Chapter 6

           Afterafortnightofrehearsals,Michaelwasthrownoutofthepartforwhichhehadbeenengaged,andforthreeorfourweekswaslefttokickhisheelsabouttillsomethingelsecouldbefoundforhim.HeopenedinduecourseinaplaythatranlessthanamonthinNewYork.Itwassentontheroad;butlanguishedandwaswithdrawn.Afteranotherwaithewasgivenapartinacostumeplaywherehisgoodlooksshonetosuchadvantagethathisindifferentactingwaslittlenoticed,andinthishefinishedtheseason.Therewasnotalkofrenewinghiscontract.Indeedthemanagerwhohadengagedhimwascausticinhiscomments.

           "Gee,I’dgivesomethingtogetevenwiththatfellowLangton,thesonofabitch,"hesaid."Heknewwhathewasdoingallrightwhenhelandedmewiththatstick."

           JuliawrotetoMichaelconstantly,pagesandpagesofloveandgossip,whileheansweredonceaweek,fourpagesexactlyinaneat,precisehand.Healwaysendedupbysendingherhisbestloveandsigninghimselfhersveryaffectionately,buttherestofhisletterwasmoreinformativethanpassionate.Yetsheawaiteditscominginanagonyofimpatienceandreaditoverandoveragain.Thoughhewrotecheerfully,sayinglittleaboutthetheatreexceptthatthepartstheygavehimwererottenandtheplaysinwhichhewasexpectedtoactbeneathcontempt,newstravelsinthetheatricalworld,andJuliaknewthathehadnotmadegood.

           "Isupposeit’sbeastlyofme,"shethought,"butthankGod,thankGod."

           Whenheannouncedthedateofhissailingshecouldnotcontainherjoy.