** spoiler alert ** I forgot how much I love to read Edith Wharton. She can capture the mood of a specific point in time perfectly through both the actions and thoughts of the characters and the setting. I felt so much emotion as I read the book, because I felt the feelings of the primary players in the story. May's innocence, but underlying determination to keep her man. Archer's boredom with NY high society, and Ellen's quest for peace and freedom to be herself without fear of reprisal or rejection.

I found the story to be slow-moving at times, which initially led me to give this book 4 stars, but I changed it to 5, because I like to think that Wharton did it intentionally to once again evoke the feeling in the reader of what it was like to live in this small circle of formality and decorum, eagerly waiting for something to happen. Leave it to the women for having more sense, too, than Archer who is willing to sacrifice everything for a woman that I'm not sure that he really loved. I think that he was more in love with the idea of Ellen, what she represented, her willingness to speak openly about matters and her way of standing out in the group through her fashion, hairstyles and the way in which she decorated her home.

I was a tad bit disappointed by the ending, but then what would I expect in its place? The fact that Archer walks away from what is likely to be his final opportunity to see Ellen supported my feeling that he wasn't in love with her. The time for her filling his void for a different life had passed so what would be the point of their getting together? And, would it really be worth stirring up old emotions 30 years after the fact? Again, for what? Yes, I agree with Ms. Wharton that Archer should leave well enough alone, because there was nothing to be gained at that point.

It is unlikely that I would re-read this book again, but I am so glad to have experienced it.