Міжнародний епізод
Part II
Shehadakindofidealofconductforayoungmanwhoshouldfindhimselfinthismagnificentposition,andshetriedtoadaptittoLordLambeth’sdeportmentasyoumightattempttofitasilhouetteincutpaperuponashadowprojecteduponawall.ButBessieAlden’ssilhouetterefusedtocoincidewithhislordship’simage,andthiswantofharmonysometimesvexedhermorethanshethoughtreasonable.Whenhewasabsentitwas,ofcourse,lessstriking;thenheseemedtoherasufficientlygracefulcombinationofhighresponsibilitiesandamiablequalities.Butwhenhesattherewithinsight,laughingandtalkingwithhiscustomarygoodhumorandsimplicity,shemeasureditmoreaccurately,andshefeltacutelythatifLordLambeth’spositionwasheroic,therewasbutlittleoftheherointheyoungmanhimself.Thenherimaginationwanderedawayfromhim—veryfaraway;foritwasanincontestablefactthatatsuchmomentsheseemeddistinctlydull.IamafraidthatwhileBessie’simaginationwasthusinvidiouslyroaming,shecannothavebeenherselfaverylivelycompanion;butitmaywellhavebeenthattheseoccasionalfitsofindifferenceseemedtoLordLambethapartoftheyounggirl’spersonalcharm.Ithadbeenapartofthischarmfromthefirstthathefeltthatshejudgedhimandmeasuredhimmorefreelyandirresponsibly—moreathereaseandherleisure,asitwere—thanseveralyoungladieswithwhomhehadbeenonthewholeaboutasintimate.Tofeelthis,andyettofeelthatshealsolikedhim,wasveryagreeabletoLordLambeth.
