Театр

           Theywouldbeabletospendhourstogether.

           "Youcangetbackwiththemilk,"*he’dsaid.

           "Andwhataboutmyperformancenextday?"

           "Wecan’tbotheraboutthat."

           Shehadrefusedtolethimfetchheratthetheatre,andwhenshegottotherestauranttheyhadchosenhewaswaitingforherinthelobby.Hisfacelitupashesawher.

           "Itwasgettingsolate,Iwasafraidyouweren’tcoming."

           "I’msorry,sometiresomepeoplecameroundaftertheplayandIcouldn’tgetridofthem."

           Butitwasn’ttrue.Shehadbeenasexcitedalltheeveningasagirlgoingtoherfirstball.Shecouldnothelpthinkinghowabsurdshewas.Butwhenshehadtakenoffhertheatricalmake-upandmadeupagainforsuppershecouldnotsatisfyherself.Sheputblueonhereyelidsandtookitoffagain,sherougedhercheeks,rubbedthemcleanandtriedanothercolour.

           "Whatareyoutryingtodo?"saidEvie.

           "I’mtryingtolooktwenty,youfool."

           "Ifyoutrymuchlongeryou’lllookyourage."

           Shehadneverseenhimineveningclothesbefore.Heshonelikeanewpin.Thoughhewasofnomorethanaverageheighthisslimnessmadehimlooktall.Shewasatrifletouchedtoseethatforallhisairsofthemanoftheworldhewasshywiththeheadwaiterwhenitcametoorderingsupper.Theydancedandhedidnotdanceverywell,butshefoundhisslightawkwardnessrathercharming.Peoplerecognizedher,andshewasconsciousthatheenjoyedthereflectedgloryoftheirglances.Apairofyoungthingswhohadbeendancingcameuptotheirtabletosayhowdoyoudotoher.