Міжнародний епізод
Part II
Westgate,followingthefashionofmanyofhercompatriots,causedherselfandhersistertobepresentedattheEnglishcourtbyherdiplomaticrepresentative—foritwasinthismannerthatshealludedtotheAmericanministertoEngland,inquiringwhatonearthhewasputtherefor,ifnottomaketheproperarrangementsforone’sgoingtoaDrawingRoom.LordLambethdeclaredthathehatedDrawingRooms,butheparticipatedintheceremonyonthedayonwhichthetwoladiesatJones’sHotelrepairedtoBuckinghamPalaceinaremarkablecoachwhichhislordshiphadsenttofetchthem.Hehadonagorgeousuniform,andBessieAldenwasparticularlystruckwithhisappearance—especiallywhenonheraskinghim,ratherfoolishlyasshefelt,ifhewerealoyalsubject,herepliedthathewasaloyalsubjecttoher.Thisdeclarationwasemphasizedbyhisdancingwithherataroyalballtowhichthetwoladiesafterwardwent,andwasnotimpairedbythefactthatshethoughthedancedveryill.Heseemedtoherwonderfullykind;sheaskedherself,withgrowingvivacity,whyheshouldbesokind.Itwashisdisposition—thatseemedthenaturalanswer.Shehadtoldhersisterthatshelikedhimverymuch,andnowthatshelikedhimmoreshewonderedwhy.Shelikedhimforhisdisposition;tothisquestionaswellthatseemedthenaturalanswer.WhenoncetheimpressionsofLondonlifebegantocrowdthicklyuponher,shecompletelyforgothersister’swarningaboutthecynicismofpublicopinion.
