Театр

           Hetookitasanaturalhomage,butdidnotallowittoturnhishead.Hewaseagertogetonandseemeddeterminednottoletanyentanglementinterferewithhiscareer.Itwashisbeautythatsavedhim,forJimmieLangtonquicklycametotheconclusionthat,notwithstandinghisperseveranceanddesiretoexcel,hewouldneverbemorethanacompetentactor.Hisvoicewasatriflethinandinmomentsofvehemencewasapttogoshrill.Itgavethenmoretheeffectofhysteriathanofpassion.Buthisgravestfaultasajuvenileleadwasthathecouldnotmakelove.Hewaseasyenoughinordinarydialogueandcouldsayhislineswithpoint,butwhenitcametomakingprotestationsofpassionsomethingseemedtoholdhimback.Hefeltembarrassedandlookedit.

           "Damnyou,don’tholdthatgirlasifshewasasackofpotatoes,"JimmieLangtonshoutedathim."Youkissherasifyouwereafraidyouwerestandinginadraught.You’reinlovewiththatgirl.Youmustfeelthatyou’reinlovewithher.Feelasifyourbonesweremeltinginsideyouandifanearthquakeweregoingtoswallowyouupnextminute,tohellwiththeearthquake."

           Butitwasnogood.Notwithstandinghisbeauty,hisgraceandhiseaseofmanner,Michaelremainedacoldlover.ThisdidnotpreventJuliafromfallingmadlyinlovewithhim.ForitwaswhenhejoinedLangton’srepertorycompanythattheymet.

           Herowncareerhadbeensingularlylackinginhardship.ShewasborninJersey,whereherfather,anativeofthatisland,practisedasaveterinarysurgeon.