Театр

           BothJuliaandMichaelhadfromthefirstbeenobsessedbythefearthathewouldgoonthestage,butforthisapparentlyhehadnoinclination.

           "Anyhowhewouldn’tbeanygood,"saidJulia.

           Heledhisownlife.Hewentoutontheriverandlayaboutthegardenreading.OnhisseventeenthbirthdayJuliahadgivenhimaverysmartroadster,andinthishecareeredaboutthecountryatbreakneckspeeds.

           "There’sonecomfort,"saidJulia."He’snobother.Heseemsquitecapableofamusinghimself."

           OnSundaystheyhadagoodmanypeopledownfortheday,actorsandactresses,anoccasionalwriter,andasprinklingofsomeoftheirgranderfriends.Juliafoundthesepartiesveryamusingandsheknewthatpeoplelikedtocometothem.OnthefirstSundayafterRoger’sarrivaltherewasagreatmob.Rogerwasverypolitetotheguests.Hedidhisdutyasparthostlikeamanoftheworld.ButitseemedtoJuliathatheheldhimselfinsomecuriouswayaloof,asthoughhewereplayingapartinwhichhehadnotlosthimself,andshehadanuneasyfeelingthathewasnotacceptingallthesepeople,butcoollyjudgingthem.Shehadanimpressionthathetooknoneofthemveryseriously.

           TomhadarrangedtocomeonthefollowingSaturdayandshedrovehimdownafterthetheatre.Itwasamoonlitnightandatthathourtheroadswereempty.Thedrivewasenchanting.Juliawouldhavelikedittogoonforever.Shenestledagainsthimandeverynowandtheninthedarknesshekissedher.

           "Areyouhappy?"sheasked.

           "Absolutely."