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 must 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.