The Age of Innocence Page #5

When she came into the house,|her face looked so sad...

...I felt sorry for her.|Even after, when we were engaged...

...I could still see how she looked--

Is that all you've been|concerned about?

It's long past.

Then is there something else?

No.

Of course not.

Whatever it may have been...

...I can't have my happiness made out|of a wrong to someone else.

If promises were made, or if|you feel pledged to this person...

...even if it means her divorce,|don't give her up because of me.

There are no pledges.

There are no promises that matter.

That's all I've been trying to say.|There is no one between us, May.

Which is precisely my argument|for getting married...

...quickly.

He could feel her dropping back|to inexpressive girlishness.

Her conscience had been|eased of its burden.

"It was wonderful, " he thought...

... "how such depths|of feeling could coexist...

...with such an absence|of imagination. "

- And did you succeed?|- No.

I'd still like to be married|in April, with your help.

- Now you're seeing the Mingott way.|- Is this really so difficult?

The family is difficult.|Not one of them wants to be different.

And when they are,|they end up like Ellen's parents.

Nomads. Continental wanderers.

Dragging Ellen about.

Lavishing on her an expensive|but incoherent education.

Out of them all, there's not one that|takes after me but my little Ellen.

You've got a quick eye. Why in|the world didn't you marry her?

For one thing, she wasn't|there to be married.

No, to be sure.

And she's still not.

The count, you know...

...wrote to Mr. Letterblair.

He wants her back.

On her own terms.

The count doesn't defend himself,|I will say that.

And Ellen will be losing|a great deal if she stayed here.

There's her old life:|gardens at Nice...

...jewels, of course,|music and conversation.

She says she goes unnoticed in Europe.

But I know her portrait's|been painted nine times.

All this, and the remorse|of a guilty husband.

I'd rather see her dead.

Would you really?

We should remember marriage is|marriage, and Ellen is still a wife.

Ellen! See who's here!

Yes, I know. I went to see your|mother to ask where you'd gone.

Since you never answered my note,|I was afraid you might be ill.

He was in a rush|to get married, that's why.

Off the train and straight here.|He wants me to use my influence...

...to marry his sweetheart sooner.

Well....

Surely between us we can persuade|the Wellands to do as he wishes.

Newland, you see?|Right to the problem, like me.

I told him he should've married you.

And what did he say?

Oh, my darling,|I leave you to find that out.

I wish I didn't have to leave.|I'll see you soon, I hope.

Fine.

I'll see you out.

When can I see you?

The Struthers are sending|the carriage at 7.

Who's so ridiculous to send a bouquet?

I'm not going to a ball,|and I'm not engaged.

Nastasia.|Some people are always ridiculous.

Take these to that nice family|down the street.

Well...

...in almost everything she says|there's something true...

...and something untrue.

Why?

What has Granny been telling you?

She believes you might|go back to your husband.

I think she believes you might|at least consider it.

A lot of things have been|believed of me.

But if she thinks I'd consider it,|it also means she'd consider it for me.

As Granny is weighing your idea|of advancing the marriage.

May and I had a frank talk in Florida.

It's probably our first.

She wants a long engagement|to give me time.

Time for what?

She thinks I want|to marry her at once...

...to get away from someone...

...that I care for...

...more.

Time to give her up for another woman?

If I want to.

It's very noble.

Yes.

It's ridiculous.

Why?

Because there is no other woman?

No.

Because I don't mean|to marry anyone else.

This other woman.|Does she love you too?

There is no other woman.|The person May meant was never--

That must be your carriage.

Yes...

...I suppose I should be leaving soon.

To Mrs. Struthers?

Yes.

I must go where I'm invited|or I should be too lonely.

Why not come with me?

May guessed the truth.

There is another woman.

Only not the one she thinks.

Don't make love to me.|Too many have done that.

I never have. I'd have|married you had it been possible.

- It's you who made it impossible.|- I've made it?!

You made me give up divorcing.

You talked to me, in this house,|about sacrifice...

...and sparing scandal!

For you and May, I did what you asked!

- The things in your husband's letter--|- I had nothing to fear from that.

I was just afraid of scandal|for the family and you and May.

Nothing's--

Nothing's done that can't be undone.

I'm still free.

You can be too.

Please.

Can I marry May now?|Do you see me marrying May now?

I don't see you|asking May that, do you?

I have to. It's too late|to do anything else.

I don't understand you.

Because you don't realize|how you've changed things for me.

- You don't know all that you've done.|- All I've done?

All the good things you've done|for me that I never knew.

Going to the van der Luydens|because people refused to meet me.

Announcing your engagement|at the ball...

...so there would be two families|behind me instead of one.

I never understood how dreadful|people thought I was.

Granny blurted it out one day.|I was stupid. I never thought--

New York meant freedom to me.|Everyone seemed so kind...

...and glad to see me.

They never knew what it meant to be|tempted, but you did. You understood.

I'd never known that before...

Newland, you couldn't be happy|if it meant being cruel.

If we act any other way, you'll act|against what I love in you most.

And I can't go back|to that way of thinking.

Don't you see? I can't love you|unless I give you up.

"Ellen, Granny's telegram succeeded.|Mama agreed to marriage after Easter.

Only a month.|I will telegraph Newland.

I'm too happy for words and love you|dearly. Your grateful cousin, May."

There had been wild rumors...

...until the wedding that Mrs. Mingott|would actually attend the ceremony.

She had sent a carpenter|to measure the front pew...

...in case it might be altered|to accommodate her.

But this idea,|like the great lady herself...

...was unwieldy, and she settled|for giving the wedding breakfast.

The Countess Olenska sent her regrets.|She was traveling with an aunt.

But gave the bride and groom|an exquisite piece of old lace.

Two elderly aunts in Rhinebeck|offered a honeymoon cottage.

Since it was thought "very English"|to have a country house on loan...

...their offer was accepted.

When the house proved suddenly|uninhabitable, however...

...Henry van der Luyden offered...

...an old cottage|on his property nearby.

May accepted the offer|as a surprise for her husband.

She'd never seen the house,|but her cousin Ellen had mentioned it.

She had said it was|the only house in America...

...where she could imagine|being perfectly happy.

They traveled to the expected places,|which May had never seen.

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