Chapter 11- 14

Chapter 11- Mr. Letterblair, one of Newland's bosses at the attorney office offers Newland a chance at helping Ellen. He is unsure at first thinking that he won't get involved in a case that is also personal and then finds out that, he was requested by her family, and by New York standards can't refuse. He decides that he will pay Ellen a visit to understand what she is thinking, after he reads a letter that gives evidence of Ellen being unfaithful to her husband and having an affair. Mr. Letterblair says that all of Ellen's family is against the divorce and that she's not doing it for the money either. Then Mr. Letterblair asks Newland if he would talk to her about not suing for divorce, Newland only says that he will wait to get her opinion first.

Chapter 12- When Newland arrives at Ellen's, Beaufort is there, and they are talking of art. Ellen dismisses him in a nice way, so that she and Newland can discuss the divorce. Ellen says that she only wants to be free of her husband, and to wipe out her past. Ellen seems unable to understand that New York high society doesn't forget anything. She thinks that she can charm people into liking her, which she is very good at, but doesn't realize that her past will not be forgotten. Newland tells her how divorce is looked upon poorly by New York's social standards even if it is allowed she would be practically shunned. Ellen asks if her freedom means nothing but sadly in New York, that is true. She says that whatever Newland feels is best is what she will do.

Chapter 13- Not too much happens in this chapter. Newland goes to the theatre and sees a play which reminds him of himself leaving Ellen's home, even though in the play a man is leaving his lover. He tells himself that it is because she life is like a tragedy, like the actresses. He also begins thinking that Ellen's husband's accusations about the affair could be true. Also, May is away for part of the winter, where she spends the time with her family in St. Augustine. However he receives a letter from May asking him to be kind to Ellen, because she is still lonely.

Chapter 14- Leaving the theatre Newland runs into his friend Ned Winsett. Ned is not the richest man in New York, but Newland feels like he is one of the few he can have a "clever" conversation with. Ned asks of Ellen because she has somehow befriended Ned's son, and they are neighbors. Newland writes a letter to Ellen asking if he could visit her, three days later he gets a note that she has "run away" to Skuytercliff. He accepts an invitation to a home nearby (the Chiverses), where he would surely run into her.