Міжнародний епізод

           Gore,forinstance?”shesaidpresently,raisinghereyes.“IamafraidIhaven’treadthat,either,”wastheyoungman’srejoinder,laughingalittleandblushing.“Iamafraidyou’llthinkIamnotveryintellectual.”“ReadingMrs.Goreisnoproofofintellect.ButIlikereadingeverythingaboutEnglishlife—evenpoorbooks.Iamsocuriousaboutit.”“Aren’tladiesalwayscurious?”askedtheyoungmanjestingly.ButBessieAldenappearedtodesiretoanswerhisquestionseriously.“Idon’tthinkso—Idon’tthinkweareenoughso—thatwecareaboutmanythings.Soit’sallthemoreofacompliment,”sheadded,“thatIshouldwanttoknowsomuchaboutEngland.”Thelogichereseemedalittleclose;butLordLambeth,madeconsciousofacompliment,foundhisnaturalmodestyjustathand.“IamsureyouknowagreatdealmorethanIdo.”“IreallythinkIknowagreatdeal—forapersonwhohasneverbeenthere.”“Haveyoureallyneverbeenthere?”criedLordLambeth.“Fancy!”“Never—exceptinimagination,”saidtheyounggirl.“Fancy!”repeatedhercompanion.“ButIdaresayyou’llgosoon,won’tyou?”“It’sthedreamofmylife!”declaredBessieAlden,smiling.“ButyoursisterseemstoknowatremendouslotaboutLondon,”LordLambethwenton.Theyounggirlwassilentamoment.“MysisterandIaretwoverydifferentpersons,”shepresentlysaid.“ShehasbeenagreatdealinEurope.ShehasbeeninEnglandseveraltimes.ShehasknownagreatmanyEnglishpeople.