The Age of Innocence Page #2

This house will be merrier|now that she's here.

- Thank you.|- Beaufort, pull up that tuffet.

I want a good gossip.

You already know about May and me.

She scolded me for not telling you.

Of course I know, and I'm so glad.

One doesn't tell such news|first in a crowd.

Careful there.

Don't catch your ring on your sleeve.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Come and see me someday.

It's a mistake for Ellen to parade up|5th Avenue with Julius...

...at the crowded hour...

...the very day after her arrival.

He's so flagrant. Even his wife|must know about Annie Ring.

Sillerton Jackson enjoyed his|frequent visits to the Archer home...

...more than the actual dining.

Newland Archer's mother...

...and his sister Janey were both|shy women and shrank from society.

But they liked to be well-informed|and doted on their bachelor friend.

Certain nuances escape Beaufort.

Necessarily.|Beaufort is a vulgar man.

Not in business. Most of New York|trusts him with its affairs.

My Grandfather Newland|always told Mother:

"Don't let that Beaufort|be introduced to the girls."

At least he's had the advantage|of association with gentlemen.

The Archers and the Mingotts|were the sturdiest branches...

...of New York's tangled family tree.

Granny Mingott's family could|embrace May's traditionalism...

...and tolerate Ellen's|unconventionality.

But Archer's family held fast|to the old ways.

His mother and sister relied|on him for every security.

He would always be,|Mrs. Archer assured May's mother:

"Their strong right hand. "

Was our new cousin at the ball?

I appreciate the Mingotts' support|of her, having her at the opera.

I admire their esprit de corps.

But why my son's engagement...

...should be mixed up with her comings|and goings, I don't see.

In any case, she was not at the ball.

At least she had that decency.

Does she wear a round hat|or a bonnet in the afternoon?

The dress she wore|to the opera was so plain.

- It was in better taste not to go.|- It wasn't taste.

May said Ellen decided|her dress wasn't smart enough.

Poor Ellen.

We must always remember|the eccentric bringing-up she had.

What can you expect of a girl who wore|black satin at her coming-out ball?

It's odd she kept such an ugly name|as Ellen when she married the count.

I'd have changed it to Elaine.

Why?

I don't know.

It sounds more...

...Polish.

It sounds more conspicuous.|That can hardly be what she wishes.

Why shouldn't she be conspicuous|if she chooses?

She made an awful marriage,|but should she hide her head?

Should she slink around|as if she disgraced herself?

She's had a sad life.|That doesn't make her an outcast.

I'm sure that's the line|the Mingotts mean to take.

I needn't wait for their cue,|if that's what you mean.

I'm told she's looking for a house.|She intends to live here.

I hear she means to get a divorce.

I hope she will.

Understandably, her marriage|was intolerable.

- There are the rumors too.|- I've heard them.

The secretary.

He helped get her away|from the husband.

They say the count kept her|practically a prisoner.

Certainly the count|had his own way of life.

- You knew him?|- I heard of him at Nice.

Handsome, they say...

...but eyes with a lot of lashes.

When he wasn't with women...

...he was collecting china.

Paying any price for both,|I understand.

Then where's the blame?

Any one of us would have helped the|countess, just as the secretary did.

He was still helping her a year later.

Somebody met them|living together at Lausanne.

Living together?

Why not? She has the right|to make her life over.

Why bury a woman alive|if her husband prefers whores?

It's hardly a question of entombment.

The countess is here, after all.

Or do you believe a woman|should share the same freedoms as men?

I suppose I do. Yes, I do.

Apparently Count Olenski|takes a similarly modern view.

I never heard of him lifting a finger|to get his wife back.

Three days later,|the unthinkable happened.

Mrs. Manson Mingott|sent out invitations...

...summoning everyone|to a formal dinner.

Such an occasion demanded|the most careful consideration.

It required the appropriate plate.

It called for three extra footmen...

...two dishes for each course|and a Roman punch in the middle.

The dinner, read the invitation...

...was "to meet the Countess Olenska. "

And New York declined.

"Regret, unable to accept. "

And from our own family.

No one cares enough...

They all lived in a kind of|hieroglyphic world.

The real thing was never said|or done or even thought...

...but only represented|by a set of arbitrary signs.

Archer knew these signs. They were|not subtle and were not meant to be.

They were more than a simple snubbing.

They were an eradication.

There was a single court of appeal.

He would plead their case|before the van der Luydens.

And all this, you think, is due|to some intentional interference by--

Larry Lefferts. I'm certain of it.

The van der Luydens dwelled|above all the cities' families...

...in a kind of|super terrestrial twilight.

Archer appealed to their exquisitely|refined sense of tribal order.

And he spoke plainly.

Whenever poor Gertrude Lefferts begins|to suspect her husband of something...

...Larry makes some great diversionary|fuss to show how moral he is.

It's the principle that I dislike.

I mean, if a member of a well-known|family is backed by that family...

...it should be considered final.

We felt this slight on the countess|shouldn't pass without consulting you.

We're giving a dinner for our cousin,|the Duke of St. Austrey...

...who arrives next week|on the Russia.

I'm sure Louisa will be|as glad as I am...

...if Countess Olenska will let us|include her among our guests.

The occasion was a solemn one.

But the countess arrived|rather late...

...signaling a carelessness|of which she was entirely unaware.

She entered, without haste|or embarrassment...

...the drawing room in which|New York's most chosen company...

...was somewhat awfully assembled.

Countess Olenska.

Good evening.

We're delighted you're here.

The Duke of St. Austrey.|May I present Countess Olenska.

The Trevenna George ll plate was out.

So was the van der Luyden Lowestoft|from the East India Company...

...and the Dagonet Crown Derby.

Dining with the van der Luydens|was, at best, no light matter.

Dining there with a duke|who was their cousin...

...was almost a religious solemnity.

When the van der Luyden's chose,|they knew how to give a lesson.

Excuse me.

It was not the custom in New York...

...for a lady to get up|and walk away from one gentleman...

...in order to seek|the company of another.

But the countess|did not observe this rule.

I want you to talk to me about May.

You knew the duke before?

From Nice.

We saw him every winter. He's fond of|gambling and came to our house often.

He wears the same suit every evening.|He thinks it brings him luck.

He's the dullest man I ever met.

But he seems to be admired here.

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