They make very good jackets in London, I will do you the justice to say that. And some people like the hats;but about the hats I was always a heretic; I always got my hats in Paris. You can't wear an English hat--at least I never could--unless you dress your hair a l'Anglaise;and I must say that is a talent I have never possessed.
In Paris they will make things to suit your peculiarities;but in England I think you like much more to have--how shall Isay it?--one thing for everybody. I mean as regards dress.
I don't know about other things; but I have always supposed that in other things everything was different.
I mean according to the people--according to the classes, and all that. I am afraid you will think that I don't take a very favorable view; but you know you can't take a very favorable view in Dover Street in the month of November.
That has always been my fate. Do you know Jones's Hotel in Dover Street? That's all I know of England. Of course everyone admits that the English hotels are your weak point.
There was always the most frightful fog; I couldn't see to try my things on. When I got over to America--into the light--I usually found they were twice too big. The next time Imean to go in the season; I think I shall go next year.
I want very much to take my sister; she has never been to England.
I don't know whether you know what I mean by saying that the Englishmen who come here sometimes get spoiled.
I mean that they take things as a matter of course--things that are done for them. Now, naturally, they are only a matter of course when the Englishmen are very nice.
But, of course, they are almost always very nice.
Of course this isn't nearly such an interesting country as England;there are not nearly so many things to see, and we haven't your country life. I have never seen anything of your country life;when I am in Europe I am always on the Continent. But I have heard a great deal about it; I know that when you are among yourselves in the country you have the most beautiful time.
Of course we have nothing of that sort, we have nothing on 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 come--with 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 promotion--and 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 society--at 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 strange--for 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."