Міжнародний епізод

           Theybeganverypromptly—thesetender,flutteringsensations;theybeganwiththesightofthebeautifulEnglishlandscape,whosedarkrichnesswasquickenedandbrightenedbytheseason;withthecarpetedfieldsandfloweringhedgerows,asshelookedatthemfromthewindowofthetrain;withthespiresoftheruralchurchespeepingabovetherook-hauntedtreetops;withtheoak-studdedparks,theancienthomes,thecloudylight,thespeech,themanners,thethousanddifferences.Mrs.Westgate’simpressionshad,ofcourse,muchlessnoveltyandkeenness,andshegavebutawanderingattentiontohersister’sejaculationsandrhapsodies.“YouknowmyenjoymentofEnglandisnotsointellectualasBessie’s,”shesaidtoseveralofherfriendsinthecourseofhervisittothiscountry.“Andyetifitisnotintellectual,Ican’tsayitisphysical.Idon’tthinkIcanquitesaywhatitis,myenjoymentofEngland.”WhenonceitwassettledthatthetwoladiesshouldcomeabroadandshouldspendafewweeksinEnglandontheirwaytotheContinent,theyofcourseexchangedagoodmanyallusionstotheirLondonacquaintance.“Itwillcertainlybemuchnicerhavingfriendsthere,”BessieAldenhadsaidonedayasshesatonthesunnydeckofthesteamerathersister’sfeetonalargebluerug.“Whomdoyoumeanbyfriends?”Mrs.Westgateasked.“AllthoseEnglishgentlemenwhomyouhaveknownandentertained.CaptainLittledale,forinstance.AndLordLambethandMr.Beaumont,”addedBessieAlden.