Театр

           Itwaswiththegreatestdifficultythatshemanagednottomakeascene.Butshecontrolledherself.

           "Allright,darling.Butdon’tbetoolate.RememberthatTom’sgottorisewiththelark."

           Tomhadcomeupandheardthelastwords.

           "You’resureyoudon’tmind?"heasked.

           "Ofcoursenot.Ihopeyou’llhaveagrandtime."

           Shesmiledbrightlyathim,buthereyesweresteelywithhatred.

           "I’mjustasgladthosetwokidshavegoneoff,"saidMichaelwhentheygotintothelaunch."Wehaven’thadaneveningtoourselvesforeversolong."

           Sheclenchedherhandsinordertopreventherselffromtellinghimtoholdhissillytongue.Shewasinablackrage.Thiswasthelaststraw.Tomhadneglectedherforafortnight,hehadnoteventreatedherwithcivility,andshehadbeenangelic.Therewasn’tawomanintheworldwhowouldhaveshownsuchpatience.Anyotherwomanwouldhavetoldhimthatifhecouldn’tbehavewithcommondecencyhe’dbettergetout.Selfish,stupidandcommon,that’swhathewas.Shealmostwishedhewasn’tgoingtomorrowsothatshecouldhavethepleasureofturninghimoutbagandbaggage.Andtodaretotreatherlikethat,atwopennyhalfpennylittlemaninthecity;poets,cabinetministers,peersoftherealmwouldbeonlytoogladtobreakthemostimportantengagementstohavethechanceofdiningwithher,andhethrewherovertogoanddancewithapackofperoxideblondeswhocouldn’tactfornuts.Thatshowedwhatafoolhewas.Youwouldhavethoughthe’dhavesomegratitude.