Международный эпизод

           “Only—ifyoudesiretheinformation—itisnotthecustomhereforyoungladiestoknockaboutLondonwithyoungmen.”“MissBessiehaswaltzedwithmesooften,”observedWillieWoodley;“shecansurelygooutwithmeinahansom.”“Iconsiderwaltzing,”saidMrs.Westgate,“themostinnocentpleasureofourtime.”“It’sacomplimenttoourtime!”exclaimedtheyoungmanwithalittlelaugh,inspiteofhimself.“Idon’tseewhyIshouldregardwhatisdonehere,”saidBessieAlden.“WhyshouldIsuffertherestrictionsofasocietyofwhichIenjoynoneoftheprivileges?”“That’sverygood—verygood,”murmuredWillieWoodley.“Oh,gototheTower,andfeeltheax,ifyoulike,”saidMrs.Westgate.“IconsenttoyourgoingwithMr.Woodley;butIshouldnotletyougowithanEnglishman.”“MissBessiewouldn’tcaretogowithanEnglishman!”Mr.Woodleydeclaredwithafaintasperitythatwas,perhaps,notunnaturalinayoungman,who,dressinginthemannerthatIhaveindicatedandknowingagreatdeal,asIhavesaid,aboutLondon,sawnoreasonfordrawingthesesharpdistinctions.HeagreeduponadaywithMissBessie—adayofthatsameweek.Aningeniousmindmight,perhaps,traceaconnectionbetweentheyounggirl’sallusiontoherdestitutionofsocialprivilegesandaquestionsheaskedonthemorrowasshesatwithhersisteratlunch.“Don’tyoumeantowriteto—toanyone?”saidBessie.“IwrotethismorningtoCaptainLittledale,”Mrs.Westgatereplied.“ButMr.WoodleysaidthatCaptainLittledalehadgonetoIndia.