Chapter 10

           Therewasaknockatthedoor.

           "Comein,"saidJulia.

           Evieentered.

           "Aren’tyougoingtobedtoday,MissLambert?"ShesawJuliasittingonthefloorsurroundedbymassesofphotographs."Whateverareyoudoing?"

           "Dreaming."Shetookuptwoofthephotographs."Lookhereuponthispicture,andonthis."

           OnewasofMichaelasMercutioinalltheradiantbeautyofhisyouthandtheotherofMichaelinthelastparthehadplayed,inawhitetopperandamorningcoat,withapairoffield-glassesslungoverhisshoulder.Helookedunbelievablyself-satisfied.

           Eviesniffed.

           "Oh,well,it’snogoodcryingoverspiltmilk."

           "I’vebeenthinkingofthepastandI’masblueasthedevil."*

           "Idon’twonder.Whenyoustartthinkingofthepastitmeansyouain’tgotnofuture,don’tit?"

           "Youshutyourtrap,youoldcow,"saidJulia,whocouldbeveryvulgarwhenshechose.

           "Comeonnow,oryou’llbefitfornothingtonight.I’llclearupallthismess."

           EviewasJulia’sdresserandmaid.ShehadcometoherfirstatMiddlepoolandhadaccompaniedhertoLondon.Shewasacockney,athin,raddled,angularwoman,withredhairwhichwasalwaysuntidyandlookedasifitmuchneededwashing,twoofherfrontteethweremissingbut,notwithstandingJulia’soffer,repeatedforyears,toprovideherwithnewonesshewouldnothavethemreplaced.

           "ForthelittleIeatI’vegotalltheteethIwant.It’donlyfidgetmeto’avealotofelephant’stusksinmemouth."