Міжнародний епізод

           “Oh!”saidtheduchess;andshecontinuedtolookatBessie,whowasengagedinconversationwithherdaughter.“DoyoulikeLondon?”LadyPimlicohadaskedofBessie,afterlookingatheragooddeal—atherfaceandherhands,herdressandherhair.“Verymuchindeed,”saidBessie.“Doyoulikethishotel?”“Itisverycomfortable,”saidBessie.“Doyoulikestoppingathotels?”inquiredLadyPimlicoafterapause.“Iamveryfondoftraveling,”Bessieanswered,“andIsupposehotelsareanecessarypartofit.ButtheyarenotthepartIamfondestof.”“Oh,Ihatetraveling,”saidtheCountessofPimlicoandtransferredherattentiontoMrs.Westgate.“MysontellsmeyouaregoingtoBranches,”theduchesspresentlyresumed.“LordLambethhasbeensogoodastoaskus,”saidMrs.Westgate,whoperceivedthathervisitorhadnowbeguntolookather,andwhohadhercustomaryhappyconsciousnessofadistinguishedappearance.Theonlymitigationofherfelicityonthispointwasthat,havinginspectedhervisitor’sowncostume,shesaidtoherself,“Shewon’tknowhowwellIamdressed!”“Hehasaskedmetogo,butIamnotsureIshallbeable,”murmuredtheduchess.“Hehadofferedusthep—prospectofmeetingyou,”saidMrs.Westgate.“Ihatethecountryatthisseason,”respondedtheduchess.Mrs.Westgategavealittleshrug.“IthinkitispleasanterthanLondon.”Buttheduchess’seyeswereabsentagain;shewaslookingveryfixedlyatBessie.