Міжнародний епізод

           ”“Don’tyousitintheHouseofLords?”BessieAldenwenton.“Veryseldom,”saidLordLambeth.“Isitanimportantposition?”sheasked.“Oh,dear,no,”saidLordLambeth.“Ishouldthinkitwouldbeverygrand,”saidBessieAlden,“topossess,simplybyanaccidentofbirth,therighttomakelawsforagreatnation.”“Ah,butonedoesn’tmakelaws.It’sagreathumbug.”“Idon’tbelievethat,”theyounggirldeclared.“Itmustbeagreatprivilege,andIshouldthinkthatifonethoughtofitintherightway—fromahighpointofview—itwouldbeveryinspiring.”“Thelessonethinksofit,thebetter,”LordLambethaffirmed.“Ithinkit’stremendous,”saidBessieAlden;andonanotheroccasionsheaskedhimifhehadanytenantry.Hereuponitwasthat,asIhavesaid,hewasalittlebored.“Doyouwanttobuyuptheirleases?”heasked.“Well,haveyougotanylivings?”shedemanded.“Oh,Isay!”hecried.“Haveyougotaclergymanthatislookingout?”Butshemadehimtellherthathehadacastle;heconfessedtobutone.Itwastheplaceinwhichhehadbeenbornandbroughtup,and,ashehadanold-timelikingforit,hewasbeguiledintodescribingitalittleandsayingitwasreallyveryjolly.BessieAldenlistenedwithgreatinterestanddeclaredthatshewouldgivetheworldtoseesuchaplace.Whereupon—“Itwouldbeawfullykindofyoutocomeandstaythere,”saidLordLambeth.HetookavaguesatisfactioninthecircumstancethatPercyBeaumonthadnotheardhimmaketheremarkIhavejustrecorded.Mr.