Chapter 17-18

Chapter 17- Upon his return, Newland learns that while he was away Ellen called on his mother. Nothing important happened however. Newland goes to visit Mrs. Mingott,and they discuss how May wants a long engagement. Mrs. Mingott then laughingly asks him why he didn't just marry Ellen, who wouldn't mind a short engagement. He responds that she wasn't around to be married. Then Ellen appears and they all talk for a short while, before Newland leaves however he asks if he can call on her tomorrow night, and she says yes. The next evening he arrives at Ellen's to find he is not alone. Ned Winsett, Medora Manson, and Medora's friend Dr. Carver are there too. Then Ned and the doctor leave and Newland talks with Medora while Ellen gets ready to go to another party at Mrs. Struthers's. Newland also learns that Ellen will be moving, but doesn't state where. Then Medora and Newland get a chance to talk and Medora first thanks Newland for convincing Ellen not to get a divorce, but says that she received a letter from Ellen's husband, Count Olenski, in which he stated that he wished she would come back to him. Newland is shocked and horrified and says that he would rather see her dead than go back to him. Medora only points to a bouquet of flowers (from a suitor, possibly Beaufort) asking if he would rather her be situations like that (implying adultery).

Chapter 18- Ellen enters the room and demands to know who sent the flowers and that they be sent away. She decides to send them to the Winsett's because Mrs. Winsett is ill, but she asks that it be anonymous. Then Medora's carriage arrives and she leaves. Newland tells Ellen of the letter from her husband which she doesn't seem to care about. They then discuss Archer's engagement and how May thinks there is another woman, yet she thinks it has to do with his secret affair from the past, but really it is about her cousin, Ellen. Archer says that if he could he would marry Ellen instead. She replies that he is the one who has made it impossible for that to happen by advising her against a divorce and by marrying her cousin. Newland is shocked once again, he says that he could still break his engagement and that she could still get a divorce, yet she won't allow this to happen. Then a telegram arrives from May telling Ellen that she was moving her wedding up sooner. Also once Newland returns home he gets a similar telegram that states he will be married the first week in April, which he realizes is in one month!!!!