Міжнародний епізод

           “Heshouldhavesaidmysister,”Bessieanswered—“whenshesayssuchthingsasthat.”“ShallyoubelongatBranches?”theduchessasked,abruptly,oftheyounggirl.“LordLambethhasaskedusforthreedays,”saidBessie.“Ishallgo,”theduchessdeclared,“andmydaughter,too.”“Thatwillbecharming!”Bessierejoined.“Delightful!”murmuredMrs.Westgate.“Ishallexpecttoseeagreatdealofyou,”theduchesscontinued.“WhenIgotoBranchesImonopolizemyson’sguests.”“Theymustbemosthappy,”saidMrs.Westgateverygraciously.“Iwantimmenselytoseeit—toseethecastle,”saidBessietotheduchess.“Ihaveneverseenone—inEngland,atleast;andyouknowwehavenoneinAmerica.”“Ah,youarefondofcastles?”inquiredherGrace.“Immensely!”repliedtheyounggirl.“Ithasbeenthedreamofmylifetoliveinone.”Theduchesslookedatheramoment,asifshehardlyknewhowtotakethisassurance,which,fromherGrace’spointofview,waseitherveryartlessorveryaudacious.“Well,”shesaid,rising,“IwillshowyouBranchesmyself.”Anduponthisthetwogreatladiestooktheirdeparture.“Whatdidtheymeanbyit?”askedMrs.Westgate,whentheyweregone.“Theymeanttobepolite,”saidBessie,“becausewearegoingtomeetthem.”“Itistoolatetobepolite,”Mrs.Westgaterepliedalmostgrimly.“Theymeanttooveraweusbytheirfinemannersandtheirgrandeur,andtomakeyoulacherprise.”“Lacherprise?Whatstrangethingsyousay!”murmuredBessieAlden.