Міжнародний епізод

           ButIwasalwayscritical,andIfreelyconfesstothesinofbeingfastidious.Iamtoldthereissomeremarkablysuperiorsecond-ratesocietyprovidedhereforstrangers.Merci!Idon’twantanysuperiorsecond-ratesociety.IwantthesocietythatIhavebeenaccustomedto.”“Ihopeyoudon’tcallLambethandmesecondrate,”Beaumontinterposed.“Oh,Iamaccustomedtoyou,”saidMrs.Westgate.“DoyouknowthatyouEnglishsometimesmakethemostwonderfulspeeches?ThefirsttimeIcametoLondonIwentouttodine—asItoldyou,Ihavereceivedagreatdealofattention.Afterdinner,inthedrawingroom,Ihadsomeconversationwithanoldlady;IassureyouIhad.Iforgetwhatwetalkedabout,butshepresentlysaid,inallusiontosomethingwewerediscussing,‘Oh,youknow,thearistocracydoso-and-so;butinone’sownclassoflifeitisverydifferent.’Inone’sownclassoflife!WhatisapoorunprotectedAmericanwomantodoinacountrywheresheisliabletohavethatsortofthingsaidtoher?”“Youseemtogetholdofsomeveryqueeroldladies;Icomplimentyouonyouracquaintance!”PercyBeaumontexclaimed.“IfyouaretryingtobringmetoadmitthatLondonisanodiousplace,you’llnotsucceed.I’mextremelyfondofit,andIthinkitthejolliestplaceintheworld.”“Pourvousautres.Ineversaidthecontrary,”Mrs.Westgateretorted.Imakeuseofthisexpression,becausebothinterlocutorshadbeguntoraisetheirvoices.PercyBeaumontnaturallydidnotliketohearhiscountryabused,andMrs.