Міжнародний епізод

           “Theymeanttosnubus,sothatweshouldn’tdaretogotoBranches,”Mrs.Westgatecontinued.“Onthecontrary,”saidBessie,“theduchessofferedtoshowmetheplaceherself.”“Yes,youmaydependuponitshewon’tletyououtofhersight.Shewillshowyoutheplacefrommorningtillnight.”“Youhaveatheoryforeverything,”saidBessie.“Andyouapparentlyhavenoneforanything.”“Isawnoattemptto‘overawe’us,”saidtheyounggirl.“Theirmannerswerenotfine.”“Theywerenotevengood!”Mrs.Westgatedeclared.Bessiewassilentawhile,butinafewmomentssheobservedthatshehadaverygoodtheory.“Theycametolookatme,”shesaid,asifthishadbeenaveryingenioushypothesis.Mrs.Westgatediditjustice;shegreeteditwithasmileandpronounceditmostbrilliant,while,inreality,shefeltthattheyounggirl’sskepticism,orhercharity,or,asshehadsometimescalleditappropriately,heridealism,wasproofagainstirony.Bessie,however,remainedmeditativealltherestofthatdayandwellonintothemorrow.Onthemorrow,beforelunch,Mrs.Westgatehadoccasiontogooutforanhour,andlefthersisterwritingaletter.WhenshecamebackshemetLordLambethatthedoorofthehotel,comingaway.Shethoughthelookedslightlyembarrassed;hewascertainlyverygrave.“Iamsorrytohavemissedyou.Won’tyoucomeback?”sheasked.“No,”saidtheyoungman,“Ican’t.Ihaveseenyoursister.Icannevercomeback.”Thenhelookedatheramomentandtookherhand.“Goodbye,Mrs.Westgate,”hesaid.