Chapter Summary of The Age of Innocence - Study Guide by Edith Wharton

she believes him and they embrace. While Newland had been away, Ellen had stopped by to meet his mother and sister. Mrs. Archer does not think she is as plain as she first appears. Indeed, Newland remarks that she is quite different than May. Newland goes to visit Mrs. Catherine Manson Mingott when he returns because he has so many messages for her. Mingott jokes, "Why don't you marry Ellen?" Newland remarks that she had not been around. Newland reveals to Ellen and Manson Mingott that he wanted to convince May to marry him sooner. Ellen suggests that perhaps she and her grandmother can be of assistance. Ellen asks Newland to visit her and he does the next day. When he arrives at her home, a cast of strange people greets Newland. There is his friend Ned, who leaves at first opportunity. There is a quack, Dr. Carver, who leaves to attend a lecture. And, there is the Marchioness Mingott, Ellen's aunt. She tells Newland that she has come on Count Olenski's behalf to convince Ellen to return to Europe.

Ellen comes down the stairs. She sees that someone has brought her a bouquet and she is annoyed ("I'm not engaged to be married") and asks Nastasia to take the bouquet to Ned's wife. Newland puts the Marchioness Mingott in her carriage. After she is gone, Ellen and Newland smoke. Newland reveals Mingott's belief that Ellen will return to Europe. Ellen blushes and says, "Many cruel things have been believed of me." Then after some conversation, Newland reveals that he is in love with Ellen. Ellen is angry because it is Newland that has made it impossible for them to marry; he convinced her not to divorce. Newland says that it is his right to renege on the marriage since May refused to marry him early. But just as he says this, a telegram arrives informing Ellen that her help has made it possible for the two to marry just after Easter ­ one month away! May and Newland are married and they spend their honeymoon, due to a twist of fate, at the Platoon home. Ellen, "due to illness", could not attend the wedding; she had been away for four weeks with her aunt.

On the honeymoon, Newland realises that there isn't much to emancipate in May because she is totally unaware that she may not be free. They visit some boring family friends, the Carfry's, and enjoy making fun of them on the way home. Time passes. It has been a year and a half since Newland last saw Ellen. He spends August in Newport with all the other wealthy members of his society. Everyone stands around and watches May shoot an arrow like a goddess at a little contest at the summer party. Later, May decides she wants to visit her Granny and takes the reins of the carriage. Catherine tells them that Ellen is at home but when they call for her the maid says she has already walked toward the sea. Newland is asked to retrieve her but as he approaches her he realises that he cannot find the power to approach her. He decides that he will watch a boat and see if it passes a rock before Ellen looks at him. The boat passes the rock and Ellen has not turned her gaze away from the sea. So, Newland retreats to the house and pretends he could not find her. That night, as May and Newland travel back to the Welland's home, May comments that perhaps Ellen would have been happier with her husband. Newland says her comment was cruel, "Watching the contortions of the damned is supposed to be a favourite sport of the angels; but I believe even they don't think people happier in hell." All night Newland lays awake thinking of Ellen.

The Blenkers, the family where Ellen is staying, decide to throw a garden party, which means that none would be home. Strangely, Newland decides to go to the Blenkers' home with the hope of seeing the place where Ellen has been living. He goes to the home, expecting it to be deserted, and finds one of the Blenker daughters who reveals to him that she has gone to Boston. Newland goes to Boston and sends a message to Parker House, where Ellen is staying, but she is not there. He sees her sitting on a bench outside of the building. He says hello and for the first time, he sees a startled look on her face. Previously, the narrator has told us that Ellen never seems to become surprised. She is on a bench thinking if she should return to her husband. He has sent a messenger to bring her back and he is offering a big sum of money. Newland stares at her and says, "Haven't we done all we could?" They take a boat ride together and then have dinner in a private dining hall; they do not touch and barely speak to each other. The silence and isolation is simply enough. Finally, the "silent spell is broken" and the two break out in conversation. Newland asks why she has not returned to Europe and Ellen says, "Because of you." Then, she begins to recount her feelings, which is one of the most fascinating passages in the book: "At least it was you who made me understand that under the dullness there are things so fine and sensitive and delicate that even those I most cared for in my other life look cheap in comparison.