Chapter 18

           NextdayJuliagotDollyonherprivatenumber."Darling,itseemsagessinceI’veseenyou.Whathaveyoubeendoingwithyourselfallthistime?"

           "Nothingverymuch."

           Dolly’svoicesoundedcold.

           "Nowlisten,Roger’scominghometomorrow.Younowhe’sleavingEtonforgood.I’msendingthecarforhimearlyandIwantyoutocometolunch.Notaparty;onlyyouandme,MichaelandRoger."

           "I’mlunchingouttomorrow."

           IntwentyyearsDollyhadneverbeenengagedwhenJuliawantedhertodosomethingwithher.Thevoiceattheotherendofthetelephonewashostile.

           "Dolly,howcanyoubesounkind?Roger’llbeterriblydisappointed.Hisfirstdayathome;besides,Iwanttoseeyou.Ihaven’tseenyouforagesandImissyouterribly.Can’tyoubreakyourengagement,justforthisonce,darling,andwe’llhaveagoodoldgossipafterlunch,justyouandme?"

           NoonecouldbemorepersuasivethanJuliawhensheliked,noonecouldputmoretendernessintohervoice,noramoreirresistibleappeal.Therewasamoment’spauseandJuliaknewthatDollywasstrugglingwithherwoundedfeelings.

           "Allright,darling,I’llmanage."

           "Darling."ButwhensherangoffJuliathroughclenchedteethmuttered:"Theoldcow."

           Dollycame.Rogerlistenedpolitelywhileshetoldhimthathehadgrownandwithhisgravesmileansweredhersuitablywhenshesaidthesortofthingsshethoughtpropertoaboyofhisage.Juliawaspuzzledbyhim.