Міжнародний епізод

           Herenjoymentwaskeenandhercuriosityinsatiable,and,gratefulingeneralforallheropportunities,sheespeciallyprizedtheprivilegeofmeetingcertaincelebratedpersons—authorsandartists,philosophersandstatesmen—ofwhoserenownshehadbeenahumbleanddistantbeholder,andwhonow,asapartofthehabitualfurnitureofLondondrawingrooms,struckherasstarsfallenfromthefirmamentandbecomepalpable—revealingalsosometimes,oncontact,qualitiesnottohavebeenpredictedofsiderealbodies.Bessie,whoknewsomanyofhercontemporariesbyreputation,hadagoodmanypersonaldisappointments;but,ontheotherhand,shehadinnumerablesatisfactionsandenthusiasms,andshecommunicatedtheemotionsofeitherclasstoadearfriend,ofherownsex,inBoston,withwhomshewasinvoluminouscorrespondence.Someofherreflections,indeed,sheattemptedtoimparttoLordLambeth,whocamealmosteverydaytoJones’sHotel,andwhomMrs.Westgateadmittedtobereallydevoted.CaptainLittledale,itappeared,hadgonetoIndia;andofseveralothersofMrs.Westgate’sex-pensioners—gentlemenwho,asshesaid,hadmade,inNewYork,aclubhouseofherdrawingroom—notidingsweretobeobtained;butLordLambethwascertainlyattentiveenoughtomakeupfortheaccidentalabsences,theshortmemories,alltheotherirregularitiesofeveryoneelse.Hedrovetheminthepark,hetookthemtovisitprivatecollectionsofpictures,and,havingahouseofhisown,invitedthemtodinner.Mrs.