Part II

           Inpointoffact,asPercyBeaumontwouldhavesaid,Mrs.Westgatedisembarkedonthe18thofMayontheBritishcoast.Shewasaccompaniedbyhersister,butshewasnotattendedbyanyothermemberofherfamily.Tothedeprivationofherhusband’ssocietyMrs.Westgatewas,however,habituated;shehadmadehalfadozenjourneystoEuropewithouthim,andshenowaccountedforhisabsence,tointerrogativefriendsonthissideoftheAtlantic,byallusiontotheregrettablebutconspicuousfactthatinAmericatherewasnoleisureclass.ThetwoladiescameuptoLondonandalightedatJones’sHotel,whereMrs.Westgate,whohadmadeonformeroccasionsthemostagreeableimpressionatthisestablishment,receivedanobsequiousgreeting.BessieAldenhadfeltmuchexcitedaboutcomingtoEngland;shehadexpectedthe“associations”wouldbeverycharming,thatitwouldbeaninfinitepleasuretoresthereyesuponthethingsshehadreadaboutinthepoetsandhistorians.Shewasveryfondofthepoetsandhistorians,ofthepicturesque,ofthepast,ofretrospect,ofmementosandreverberationsofgreatness;sothatoncomingintotheEnglishworld,wherestrangenessandfamiliaritywouldgohandinhand,shewaspreparedforamultitudeoffreshemotions.