Театр
Chapter 16
Shehadamoment’srecollectionoftheSpaniardwiththebeardinthewagon-litandshesmiledroguishlyatherselfintheglass.
"Nodamnedmodestyabouthim."
ButallthesamefromthatdayonshetookcaretoactuptoTom’sstandardsofdecency.
Julia’sreputationwassogoodthatshefeltsheneednothesitatetoshowherselfwithTominpublicplaces.Itwasanewexperienceforhertogotonightclubs,sheenjoyedit,andthoughnoonecouldhavebeenbetterawarethanshethatshecouldgonowherewithoutbeingstaredat,itneverenteredherheadthatsuchachangeinherhabitsmustexcitecomment.Withtwentyyearsoffidelitybehindher,forofcourseshedidnotcounttheSpaniard,anaccidentthatmighthappentoanywoman,Juliawasconfidentthatnoonewouldimagineforamomentthatshewashavinganaffairwithaboyyoungenoughtobeherson.ItneveroccurredtoherthatperhapsTomwasnotalwayssodiscreetashemighthavebeen.Itneveroccurredtoherthatthelookinhereyeswhentheydancedtogetherbetrayedher.Shelookeduponherpositionassoprivilegedthatitneveroccurredtoherthatpeopleatlastwerebeginningtogossip.
WhenthisgossipreachedtheearsofDollydeVriesshelaughed.AtJulia’srequestshehadinvitedTomtopartiesandonceortwicehadhimdownforaweek-endinthecountry,butshehadneverpaidanyattentiontohim.Heseemedanicelittlething,ausefulescortforJuliawhenMichaelwasbusy,butperfectlyinsignificant.
