Міжнародний епізод

           “HaveIceasedtobemodest?”“Youcareforhimtoomuch.Amonthago,whenyousaidyoudidn’t,Ibelieveitwasquitetrue.Butatpresent,mydearchild,”saidMrs.Westgate,“youwouldn’tfinditquitesosimpleamatternevertoseeLordLambethagain.Ihaveseenitcomingon.”“Youaremistaken,”saidBessie.“Youdon’tunderstand.”“Mydearchild,don’tbeperverse,”rejoinedhersister.“Iknowhimbetter,certainly,ifyoumeanthat,”saidBessie.“AndIlikehimverymuch.ButIdon’tlikehimenoughtomaketroubleforhimwithhisfamily.However,Idon’tbelieveinthat.”“Ilikethewayyousay‘however,’”Mrs.Westgateexclaimed.“Come;youwouldnotmarryhim?”“Oh,no,”saidtheyounggirl.Mrs.Westgateforamomentseemedvexed.“Whynot,pray?”shedemanded.“BecauseIdon’tcareto,”saidBessieAlden.ThemorningafterLordLambethhadhad,withPercyBeaumont,thatexchangeofideaswhichhasjustbeennarrated,theladiesatJones’sHotelreceivedfromhislordshipawritteninvitationtopaytheirprojectedvisittoBranchesCastleonthefollowingTuesday.“IthinkIhavemadeupaverypleasantparty,”theyoungnoblemansaid.“Severalpeoplewhomyouknow,andmymotherandsisters,whohavesolongbeenregrettablypreventedfrommakingyouracquaintance.”BessieAldenlostnotimeincallinghersister’sattentiontotheinjusticeshehaddonetheDuchessofBayswater,whosehostilitywasnowprovedtobeavainillusion.“Waittillyouseeifshecomes,”saidMrs.Westgate.