Міжнародний епізод

           “Whatpeopledoyoumean?”“Theeminentpeople—theauthorsandartists—thecleverpeople.”“Oh,thereareothereminentpeoplebesidesthose,”saidLordLambeth.“Well,youcertainlykeepthemapart,”repeatedtheyounggirl.“Andthereareothercleverpeople,”addedLordLambethsimply.BessieAldenlookedathim,andshegavealightlaugh.“Notmany,”shesaid.Onanotheroccasion—justafteradinnerparty—shetoldhimthattherewassomethingelseinEnglandshedidnotlike.“Oh,Isay!”hecried,“haven’tyouabusedusenough?”“Ihaveneverabusedyouatall,”saidBessie;“butIdon’tlikeyourprecedence.”“Itisn’tmyprecedence!”LordLambethdeclared,laughing.“Yes,itisyours—justexactlyyours;andIthinkit’sodious,”saidBessie.“Ineversawsuchayoungladyfordiscussingthings!Hassomeonehadtheimpudencetogobeforeyou?”askedhislordship.“ItisnotthegoingbeforemethatIobjectto,”saidBessie;“itistheirthinkingthattheyhavearighttodoit—arightthatIrecognize.”“Ineversawsuchayoungladyasyouarefornot‘recognizing.’Ihavenodoubtthethingisbeastly,butitsavesalotoftrouble.”“Itmakesalotoftrouble.It’shorrid,”saidBessie.“Buthowwouldyouhavethefirstpeoplego?”askedLordLambeth.“Theycan’tgolast.”“Whomdoyoumeanbythefirstpeople?”“Ah,ifyoumeantoquestionfirstprinciples!”saidLordLambeth.