Міжнародний епізод

           IsupposeyouwillthinkIamverysatirical,butImustconfessthatthat’sthefeelingIhaveinLondon.”“IamafraidIdon’tquiteunderstandtowhatfeelingyouallude,”saidPercyBeaumont.“Thefeelingthatit’sallverywellforyouEnglishpeople.Everythingisbeautifullyarrangedforyou.”“ItseemstomeitisverywellforsomeAmericans,sometimes,”rejoinedBeaumont.“Forsomeofthem,yes—iftheyliketobepatronized.ButImustsayIdon’tliketobepatronized.Imaybeveryeccentric,andundisciplined,andoutrageous,butIconfessIneverwasfondofpatronage.IliketoassociatewithpeopleonthesametermsasIdoinmyowncountry;that’sapeculiartastethatIhave.Butherepeopleseemtoexpectsomethingelse—Heavenknowswhat!IamafraidyouwillthinkIamveryungrateful,forIcertainlyhavereceivedagreatdealofattention.ThelasttimeIwashere,aladysentmeamessagethatIwasatlibertytocomeandseeher.”“Dearme!Ihopeyoudidn’tgo,”observedPercyBeaumont.“Youaredeliciouslynaive,Imustsaythatforyou!”Mrs.Westgateexclaimed.“ItmustbeagreatadvantagetoyouhereinLondon.IsupposethatifImyselfhadalittlemorenaivete,Ishouldenjoyitmore.Ishouldbecontenttositonachairinthepark,andseethepeoplepass,andbetoldthatthisistheDuchessofSuffolk,andthatistheLordChamberlain,andthatImustbethankfulfortheprivilegeofbeholdingthem.Idaresayitisverywickedandcriticalofmetoaskforanythingelse.