Міжнародний епізод

           Inamomentsheslowlyrose,walkedtoachairthatstoodemptyattheyounggirl’srighthand,andsilentlyseatedherself.Asshewasamajestic,voluminouswoman,thislittletransactionhad,inevitably,anairofsomewhatimpressiveintention.Itdiffusedacertainawkwardness,whichLadyPimlico,asasympatheticdaughter,perhapsdesiredtorectifyinturningtoMrs.Westgate.“Idaresayyougooutagreatdeal,”sheobserved.“No,verylittle.Wearestrangers,andwedidn’tcomehereforsociety.”“Isee,”saidLadyPimlico.“It’sratherniceintownjustnow.”“It’scharming,”saidMrs.Westgate.“Butweonlygotoseeafewpeople—whomwelike.”“Ofcourseonecan’tlikeeveryone,”saidLadyPimlico.“Itdependsuponone’ssociety,”Mrs.Westgaterejoined.TheDuchessmeanwhilehadaddressedherselftoBessie.“MysontellsmetheyoungladiesinAmericaaresoclever.”“Iamgladtheymadesogoodanimpressiononhim,”saidBessie,smiling.TheDuchesswasnotsmiling;herlargefreshfacewasverytranquil.“Heisverysusceptible,”shesaid.“Hethinkseveryoneclever,andsometimestheyare.”“Sometimes,”Bessieassented,smilingstill.Theduchesslookedatheralittleandthenwenton;“Lambethisverysusceptible,butheisveryvolatile,too.”“Volatile?”askedBessie.“Heisveryinconstant.Itwon’tdotodependonhim.”“Ah,”saidBessie,“Idon’trecognizethatdescription.Wehavedependedonhimgreatly—mysisterandI—andhehasneverdisappointedus.”“Hewilldisappointyouyet,”saidtheduchess.