'Mr. Pink informed me,' continued Lady Bandobust, 'that he thought you might feel able to afford to see a little of English society. I've noticed that Americans generally like to do that if they can.'
I said I was sure it would be interesting.
'It is very difficult,' said Lady Bandobust—'extremely difficult. It is impossible that you should know how difficult it is.'
I remarked modestly, by way of reply, that I believed few things worth having were easy to get.
Lady Bandobust ignored the generalisation. 'As Mr. Pink has probably told you, it costs money,' said she, with another little concessive smile.
'Then, perhaps, it is not so difficult after all,' I replied, amiably.
Lady Bandobust gave me another sharp look. 'Only you rich Americans can afford to say that,' she said. 'But Mr. Pink has told me that the expense would in all likelihood be a matter of indifference to your people. That, of course, is important.'
'Poppa doesn't scrimp,' I said. 'He likes us to have a good time.'
'Regardless,' said Lady Bandobust—'regardless of the cost! That is very liberal.'
'Americans,' she went on, 'in English society are very fortunate. They are always considered as—as Americans, you understand——'