Театр

           Shecouldstepintoapart,notaverygoodoneperhaps,withsillywordstosay,andbyherpersonality,bythedexteritywhichshehadatherfinger-tips,infuseitwithlife.Therewasnoonewhocoulddowhatshecouldwithapart.SometimesshefeltlikeGod.

           "Andbesides,"shechuckled,"Tomwouldn’tbeborn."

           AfterallitwasverynaturalthatheshouldliketoplayaboutwithRoger.Theybelongedtothesamegeneration.Itwasthefirstdayofhisholiday,shemustlethimenjoyhimself;therewasawholefortnightmore.Hewouldsoongetsickofbeingallthetimewithaboyofseventeen.Rogerwassweet,buthewasdull;shewasn’tgoingtoletmaternalaffectionblindhertothat.Shemustbeverycarefulnottoshowthatshewasintheleastputout.FromthebeginningshehadmadeuphermindthatshewouldnevermakeanyclaimonTom;itwouldbefatalifhefeltthatheowedsomethingtoher.

           "Michael,whydon’tyouletthatflatinthemewstoTom?Nowthathe’spassedhisexamandisacharteredaccountanthecan’tgoonlivinginabed-sittingroom."

           "That’snotabadidea.I’llsuggestittohim."

           "Itwouldsaveanagent’sfees.Wecouldhelphimtofurnishit.We’vegotalotofstuffstoredaway.Wemightjustaswelllethimuseitmoulderawayintheattics."

           TomandRogercamebacktoeatanenormousteaandthenplayedtennistillthelightfailed.Afterdinnertheyplayeddominoes.Juliagaveabeautifulperformanceofastillyoungmotherfondlywatchinghersonandhisboyfriend.Shewenttobedearly.