The Age of Innocence

Archer and May go for a walk in the park. He laments their long engagement, but she elliptically replies that they must go through with all the expected customs or be thought vulgar. May seems delighted to hear that Archer sent Ellen roses; however, he did not include his card, so Ellen does not know who sent them. Ellen has also been receiving flowers from other gentlemen, including Beaufort and Henry van der Luyden. As Archer is speaking to the almost 22-year-old May, he senses that she is always only repeating her mother’s words rather than expressing her own opinion.

At home, Archer is irritated at the “sameness” (Location 1074) and propriety that governs New York life. His mother is upset because Ellen went with the Duke and Beaufort to Mrs. Lemuel Struthers’s house. Mrs. Archer disapproves of the common Mrs. Struthers—as Ellen is May’s cousin, they all stand to have their reputations tarnished by the connection. But while Mrs. Archer worries that the van der Luydens will be offended, Henry van der Luyden visits them and expresses his admiration for Ellen. He visited Ellen to warn her about mixing with common society and admired the decor of her drawing room.