Театр

           "I’veseenBernhardtandRejane,"saidtheChancellor;"I’veseenDuseandEllenTerryandMrs.Kendal.Nuncdimittis."

           Julia,radiant,sankbackintoachairandswallowedatadraughtaglassofchampagne.

           "IfIhaven’tcookedRoger’sgooseI’lleatmyhat,"shethought.

           Butforallthatthetwoladshadgonetoplaygolfwhenshecamedownstairsnextmorning.MichaelhadtakentheDennorantsuptotown.Juliawastired.ShefounditanefforttobebrightandchattywhenTomandRogercameintolunch.Intheafternoonthethreeofthemwentontheriver,butJuliahadthefeelingthattheytookher,notbecausetheymuchwantedto,butbecausetheycouldnothelpit.ShestifledasighwhenshereflectedhowmuchshehadlookedforwardtoTom’sholiday.Nowshewascountingthedaysthatmustpasstillitended.ShedrewadeepbreathofreliefwhenshegotintothecartogotoLondon.ShewasnotangrywithTom,butdeeplyhurt;shewasexasperatedwithherselfbecauseshehadsolostcontroloverherfeelings.Butwhenshegotintothetheatreshefeltthatsheshookofftheobsessionofhimlikeabaddreamfromwhichoneawoke;there,inherdressing-room,sheregainedpossessionofherselfandtheaffairsofthecommonroundofdailylifefadedtoinsignificance.Nothingreallymatteredwhenshehadwithinhergraspthispossibilityoffreedom.

           Thustheweekwentby.Michael,RogerandTomenjoyedthemselves.Theybathed,theyplayedtennis,theyplayedgolf,theyloungedaboutontheriver.Therewereonlyfourdaysmore.