Театр

           Juliafeltslightlyuneasy.ItseemedtoherthatTomhadshedtheyearssothathewasbecomenotonlyinageRoger’scontemporary.Theytalkedagreatdealofnonsense.Theyateenormouslyanddranktankardsofbeer.Michael,eatinganddrinkingassparinglyasusual,watchedthemwithamusement.Hewasenjoyingtheiryouthandtheirhighspirits.HeremindedJuliaofanolddoglyinginthesunandgentlybeatinghistailonthegroundashelookedatapairofpuppiesgambollingabouthim.Theyhadcoffeeonthelawn.Juliafounditverypleasanttositthereintheshade,lookingattheriver.Tomwasslimandgracefulinhislongwhitetrousers.Shehadneverseenhimsmokeapipebefore.Shefounditstrangelytouching.ButRogermockedhim.

           "Doyousmokeitbecauseitmakesyoufeelmanlyorbecauseyoulikeit?"

           "Shutup,"saidTom.

           "Finishedyourcoffee?"

           "Yes."

           "Comeonthen,let’sgoontheriver."

           Tomgaveheradoubtfullook.Rogersawit.

           "Oh,it’sallright,youneedn’tbotheraboutmyrespectedparents,they’vegottheSundaypapers.Mummy’sjustgivenmearacingpunt."*

           ("Imustkeepmytemper.Imustkeepmytemper.WhywasIsuchafoolastogivehimaracingpunt?")

           "Allright,"shesaid,withanindulgentsmile,"goontheriver,butdon’tfallin."

           "Itwon’thurtusifwedo.We’llbebackfortea.Isthecourtmarkedout,daddy?We’regoingtoplaytennisaftertea."

           "Idaresayyourfathercangetholdofsomebodyandyoucanhaveafour."

           "Oh,don’tbother.Singlesarebetterfunreallyandonegetsmoreexercise.