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that scale。 I don't apologize； Lord Lambeth； some Americans
are always apologizing； you must have noticed that。
We have the reputation of always boasting and bragging and
waving the American flag； but I must say that what strikes me
is that we are perpetually making excuses and trying to smooth
things over。 The American flag has quite gone out of fashion；
it's very carefully folded up； like an old tablecloth。
Why should we apologize？ The English never apologize
do they？ No； I must say I never apologize。 You must take
us as we comewith all our imperfections on our heads。
Of course we haven't your country life； and your old ruins；
and your great estates； and your leisure class； and all that。
But if we haven't； I should think you might find it a pleasant change
I think any country is pleasant where they have pleasant manners。
Captain Littledale told me he had never seen such pleasant manners
as at Newport； and he had been a great deal in European society。
Hadn't he been in the diplomatic service？ He told me
the dream of his life was to get appointed to a diplomatic
post in Washington。 But he doesn't seem to have succeeded。
I suppose that in England promotionand all that sort of thing
is fearfully slow。 With us； you know； it's a great deal too fast。
You see； I admit our drawbacks。 But I must confess I think Newport
is an ideal place。 I don't know anything like it anywhere。
Captain Littledale told me he didn't know anything like it anywhere。
It's entirely different from most watering places；
it's a most charming life。 I must say I think that when one
goes to a foreign country one ought to enjoy the differences。
Of course there are differences； otherwise what did one come
abroad for？ Look for your pleasure in the differences；
Lord Lambeth； that's the way to do it； and then I am sure
you will find American societyat least Newport society
most charming and most interesting。 I wish very much my
husband were here； but he's dreadfully confined to New York。
I suppose you think that is very strangefor a gentleman。
But you see we haven't any leisure class。〃
Mrs。 Westgate's discourse； delivered in a soft； sweet voice；
flowed on like a miniature torrent； and was interrupted by a
hundred little smiles； glances； and gestures； which might have
figured the irregularities and obstructions of such a stream。
Lord Lambeth listened to her with； it must be confessed；
a rather ineffectual attention； although he indulged in a good
many little murmurs and ejaculations of assent and deprecation。
He had no great faculty for apprehending generalizations。
There were some three or four indeed which； in the play
of his own intelligence； he had originated； and which had
seemed convenient at the moment； but at the present time
he could hardly have been said to follow Mrs。 Westgate
as she darted gracefully about in the sea of speculation。
Fortunately she asked for no especial rejoinder；
for she looked about at the rest of the company as well；
and smiled at Percy Beaumont； on the other side of her；
as if he too much understand her and agree with her。
He was rather more successful than his companion；
for besides being； as we know； cleverer； his attention was
not vaguely distracted by close vicinity to a remarkably
interesting young girl； with dark hair and blue eyes。
This was the case with Lord Lambeth； to whom it occurred
after a while that the young girl with blue eyes and dark
hair was the pretty sister of whom Mrs。 Westgate had spoken。
She presently turned to him with a remark which established
her identity。
〃It's a great pity you couldn't have brought my brother…in…law with you。
It's a great shame he should be in New York in these days。〃
〃Oh； yes； it's so very hot；〃 said Lord Lambeth。
〃It must be dreadful；〃 said the young girl。
〃I daresay he is very busy；〃 Lord Lambeth observed。
〃The gentlemen in America work too much；〃 the young girl went on。
〃Oh； do they？ I daresay they like it；〃 said her interlocutor。
〃I don't like it。 One never sees them。〃
〃Don't you； really？〃 asked Lord Lambeth。 〃I shouldn't have fancied that。〃
〃Have you come to study American manners？〃 asked the young girl。
〃Oh； I don't know。 I just came over for a lark。 I haven't got long。〃
Here there was a pause； and Lord Lambeth began again。 〃But Mr。 Westgate
will come down here； will not he？〃
〃I certainly hope he will。 He must help to entertain you and Mr。 Beaumont。〃
Lord Lambeth looked at her a little with his handsome brown eyes。
〃Do you suppose he would have come down with us if we had urged him？〃
Mr。 Westgate's sister…in…law was silent a moment； and then；
〃I daresay he would；〃 she answered。
〃Really！〃 said the young Englishman。 〃He was immensely civil
to Beaumont and me；〃 he added。
〃He is a dear good fellow；〃 the young lady rejoined；
〃and he is a perfect husband。 But all Americans are that；〃
she continued； smiling。
〃Really！〃 Lord Lambeth exclaimed again and wondered whether all American
ladies had such a passion for generalizing as these two。
He sat there a good while： there was a great deal of talk；
it was all very friendly and lively and jolly。 Everyone present；
sooner or later； said something to him； and seemed to make
a particular point of addressing him by name。 Two or three other
persons came in； and there was a shifting of seats and changing
of places； the gentlemen all entered into intimate conversation
with the two Englishmen； made them urgent offers of hospitality；
and hoped they might frequently be of service to them。
They were afraid Lord Lambeth and Mr。 Beaumont were not very
comfortable at their hotel； that it was not； as one of them said；
〃so private as those dear little English inns of yours。〃
This last gentleman went on to say that unfortunately；
as yet； perhaps； privacy was not quite so easily obtained
in America as might be desired； still； he continued；
you could generally get it by paying for it； in fact；
you could get everything in America nowadays by paying for it。
American life was certainly growing a great deal more private；
it was growing very much like England。 Everything at Newport；
for instance； was thoroughly private； Lord Lambeth would
probably be struck with that。 It was also represented to
the strangers that it mattered very little whether their hotel
was agreeable； as everyone would want them to make visits；
they would stay with other people； and； in any case；
they would be a great deal at Mrs。 Westgate's。 They would find
that very charming； it was the pleasantest house in Newport。
It was a pity Mr。 Westgate was always away； he was a man
of the highest abilityvery acute； very acute。 He worked like
a horse； and he left his wifewell； to do about as she liked。
He liked her to enjoy herself； and she seemed to know how。
She was extremely brilliant and a splendid talker。
Some people preferred her sister； but Miss Alden was very different；
she was in a different style altogether。 Some people even
thought her prettier； and； certainly； she was not so sharp。
She was more in the Boston style； she had lived a great deal
in Boston； and she was very highly educated。 Boston girls；
it was propounded； were more like English young ladies。
Lord Lambeth had presently a chance to test the truth of this proposition；
for on the company rising in compliance with a suggestion from their
hostess that they should walk down to the rocks and look at the sea；
the young Englishman again found himself； as they strolled across the grass；
in proximity to Mrs。 Westgate's sister。 Though she was but a girl of twenty；
she appeared to feel the obligation to exert an active hospitality； and this
was； perhaps； the more to be noticed as she seemed by nature a reserved
and retiring person； and had little of her sister's fraternizing quality。
She was perhaps rather too thin； and she was a little pale； but as she moved
slowly over the grass； with her arms hanging at her sides； looking gravely
for a moment at the sea and then brightly； for all her gravity； at him；
Lord Lambeth thought her at least as pretty as Mrs。 Westgate； and reflected
that if this was the Boston style the Boston style was very charming。
He thought she looked very clever； he could imagine that she was
highly educated； but at the same time she seemed gentle and graceful。
For all her cleverness； however； he felt that she had to think a little
what to say； she didn't say the first thing that came into her head；
he had come from a different part of the world and from a different society；
and she was trying to adapt her conversation。 The others were scattering
themselves near the rocks； Mrs。 Westgate had charge of Percy Beaumont。
〃Very jolly place； isn't it？〃 said Lord Lambeth。
〃It's a very jolly place to sit。〃
〃Very charming；〃 said the young girl。 〃I often sit here；
there are all kinds of cozy cornersas if they h