Mrs. Westgate displayed just a spark of irritation. “He might have waited,” she said with a smile, “till one had seen the castle.” Later, an hour afterward, she said, “Dear Bessie, I wish you might have accepted him.”
“I couldn’t,” said Bessie gently.
“He is an excellent fellow,” said Mrs. Westgate.
“I couldn’t,” Bessie repeated.
“If it is only,” her sister added, “because those women will think that they succeeded—that they paralyzed us!”
Bessie Alden turned away; but presently she added, “They were interesting; I should have liked to see them again.”
“So should I!” cried Mrs. Westgate significantly.
“And I should have liked to see the castle,” said Bessie. “But now we must leave England,” she added.
Her sister looked at her. “You will not wait to go to the National Gallery?”
“Not now.”