Part 15 (1/2)
”Of course one can't like everyone,” said Lady Pimlico.
”It depends upon one's society,” Mrs. Westgate rejoined.
The d.u.c.h.ess meanwhile had addressed herself to Bessie. ”My son tells me the young ladies in America are so clever.”
”I am glad they made so good an impression on him,” said Bessie, smiling.
The d.u.c.h.ess was not smiling; her large fresh face was very tranquil.
”He is very susceptible,” she said. ”He thinks everyone clever, and sometimes they are.”
”Sometimes,” Bessie a.s.sented, smiling still.
The d.u.c.h.ess looked at her a little and then went on; ”Lambeth is very susceptible, but he is very volatile, too.”
”Volatile?” asked Bessie.
”He is very inconstant. It won't do to depend on him.”
”Ah,” said Bessie, ”I don't recognize that description. We have depended on him greatly--my sister and I--and he has never disappointed us.”
”He will disappoint you yet,” said the d.u.c.h.ess.
Bessie gave a little laugh, as if she were amused at the d.u.c.h.ess's persistency. ”I suppose it will depend on what we expect of him.”
”The less you expect, the better,” Lord Lambeth's mother declared.
”Well,” said Bessie, ”we expect nothing unreasonable.”
The d.u.c.h.ess for a moment was silent, though she appeared to have more to say. ”Lambeth says he has seen so much of you,” she presently began.
”He has been to see us very often; he has been very kind,” said Bessie Alden.
”I daresay you are used to that. I am told there is a great deal of that in America.”
”A great deal of kindness?” the young girl inquired, smiling.
”Is that what you call it? I know you have different expressions.”
”We certainly don't always understand each other,” said Mrs. Westgate, the termination of whose interview with Lady Pimlico allowed her to give her attention to their elder visitor.
”I am speaking of the young men calling so much upon the young ladies,”
the d.u.c.h.ess explained.
”But surely in England,” said Mrs. Westgate, ”the young ladies don't call upon the young men?”
”Some of them do--almost!” Lady Pimlico declared. ”When the young men are a great PARTI.”
”Bessie, you must make a note of that,” said Mrs. Westgate. ”My sister,”
she added, ”is a model traveler. She writes down all the curious facts she hears in a little book she keeps for the purpose.”