“Women always know more than men about names and dates and that sort of thing,” Lord Lambeth rejoined. “There was Lady Jane Grey we have just been hearing about, who went in for Latin and Greek and all the learning of her age.”
“you have no right to be ignorant, at all events,” said Bessie.
“Why haven’t I as good a right as anyone else?”
“Because you have lived in the midst of all these things.”
“What things do you mean? Axes, and blocks, and thumbscrews?”
“All these historical things. You belong to a historical family.”
“Bessie is really too historical,” said Mrs. Westgate, catching a word of this dialogue.
“Yes, you are too historical,” said Lord Lambeth, laughing, but thankful for a formula. “Upon my honor, you are too historical!”
He went with the ladies a couple of days later to Hampton Court, Willie Woodley being also of the party. The afternoon was charming, the famous horse chestnuts were in blossom, and Lord Lambeth, who quite entered into the spirit of the cockney excursionist, declared that it was a jolly old place. Bessie Alden was in ecstasies; she went about murmuring and exclaiming.
“It’s too lovely,” said the young girl; “it’s too enchanting; it’s too exactly what it ought to be!”