Міжнародний епізод

           ”BessieAldenforsomemomentssaidnothing;sheonlylookeddispleased.“No;thereisnodanger,”sheansweredatlast,curtly.“ThenIshouldliketofrightenthem,”declaredMrs.Westgate,claspingherjeweledhands.“Tofrightenwhom?”“Allthesepeople;LordLambeth’sfamilyandfriends.”“Howshouldyoufrightenthem?”askedtheyounggirl.“Itwouldn’tbeI—itwouldbeyou.Itwouldfrightenthemtothinkthatyoushouldabsorbhislordship’syoungaffections.”BessieAlden,withhercleareyesstillovershadowedbyherdarkbrows,continuedtointerrogate.“Whyshouldthatfrightenthem?”Mrs.Westgatepoisedheranswerwithasmilebeforedeliveringit.“Becausetheythinkyouarenotgoodenough.Youareacharminggirl,beautifulandamiable,intelligentandclever,andasbien-eleveeasitispossibletobe;butyouarenotafitmatchforLordLambeth.”BessieAldenwasdecidedlydisgusted.“Wheredoyougetsuchextraordinaryideas?”sheasked.“Youhavesaidsomesuchstrangethingslately.MydearKitty,wheredoyoucollectthem?”Kittywasevidentlyenamoredofheridea.“Yes,itwouldputthemonpinsandneedles,anditwouldn’thurtyou.Mr.Beaumontisalreadymostuneasy;Icouldsoonseethat.”Theyounggirlmeditatedamoment.“Doyoumeanthattheyspyuponhim—thattheyinterferewithhim?”“Idon’tknowwhatpowertheyhavetointerfere,butIknowthataBritishmamamayworryherson’slifeout.”Ithasbeenintimatedthat,asregardscertaindisagreeablethings,BessieAldenhadafundofskepticism.