Chapter 15

           Juliadidnotwaketillaftereleven.Amongherletterswasonethathadnotcomebypost.SherecognizedTom’sneat,commercialhandandtoreitopen.Itcontainednothingbutthefourpoundsandtheten-shillingnote.Shefeltslightlysick.Shedidnotquiteknowwhatshehadexpectedhimtoreplytohercondescendingletterandthehumiliatingpresent.Ithadnotoccurredtoherthathewouldreturnit.Shewastroubled,shehadwantedtohurthisfeelings,butshehadafearnowthatshehadgonetoofar.

           "AnyhowIhopehetippedtheservants,"shemutteredtoreassureherself.Sheshruggedhershoulders."He’llcomeround.Itwon’thurthimtodiscoverthatI’mnotallmilkandhoney."

           Butsheremainedthoughtfulthroughouttheday.Whenshegottothetheatreaparcelwaswaitingforher.Assoonasshelookedattheaddresssheknewwhatitcontained.Evieaskedifsheshouldopenit.

           "No."

           Butthemomentshewasalonesheopeneditherself.Therewerethecuff-linksandthewaistcoatbuttons,thepearlstuds,thewrist-watchandthecigarette-caseofwhichTomwassoproud.Allthepresentsshehadevergivenhim.Butnoletter.Notawordofexplanation.Herheartsankandshenoticedthatshewastrembling.

           "WhatadamnedfoolIwas!Whydidn’tIkeepmytemper?"

           Herheartnowbeatpainfully.Shecouldn’tgoonthestagewiththatanguishgnawingathervitals,shewouldgiveafrightfulperformance;atwhatevercostshemustspeaktohim.Therewasatelephoneinhishouseandanextensiontohisroom.Sheranghim.Fortunatelyhewasin.

           "Tom."