Міжнародний епізод

           Hewasbynomeanssohandsomeamanashiscousin,althoughinhiscousin’sabsencehemighthavepassedforastrikingspecimenofthetall,muscular,fair-bearded,clear-eyedEnglishman.JustnowBeaumont’scleareyes,whichweresmallandofapalegraycolor,hadarathertroubledlight,and,afterglancingatBessieAldenwhileshespoke,herestedthemuponhiskinsman.Mrs.Westgatemeanwhile,withhersuperfluouslyprettygaze,lookedateveryonealike.“Youhadbetterwaittillthetimecomes,”shesaidtohersister.“PerhapsnextMayyouwon’tcaresomuchaboutLondon.Mr.BeaumontandI,”shewenton,smilingathercompanion,“havehadatremendousdiscussion.Wedon’tagreeaboutanything.It’sperfectlydelightful.”“Oh,Isay,Percy!”exclaimedLordLambeth.“Idisagree,”saidBeaumont,strokingdownhisbackhair,“eventothepointofnotthinkingitdelightful.”“Oh,Isay!”criedLordLambethagain.“Idon’tseeanythingdelightfulinmydisagreeingwithMrs.Westgate,”saidPercyBeaumont.“Well,Ido!”Mrs.Westgatedeclared;andsheturnedtohersister.“Youknowyouhavetogototown.Thephaetonisthere.YouhadbettertakeLordLambeth.”AtthispointPercyBeaumontcertainlylookedstraightathiskinsman;hetriedtocatchhiseye.ButLordLambethwouldnotlookathim;hisowneyeswerebetteroccupied.“Ishallbeveryhappy,”criedBessieAlden.“Iamonlygoingtosomeshops.ButIwilldriveyouaboutandshowyoutheplace.”“AnAmericanwomanwhorespectsherself,”saidMrs.