Театр

           Michael,lookingfornewtalent,oftentookhimtotheplayintheevenings,eitherinLondonorthesuburbs;theywouldfetchJuliaaftertheperformance,andthethreeofthemsuppedtogether.NowandthenMichaelaskedTomtoplaygolfwithhimonSundaysandtheniftherewasnopartywouldbringhimhometodinner.

           "Nicetohaveayoungfellowlikethataround,"hesaid."Itkeepsonefromgrowingrusty."

           Tomwasverypleasantaboutthehouse.Hewouldplaybackgammon*withMichael,orpatiencewithJulia,andwhentheyturnedonthegramophonehewasalwaystheretochangetherecords.

           "He’llbeanicefriendforRoger,"saidMichael."Tom’sgothisheadscrewedonhisshoulderstherightway,andhe’salotolderthanRoger.Heoughttohaveagoodinfluenceonhim.Whydon’tyouaskhimtocomeandspendhisholidaywithus?"

           ("LuckyI’magoodactress.")Butitwantedanefforttokeepthejoyoutofhervoiceandtopreventherfacefromshowingtheexultationthatmadeherheartbeatsoviolently."That’snotabadidea,"sheanswered.I’llaskhimifyoulike."

           TheirplaywasrunningthroughAugust,andMichaelhadtakenahouseatTaplowsothattheycouldspendtheheightofthesummerthere.JuliawastocomeupforherperformancesandMichaelwhenbusinessneededit,butshewouldhavethedayinthecountryandSundays.Tomhadafortnight’sholiday;heacceptedtheinvitationwithalacrity.

           ButonedayJulianoticedthathewasunusuallysilent.Helookedpaleandhisbuoyantspiritshaddesertedhim.