Международный эпизод

           ”“Hesaidhethoughthehadheardso;heknewnothingaboutit.”ForamomentBessieAldensaidnothingmore;then,atlast,“Anddon’tyouintendtowriteto—toMr.Beaumont?”sheinquired.“YoumeantoLordLambeth,”saidhersister.“IsaidMr.Beaumontbecausehewassogoodafriendofyours.”Mrs.Westgatelookedattheyounggirlwithsisterlycandor.“Idon’tcaretwostrawsforMr.Beaumont.”“Youwerecertainlyverynicetohim.”“Iamnicetoeveryone,”saidMrs.Westgatesimply.“Toeveryonebutme,”rejoinedBessie,smiling.Hersistercontinuedtolookather;then,atlast,“AreyouinlovewithLordLambeth?”sheasked.Theyounggirlstaredamoment,andthequestionwasapparentlytoohumorouseventomakeherblush.“NotthatIknowof,”sheanswered.“Becauseifyouare,”Mrs.Westgatewenton,“Ishallcertainlynotsendforhim.”“ThatproveswhatIsaid,”declaredBessie,smiling—“thatyouarenotnicetome.”“Itwouldbeapoorservice,mydearchild,”saidhersister.“Inwhatsense?ThereisnothingagainstLordLambeththatIknowof.”Mrs.Westgatewassilentamoment.“Youareinlovewithhimthen?”Bessiestaredagain;butthistimesheblushedalittle.“Ah!ifyouwon’tbeserious,”sheanswered,“wewillnotmentionhimagain.”ForsomemomentsLordLambethwasnotmentionedagain,anditwasMrs.Westgatewho,attheendofthisperiod,revertedtohim.“OfcourseIwilllethimknowwearehere,becauseIthinkhewouldbehurt—justlyenough—ifweshouldgoawaywithoutseeinghim.