Міжнародний епізод

           Bessiegavealittlelaugh,asifshewereamusedattheduchess’spersistency.“Isupposeitwilldependonwhatweexpectofhim.”“Thelessyouexpect,thebetter,”LordLambeth’smotherdeclared.“Well,”saidBessie,“weexpectnothingunreasonable.”Theduchessforamomentwassilent,thoughsheappearedtohavemoretosay.“Lambethsayshehasseensomuchofyou,”shepresentlybegan.“Hehasbeentoseeusveryoften;hehasbeenverykind,”saidBessieAlden.“Idaresayyouareusedtothat.IamtoldthereisagreatdealofthatinAmerica.”“Agreatdealofkindness?”theyounggirlinquired,smiling.“Isthatwhatyoucallit?Iknowyouhavedifferentexpressions.”“Wecertainlydon’talwaysunderstandeachother,”saidMrs.Westgate,theterminationofwhoseinterviewwithLadyPimlicoallowedhertogiveherattentiontotheireldervisitor.“Iamspeakingoftheyoungmencallingsomuchupontheyoungladies,”theduchessexplained.“ButsurelyinEngland,”saidMrs.Westgate,“theyoungladiesdon’tcallupontheyoungmen?”“Someofthemdo—almost!”LadyPimlicodeclared.“Whattheyoungmenareagreatparti.”“Bessie,youmustmakeanoteofthat,”saidMrs.Westgate.“Mysister,”sheadded,“isamodeltraveler.Shewritesdownallthecuriousfactsshehearsinalittlebookshekeepsforthepurpose.”Theduchesswasalittleflushed;shelookedallabouttheroom,whileherdaughterturnedtoBessie.“Mybrothertoldusyouwerewonderfullyclever,”saidLadyPimlico.