Міжнародний епізод

           “Ifthoseareyourfirstprinciples,nowondersomeofyourarrangementsarehorrid,”observedBessieAldenwithaveryprettyferocity.“Iamayounggirl,soofcourseIgolast;butimaginewhatKittymustfeelonbeinginformedthatsheisnotatlibertytobudgeuntilcertainotherladieshavepassedout.”“Oh,Isay,sheisnot‘informed!’”criedLordLambeth.“Noonewoulddosuchathingasthat.”“Sheismadetofeelit,”theyounggirlinsisted—“asiftheywereafraidshewouldmakearushforthedoor.No;youhavealovelycountry,”saidBessieAlden,“butyourprecedenceishorrid.”“Icertainlyshouldn’tthinkyoursisterwouldlikeit,”rejoinedLordLambethwithevenexaggeratedgravity.ButBessieAldencouldinducehimtoenternoformalprotestagainstthisrepulsivecustom,whichheseemedtothinkanextremeconvenience.PercyBeaumontallthistimehadbeenaverymuchlessfrequentvisitoratJones’sHotelthanhisnoblekinsman;hehad,infact,calledbuttwiceuponthetwoAmericanladies.LordLambeth,whooftensawhim,reproachedhimwithhisneglectanddeclaredthat,althoughMrs.Westgatehadsaidnothingaboutit,hewassurethatshewassecretlywoundedbyit.“Shesufferstoomuchtospeak,”saidLordLambeth.“That’sallgammon,”saidPercyBeaumont;“there’salimittowhatpeoplecansuffer!”And,thoughsendingnoapologiestoJones’sHotel,heundertookinamannertoexplainhisabsence.“Youarealwaysthere,”hesaid,“andthat’sreasonenoughformynotgoing.”“Idon’tseewhy.