Театр

           Charleshadneverrefusedheranything,andwithtactshewascertainthatshecouldwheedlehimintoproposingTomforoneofthosetowhichhebelonged.ItwasanewanddelicioussensationforTomtohavemoneytospend;sheencouragedhimtobeextravagant;shehadanotionthathewouldgetusedtolivinginacertainwayandthenwouldrealizethathecouldnotdowithouther.

           "Ofcourseitcan’tlast,"shetoldherself,"butwhenitcomestoanenditwillhavebeenawonderfulexperienceforhim.It’llreallyhavemadeamanofhim."

           Butthoughshetoldherselfthatitcouldnotlastshedidnotseereallywhyitshouldn’t.Astheyearswentbyandhegrewoldertherewouldn’tbeanyparticulardifferencebetweenthem.Hewouldnolongerbesoveryyoungintenorfifteenyearsandshewouldbejustthesameageasshewasnow.Theywereverycomfortabletogether.Menwerecreaturesofhabit;thatgavewomensuchaholdonthem.Shedidnotfeeladayolderthanhe,andshewasconvincedthatthedisparityintheirageshadneverevenoccurredtohim.Itwastruethatonthispointshehadoncehadamoment’sdisquietude.Shewaslyingonhisbed.Hewasstandingatthedressing-table,inhisshirtsleeves,brushinghishair.ShewasstarknakedandshelayinthepositionofaVenusbyTitianthatsherememberedtohaveseeninacountryhouseatwhichshehadstayed.Shefeltthatshemadereallyalovelypicture,andincompleteawarenessofthecharmingsightsheoffered,heldthepose.Shewashappyandsatisfied.