An International Episode | Page 7

notice, for the
lark."
"Is it your first visit to the United States?"

"Oh, dear, yes."
"I was obliged to come on some business," said Percy Beaumont, "and
I brought Lambeth along."
"And YOU have been here before, sir?"
"Never--never."
"I thought, from your referring to business--" said Mr. Westgate.
"Oh, you see I'm by way of being a barrister," Percy Beaumont
answered. "I know some people that think of bringing a suit against one
of your railways, and they asked me to come over and take measures
accordingly."
"What's your railroad?" he asked.
"The Tennessee Central."
The American tilted back his chair a little and poised it an instant.
"Well, I'm sorry you want to attack one of our institutions," he said,
smiling. "But I guess you had better enjoy yourself FIRST!"
"I'm certainly rather afraid I can't work in this weather," the young
barrister confessed.
"Leave that to the natives," said Mr. Westgate. "Leave the Tennessee
Central to me, Mr. Beaumont. Some day we'll talk it over, and I guess I
can make it square. But I didn't know you Englishmen ever did any
work, in the upper classes."
"Oh, we do a lot of work; don't we, Lambeth?" asked Percy Beaumont.
"I must certainly be at home by the 19th of September," said the
younger Englishman, irrelevantly but gently.
"For the shooting, eh? or is it the hunting, or the fishing?" inquired his
entertainer.

"Oh, I must be in Scotland," said Lord Lambeth, blushing a little.
"Well, then," rejoined Mr. Westgate, "you had better amuse yourself
first, also. You must go down and see Mrs. Westgate."
"We should be so happy, if you would kindly tell us the train," said
Percy Beaumont.
"It isn't a train--it's a boat."
"Oh, I see. And what is the name of--a-- the--a-- town?"
"It isn't a town," said Mr. Westgate, laughing. "It's a--well, what shall I
call it? It's a watering place. In short, it's Newport. You'll see what it is.
It's cool; that's the principal thing. You will greatly oblige me by going
down there and putting yourself into the hands of Mrs. Westgate. It isn't
perhaps for me to say it, but you couldn't be in better hands. Also in
those of her sister, who is staying with her. She is very fond of
Englishmen. She thinks there is nothing like them."
"Mrs. Westgate or--a-- her sister?" asked Percy Beaumont modestly,
yet in the tone of an inquiring traveler.
"Oh, I mean my wife," said Mr. Westgate. "I don't suppose my
sister-in-law knows much about them. She has always led a very quiet
life; she has lived in Boston."
Percy Beaumont listened with interest. "That, I believe," he said, "is the
most--a-- intellectual town?"
"I believe it is very intellectual. I don't go there much," responded his
host.
"I say, we ought to go there," said Lord Lambeth to his companion.
"Oh, Lord Lambeth, wait till the great heat is over," Mr. Westgate
interposed. "Boston in this weather would be very trying; it's not the
temperature for intellectual exertion. At Boston, you know, you have to
pass an examination at the city limits; and when you come away they

give you a kind of degree."
Lord Lambeth stared, blushing a little; and Percy Beaumont stared a
little also--but only with his fine natural complexion-- glancing aside
after a moment to see that his companion was not looking too credulous,
for he had heard a great deal of American humor. "I daresay it is very
jolly," said the younger gentleman.
"I daresay it is," said Mr. Westgate. "Only I must impress upon you that
at present--tomorrow morning, at an early hour-- you will be expected
at Newport. We have a house there; half the people in New York go
there for the summer. I am not sure that at this very moment my wife
can take you in; she has got a lot of people staying with her; I don't
know who they all are; only she may have no room. But you can begin
with the hotel, and meanwhile you can live at my house. In that
way--simply sleeping at the hotel-- you will find it tolerable. For the
rest, you must make yourself at home at my place. You mustn't be shy,
you know; if you are only here for a month that will be a great waste of
time. Mrs. Westgate won't neglect you, and you had better not try to
resist her. I know something about that. I expect you'll find some pretty
girls on the premises. I shall write to my wife by this afternoon's mail,
and tomorrow morning she and Miss Alden will look out for you. Just
walk right in and make yourself comfortable. Your steamer leaves from
this part of the city, and I will