The Age of Innocence Chapter 18 Summary

  • Madame Olenska joins the Marchioness and Archer in the drawing room. She sees Beaufort's bouquet and asks her maid to send them to Ned Winsett's wife.
  • After the Marchioness leaves, Madame Olenska and Archer are finally alone.
  • After they chat about May, Archer reveals to Madame Olenska that May has asked whether there is a married woman in his life.
  • He confesses that there is, and that it's her: Madame Olenska.
  • Madame Olenska rejects his advances. She's married, and she has stayed married, because he'sthe one who convinced her that divorce is a bad.
  • Their conversation ends when the maid enters with a telegram.
  • It's a telegram from May announcing that the Wellands have agreed to an early marriage. Bummer.
  • When Archer returns home, he has received the same telegram from May, informing him that her parents have agreed to a wedding the Tuesday after Easter. His sister tells him that the wedding date is the first week in April. Archer laughs.