Театр

           Shehadrealizedalreadythathewasabitofasnob.Well,thatwasalltothegood;shecouldgivehimallthesmartpeoplehewanted.ForJuliawasshrewd,andsheknewverywellthatTomwasnotinlovewithher.Tohaveanaffairwithherflatteredhisvanity.Hewasahighly-sexedyoungmanandenjoyedsexualexercise.Fromhints,fromstoriesthatshehaddraggedoutofhim,shediscoveredthatsincehewasseventeenhehadhadagreatmanywomen.Helovedtheactratherthantheperson.Helookeduponitasthegreatestlarkintheworld.Andshecouldunderstandwhyhehadsomuchsuccess.Therewassomethingappealinginhisslightness,hisbodywasjustskinandbone,thatwaswhyhisclothessatonhimsowell,andsomethingcharminginhiscleanfreshness.Hisshynessandhiseffronterycombinedtomakehimirresistible.Itwasstrangelyflatteringforawomantobetreatedasalittlebitoffluff*thatyoujusttumbledontoabed.

           "Whathe’sgot,ofcourse,issexappeal."

           Sheknewthathisgoodlookswereduetohisyouth.Hewouldgrowwizenedashegrewolder,driedupandhaggard;thatcharmingflushonhischeekswouldturnintoapurpleglowandhisdelicateskinwouldgolinedandsallow;butthefeelingthatwhatshelovedinhimwouldenduresoshortatimeincreasedhertenderness.Shefeltastrangecompassionforhim.Hehadthehighspiritsofyouth,andshelappedthemupasakittenlapsupmilk.Buthewasnotamusing.ThoughhelaughedwhenJuliasaidafunnythingheneversaidonehimself.Shedidnotmind.