Международный эпизод
Part I
Westgate’sassistance,hecompletelysettledthispieceofbusiness.“TheycertainlydothingsquicklyinNewYork,”heobservedtohiscousin;andheaddedthatMr.Westgatehadseemedveryuneasylesthiswifeshouldmisshervisitor—hehadbeeninsuchanawfulhurrytosendhimbacktoher.“I’mafraidyou’llnevercomeuptoanAmericanhusband,ifthat’swhatthewivesexpect,”hesaidtoLordLambeth.Mrs.Westgate,however,wasnottoenjoymuchlongertheentertainmentwithwhichanindulgenthusbandhaddesiredtokeepherprovided.Onthe21stofAugustLordLambethreceivedatelegramfromhismother,requestinghimtoreturnimmediatelytoEngland;hisfatherhadbeentakenill,anditwashisfilialdutytocometohim.TheyoungEnglishmanwasvisiblyannoyed.“Whatthedeucedoesitmean?”heaskedofhiskinsman.“WhatamItodo?”PercyBeaumontwasannoyedaswell;hehaddeemedithisduty,asIhavenarrated,towritetotheduchess,buthehadnotexpectedthatthisdistinguishedwomanwouldactsopromptlyuponhishint.“Itmeans,”hesaid,“thatyourfatherislaidup.Idon’tsupposeit’sanythingserious;butyouhavenooption.Takethefirststeamer;butdon’tbealarmed.”LordLambethmadehisfarewells;butthefewlastwordsthatheexchangedwithBessieAldenaretheonlyonesthathaveaplaceinourrecord.“OfcourseIneedn’tassureyou,”hesaid,“thatifyoushouldcometoEnglandnextyear,Iexpecttobethefirstpersonthatyouinformofit.”BessieAldenlookedathimalittle,andshesmiled
