“Very much indeed,” said Bessie.
“Do you like this hotel?”
“It is very comfortable,” said Bessie.
“Do you like stopping at hotels?” inquired Lady Pimlico after a pause.
“I am very fond of traveling,” Bessie answered, “and I suppose hotels are a necessary part of it. But they are not the part I am fondest of.”
“Oh, I hate traveling,” said the Countess of Pimlico and transferred her attention to Mrs. Westgate.
“My son tells me you are going to Branches,” the duchess presently resumed.
“Lord Lambeth has been so good as to ask us,” said Mrs. Westgate, who perceived that her visitor had now begun to look at her, and who had her customary happy consciousness of a distinguished appearance. The only mitigation of her felicity on this point was that, having inspected her visitor’s own costume, she said to herself, “She won’t know how well I am dressed!”
“He has asked me to go, but I am not sure I shall be able,” murmured the duchess.
“He had offered us the p—prospect of meeting you,” said Mrs. Westgate.