45

Easy English

He looked down at the black pattern of leaves on the sunny path. "Mistakes are always easy to make," he said. "But if I made the kind you speak of, would I beg you now to hurry our marriage?"

Source English

He lowered his head, staring at the black leaf-pattern on the sunny path at their feet. "Mistakes are always easy to make; but if I had made one of the kind you suggest, is it likely that I should be imploring you to hasten our marriage?"

46

Easy English

She looked down too. With the point of her sunshade she troubled the pattern of leaves and searched for words. A sunshade was a light cover on a stick, carried against the sun.

"Yes," she said at last. "You might want to settle the question, once and for all. It is one way."

Source English

She looked downward too, disturbing the pattern with the point of her sunshade while she struggled for expression. "Yes," she said at length. "You might want--once for all--to settle the question: it's one way."

47

Easy English

Her quiet, clear sense surprised him. But he did not make the mistake of thinking her cold. Under her hat's edge he saw how pale her face was. Her lips were held quiet and steady. But just above them a small shaking would not stop.

Source English

Her quiet lucidity startled him, but did not mislead him into thinking her insensible. Under her hat-brim he saw the pallor of her profile, and a slight tremor of the nostril above her resolutely steadied lips.

48

Easy English

"Well?" he asked. He sat down again and looked up at her. His face was serious, though he tried to make it playful.

Source English

"Well--?" he questioned, sitting down on the bench, and looking up at her with a frown that he tried to make playful.

49

Easy English

She dropped back into her place beside him and went on. "You mustn't think that a girl knows as little as her parents imagine. One hears things, and one notices. One has one's own feelings and ideas."

"And I knew about someone else long before you told me that you cared for me. Everyone was talking about it, two years ago at Newport.

"Once, at a dance, I saw you two sitting together outside on the porch. When she came back into the house, her face was sad, and I felt sorry for her. I remembered it afterward, when we became engaged."

Source English

She dropped back into her seat and went on: "You mustn't think that a girl knows as little as her parents imagine. One hears and one notices--one has one's feelings and ideas. And of course, long before you told me that you cared for me, I'd known that there was some one else you were interested in; every one was talking about it two years ago at Newport. And once I saw you sitting together on the verandah at a dance--and when she came back into the house her face was sad, and I felt sorry for her; I remembered it afterward, when we were engaged."

50

Easy English

Her voice sank almost to a whisper. She sat closing and opening her hands around the handle of her sunshade. The young man laid his hand gently on hers. His heart swelled with a relief too great for words.

Source English

Her voice had sunk almost to a whisper, and she sat clasping and unclasping her hands about the handle of her sunshade. The young man laid his upon them with a gentle pressure; his heart dilated with an inexpressible relief.

51

Easy English

"My dear child, was that it? If you only knew the truth!"

Source English

"My dear child--was that it? If you only knew the truth!"

52

Easy English

She raised her head quickly. "Then there is a truth I don't know?"

Source English

She raised her head quickly. "Then there is a truth I don't know?"

53

Easy English

He kept his hand over hers. "I meant the truth about that old story you speak of."

Source English

He kept his hand over hers. "I meant, the truth about the old story you speak of."

54

Easy English

"But that's what I want to know, Newland. What I ought to know. I could not build my happiness on a wrong, an unfairness, to somebody else. And I want to believe that you feel the same. What sort of life could we build on such ground?"

Source English

"But that's what I want to know, Newland--what I ought to know. I couldn't have my happiness made out of a wrong--an unfairness--to somebody else. And I want to believe that it would be the same with you. What sort of a life could we build on such foundations?"

55

Easy English

Her face wore a look of such sad, high courage that he wanted to bow down at her feet.

"I have wanted to say this for a long time," she went on. "When two people really love each other, I understand this. There may be times when it is right to go against public opinion."

"If you feel yourself promised to the person we have spoken of..." she said slowly. "If there is any way to keep that promise... even by her getting a divorce... Newland, don't give her up because of me!"

Source English

Her face had taken on a look of such tragic courage that he felt like bowing himself down at her feet. "I've wanted to say this for a long time," she went on. "I've wanted to tell you that, when two people really love each other, I understand that there may be situations which make it right that they should--should go against public opinion. And if you feel yourself in any way pledged ... pledged to the person we've spoken of ... and if there is any way ... any way in which you can fulfill your pledge ... even by her getting a divorce ... Newland, don't give her up because of me!"

56

Easy English

So her fear pointed at that old story, his romance with Mrs. Thorley Rushworth. Surprise came first, for that story lay completely in the past. Then wonder came, at the largeness of her offer. She stood ready to break every rule her world lived by.

At any other time, this alone would fill him with wonder. The Wellands' daughter was urging him to marry his former mistress.

But his head was still turning. For one moment they had stood at the edge of a great drop, and he saw over it. He felt a new wonder, close to fear, at the hidden world of young girls.

Source English

His surprise at discovering that her fears had fastened upon an episode so remote and so completely of the past as his love-affair with Mrs. Thorley Rushworth gave way to wonder at the generosity of her view. There was something superhuman in an attitude so recklessly unorthodox, and if other problems had not pressed on him he would have been lost in wonder at the prodigy of the Wellands' daughter urging him to marry his former mistress. But he was still dizzy with the glimpse of the precipice they had skirted, and full of a new awe at the mystery of young-girlhood.

57

Easy English

For a moment he could not speak. Then he said, "There is no promise. There is no duty of the kind you think."

"Such cases don't always... they don't come as simply as... but that doesn't matter."

"I love your great heart, because I feel as you do about those things. Each case must be judged by itself, on its own, apart from the stupid old rules. I mean... each woman has a right to her freedom..."

He pulled himself up short, surprised at the road his own words were taking. Then he looked at her with a smile.

"You understand so many things, dearest. Can't you go a little farther? Waiting is only another form of the same foolish old rules. Can't you see how useless it is to obey them? If there is no one and nothing between us, isn't that a reason to marry quickly, and not to wait?"

Source English

For a moment he could not speak; then he said: "There is no pledge--no obligation whatever--of the kind you think. Such cases don't always--present themselves quite as simply as ... But that's no matter ... I love your generosity, because I feel as you do about those things ... I feel that each case must be judged individually, on its own merits ... irrespective of stupid conventionalities ... I mean, each woman's right to her liberty--" He pulled himself up, startled by the turn his thoughts had taken, and went on, looking at her with a smile: "Since you understand so many things, dearest, can't you go a little farther, and understand the uselessness of our submitting to another form of the same foolish conventionalities? If there's no one and nothing between us, isn't that an argument for marrying quickly, rather than for more delay?"

58

Easy English

Her face filled with color and joy, and she lifted it to his. As he bent toward it, he saw that her eyes were full of happy tears. But a moment later the woman in her seemed to fall away. She came down from that high place, back into being a helpless, fearful girl.

Her courage, he saw, was all for others, and for herself she had none. Speaking out had cost her far more than her careful calm showed. At his first word of comfort, she dropped back into the usual. She was like a child that runs too far, then hurries back to its mother's arms.

Source English

She flushed with joy and lifted her face to his; as he bent to it he saw that her eyes were full of happy tears. But in another moment she seemed to have descended from her womanly eminence to helpless and timorous girlhood; and he understood that her courage and initiative were all for others, and that she had none for herself. It was evident that the effort of speaking had been much greater than her studied composure betrayed, and that at his first word of reassurance she had dropped back into the usual, as a too-adventurous child takes refuge in its mother's arms.

59

Easy English

Archer had no heart to go on begging. He was too deeply disappointed. For one moment a new being looked at him, deeply, out of May's clear eyes. Now that being was gone.

May seemed to feel his sadness, but did not know how to soften it. They stood up and walked home in silence.

Source English

Archer had no heart to go on pleading with her; he was too much disappointed at the vanishing of the new being who had cast that one deep look at him from her transparent eyes. May seemed to be aware of his disappointment, but without knowing how to alleviate it; and they stood up and walked silently home.